Tourism in Aït Bouguemmez (Central High Atlas, Morocco): social representations of tourism and its impacts in the perception of the local community

Abstract

Goal and objectives of the dissertationGoalThis study aims to contribute to improved knowledge of mountainous regions in countries of the Global South as tourist destinations, considering how little is known of the social representation tourism has in communities in these regions. The aim is also to contribute towards improved knowledge of the object of study, through the description of the main representations of tourism and its effect and the outlining of factors which cross over and interfere with these representations.ObjectivesThis project has two main lines of thought as foundation: first, to understand the representations that tourism and its impact has among the mountain settlement of Ait Bouguemmez, and second, to identify the critical ability of the local community regarding tourist activity. Starting with these premises, the following objectives were defined:i) Main objectiveTo recognise the social representations of tourism and its impact in the mountain community of Ait Bouguemmez.ii) Specific objectives* To define a reference framework on the representations of tourism and its effects, as perceived by the mountain community of Ait Bouguemmez;* To identify factors which interfere in the defining of these representations (ex. participation in tourist activity, training, etc.);* To evaluate the existence of critical ability in the local community regarding tourist activity;* To identify the connection between the social representations of tourist effects and the changes in the local architecture of the villages in the valley.MethodologyFocus is placed on a qualitative approach, within the framework of the Theory of Social Representations (TRS). Following this perspective, of qualitative nature, we are not searching for general results, but rather for an understanding of social representations in the Ait Bouguemmez community, regarding tourism and its effects. We have opted for qualitative research, along with direct observation assuming that it would allow for a deeper understanding of experience and on how the community reflects and acknowledges tourism and its effects.The study resorts to semi-structured and nonstructured interviews performed on the local community and on direct observation of the villages, the habits and daily practices of the locals. Data were collected through 48 semistructured interviews and 23 non-structured interviews of locals, with and without professional tourism activity; direct and structured observation of the architecture of buildings in 10 of the 25 villages in the valley; and also observation of the transformations in the daily life of the locals.A specialized computer program - Nvivo10 - was used to analyse the research data, interpreting and studying the data through the content analysis based on the proposed theory. Besides, a statistical and bibliographical selection was gathered from secondary data sources.This research adopt an articulation on various methods (interviews, observation and secondary data sources), based on the supposition that the analysis of the interviews, along with the observation of aspects which are inherent to the daily life of its subjects and to the mapping out of complementary information, will contribute to a better understanding and an identification of social representations.ResultsAs results from the research performed, tourism appears as a necessary component of life in the valley and for most of the interviewees, its social representations are associated with work and economic return, rooted in the improvement of living standards. Regarding its impacts, the most evident representations are connected to economic issues and what is most strongly felt is that tourism contributes to job creation and an increase in family income. As results of sociocultural impacts, local community perceptions are primarily centred on changes in dress and ways of thinking, and tourism does not seem to be perceived as a factor of sociocultural disruption. …