Tourism Development Projects Research Articles

Discussing the socio-economic impacts of tourism development projects based on golf courses: the perspective of local stakeholders

Discussing the socio-economic impacts of tourism development projects based on golf courses: the perspective of local stakeholders

Tourism as a vehicle for regional development in peripheral areas – myth or reality? A longitudinal case study of Swedish regions

ABSTRACTIn the contemporary so-called ‘competition state era’, many rural and peripheral regions are in decline. Tourism is increasingly viewed as being able to alleviate and rejuvenate regions that are facing economic difficulties. The European Union has launched several programmes with the goal of stimulating growth and employment in peripheral areas. These programmes are often used to support tourism development projects. In this paper, a longitudinal analysis of spatial changes in Swedish tourism is conducted. The analysis is based on statistics regarding overnight stays in Swedish commercial accommodation facilities. The aim is to investigate if tourism and tourism policy contribute to the reduction in disparities between regions. Although there are exceptions, the main findings indicate that the potential for creating sustainable rural tourism growth through tourism policy seems to be much less than the popular discourse suggests.

Action Research for Sustainable Cruise Tourism Development: the Black Sea Region Case Study

Tourism in general, and cruise tourism in particular, constitute an attractive developmental option for emerging, postcommunist, and/or postindustrial economies. Yet existing tourism-related literature on destination development focuses on rather generic theoretical concepts (e.g., Butler's Tourism Area Life Cycle, 6As, and Cluster Theory) coupled by an array of explorative case studies. From a policy-making perspective, bridging the gap between operationalizing generic theoretical/analytical frameworks while generalizing from a fragmented case study body of knowledge to plan meaningful action, represents a challenge. Within the context of an EU-funded cruise tourism development project for the Black Sea region, this article utilizes action research to meet this challenge and subsequently proposes complementary (to the analytical existing frameworks) organizational concepts and implementation guidelines. The aim here is to provide a more complete, applicable set of tools for destination development practitioners. Moreover, in terms of facilitating destination development, our research proposes a modified role for higher education institutions, which extends beyond merely that of a "labor supplier" to that of a driver for the "learning destination."

AHP를 활용한 문화관광개발 사업의 평가지표 개발 및 적용 -안동시 3대 문화권 문화·생태 관광 기반조성 사업을 중심으로-

AHP를 활용한 문화관광개발 사업의 평가지표 개발 및 적용 -안동시 3대 문화권 문화·생태 관광 기반조성 사업을 중심으로-

“They could take you out for coffee and call it consultation!”: The colonial antipolitics of Indigenous consultation in Jasper National Park

Although Canada has been applauded for its co-management arrangements in recently established national parks, it continues to struggle with its legacy of colonial dispossession of Indigenous peoples, especially in its older and more iconic parks. First Nations were evicted from the earliest parks such as Banff and Jasper in a process of colonial territorialization that facilitated a “wilderness” model of park management and made space for capitalist enterprises like sport hunting and tourism. In Jasper National Park today, private tourism development proposals trigger a duty to consult with nations whose Aboriginal or Treaty rights may be impacted by development. In the last few decades, Jasper has made strides toward “reconciliation” including forming the Jasper Aboriginal Forum in an attempt to improve consultation with First Nations. I argue that Jasper’s approach to reconciliation and consultation reproduces and further entrenches unequal colonial–capitalist power dynamics, relying on antipolitical strategies to produce the appearance of inclusion and to naturalize the park’s ultimate decision-making authority in First Nations’ traditional territories. Park management attempts to incorporate First Nations’ input and certain “cultural” rights into existing state-led science-based management structures while leaving the legitimacy and justness of those structures unquestioned. As a result, Jasper’s approach to consultation obscures the ongoing neocolonial political and economic violence of alienating First Nations from their land bases and consequently reinforces existing inequalities. Ultimately, I argue that this antipolitical approach facilitates tourism development projects that benefit government and industry and not Indigenous communities.

