Is tourism really going to help our community Duarte B. Morais, Ph.D.

1
Is tourism really going to help our community?
Duarte B. Morais, Ph.D.
Tourism opens the population to better
reciprocal understanding, which will ultimately
enrich the culture of our civilization (Nunes
Barata, 1964) A spectre is haunting our planet
the spectre of tourism! (Croall, 1995)
2
Is tourism good?

• Advocacy platform (60s)
• Rapid growth of mass tourism
• Cautionary platform (70s)
• Reaction to severe negative impacts
• Adaptancy platform (80s)
• Proposing alternative tourism sustainability
• Knowledge-based platform
• Scientific understanding bridging platforms
• (Jafary, 1989)

3
Tourism System
Planning
Promotion
Transportation
Hosts
Infrastructure
4
Impacts on the Tourist

• Tourism The Peace Industry?
• "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and
  narrow-mindedness, (). Broad, wholesome,
  charitable views of men and things can not be
  acquired by vegetating in one little corner of
  the earth." Mark Twain
• Tourism as therapy!
• A Himalayan trek is cheaper and more
  satisfying than a New York shrink Sandy Hill
  Pittman
• Negative impacts?

5
Economic Impacts on Hosts

• Positive
• Tax revenues, employment, investment
• Infrastructure, leisure opportunities
• Diversified economy
• Negative
• Land and housing prices
• Cost of goods and services
• Infrastructure costs

6
Environmental Impacts on Hosts

• Positive
• Economic value
• Preservation of historic buildings
• Improved aesthetic appearance
• Negative
• Over use / development
• Pollution (air/water, sound)
• Traffic, overcrowding

Economy
Tourism
Environment
7
Social Cultural Impacts on Hosts

• Positive
• Gender equity
• Intercultural learning
• Preservation of cultural identity
• Pride in ones culture/community
• Negative
• Prostitution, crime, alcoholism
• Comoditization of culture (standardization)
• Cultural dependency

8
Tourism in Yunnan
9
Sustainable / Alternative

• whereas some erosion and pollution of resources
  is caused by great numbers of visitors, most
  damage is caused by lack of plans, policies, and
  action to prepare for economic growth (Gunn, 1994)

10
Community Planning

• Discovery
• Stakeholder involvement
• Inventory objectives/resources
• Mutuality
• Shared individual interests
• Building relationships
• Locality
• Backyard activism / sense of place
• Historicity
• Corner Room vs. Hooters
• Enhancement
• Centralized / local decision-making

11
Suggestions for your Community

• Take advantage of zoning
• Protect backstage
• Property taxes
• Develop an authentic destination
• Skilled employment / raw materials
• Educate residents about reality of tourism
• Reduce exposure to cultural shock
• Maximize local investment and control
• Multiplier effect of economic impact
• Resident and Tourist Opportunity Spectrum
• Leisure opportunities for locals

12
How can you help as a tourist?

• Before you go
• Learn about the local culture
• Interview tourism providers
• While youre away
• Be culturally sensitive
• Allow plenty of time in each place
• Respect boundaries
• Eat local food
• Be efficient with natural resources
• Be careful when buying plant or animal souvenirs

13
How can you help? (cont.)

• While youre away (cont.)
• Spend money in local enterprises
• Discourage illegal trade
• Help poverty with donations to institutions
• When you return
• Reflect upon the impacts you made
• Share your enhanced awareness
• Provide feedback to travel and gov. agencies

14
Tourism Terrorism

• Tourism is a sensitive industry
• Fear of travel
• Economic slump
• Characteristics of terrorism attacks
• For social injustice / independence
• Targeted towards tourists
• Resulted in bodily harm / property loss
• With guns vs. bombs

15
An Educated Guess

• Short term
• Spillover effect
• Survival of the fittest
• When will travel begin to climb?
• Aggressive media campaign
• Long term
• Dark tourism
• Rejuvenation of destination lifecycle
• New destinations

16
Is tourism really going to help our community?
Duarte B. Morais, Ph.D.
Questions and Comments