Development as Imperialism

The Garifuna people of Trujillo, Honduras, wryly call it la maldición—the curse. Despite the expansive resources of the area and the sheer amount of valuable commodities that have left from its shores, most of the local people remain poor, with little access to sanitation, reliable electricity, literacy, security, or employment. This study explores the ways in which private tourism development projects conspire with national and international politics and economics to perpetuate la maldición. An analysis of 40 qualitative interviews, three focus groups, and survey data from the Trujillo area is combined with secondary historical, economic, and political data regarding the national and international processes in which local dynamics are embedded. Although past research has shown it to be possible for development projects to be designed in a way that benefits indigenous populations, in the case of Trujillo, Honduras, macroimperial, mesoimperial and microimperial processes conspire to assure that such projects exploit and marginalize instead of include and benefit local people.

Exploring the Nexus Between Tourism and Output in Cook Islands: An ARDL Bounds Approach

Tourism plays an important role in the development of Cook Islands. In this paper we examine the nexus between tourism and growth using quarterly data over the period 2009Q1–2014Q2 using the recently upgraded ARDL bounds test to cointegration tool, Microfit 5.01, which provides sample adjusted bounds and hence is more reliable for small sample size studies. We perform the cointegration using the ARDL bounds test and examine the direction of causality. Using visitor arrival and output in per capita terms as respective proxy for tourism development and growth, we examine the long-run association and report the elasticity coefficient of tourism and causality nexus, accordingly. Using unit root break tests, we note that 2011Q1 and 2011Q2 are two structural break periods in the output series. However, we note that this period is not statistically significant in the ARDL model and hence excluded from the estimation. Subsequently, the regression results show the two series are cointegrated. The long-run elasticity coefficient of tourism is estimated to be 0.83 and the short-run is 0.73. A bidirectional causality between tourism and income is noted for Cook Islands which indicates that tourism development and income mutually reinforce each other. In light of this, socio-economic policies need to focus on broad-based, inclusive and income-generating tourism development projects which are expected to have feedback effect.

Can Biodiversity Conservation Benefit Local People? Costs and Benefits at a Strict Protected Area in Uganda

This article examines the livelihoods and experiences of local people after two decades of living close to a strict protected area (PA). A total of 290 local PA neighbors and 60 key informants were interviewed. Findings reveal a limited access to assets and low incomes. An average PA neighbor earns US$0.5 per adult equivalent unit (AEU)/day. PA proximity is associated with lower incomes, mainly because of wildlife damages that cost an average household (HH) up to 10% of its annual income. Other recurrent PA costs include the “invisible” costs incurred to cope with crop raiding, and restricted access to PA resources, that jointly amount to 16% of an average HH’s annual income. PA benefits include the sharing of tourism revenues, integrated conservation and development projects, and park-related employment. In total, benefits constitute 3.5% of the total annual income of an average HH, a figure higher than the contribution of other PAs in Uganda. However, overall, an average HH accrues a net annual loss of 12.5% of its total income or a total loss of US$1.54 million for the 1,1875 HHs, yet the park sends up to US$7 million to the central treasury. This highlights the need for policy revisions of the political economy of PA management.

A Study on the Priority of Improvement Factor of Tourism Development Projects Utilizing Cultural Resources: Focused on Hwaseong

A Study on the Priority of Improvement Factor of Tourism Development Projects Utilizing Cultural Resources: Focused on Hwaseong

The role of local populations in tourism development projects: the case of Loango National Park in Gabon

This paper will show how community tourism projects in protected areas can often fail due to both a lack of communication between the different actors and the insufficient integration of the relevant socio-anthropological issues. In the same way as a World Heritage site, the case of Loango National Park in Gabon clearly demonstrates that the original objectives of involvement by and empowerment of the local population are still far from being met. This paper presents an overview of a project initiated by the European Union in 2003, analyses the reasons behind the failure of this project, and suggests strategies to achieve greater consensus among conservation and tourism actors and local populations within the framework of community tourism projects in protected areas.

Integrating tourism development projects at Gabon protected natural sites: Lessons learned from an aborted attempt

The paper addresses the reasons for the failure of an integrated conservation and development project (ICDP) which was implemented at the World Heritage site of Lopé-Okanda, in Gabon. The analysis is based on a framework provided by Blom et al.’s (2010) list of ‘best practices for ICDPs’. Key study outcomes stress the need to develop and integrate in project designs an understanding of political, sociocultural and economic conditions of the beneficiary area at the national, sub-national and local levels.

Urban heritage ‘space’ under neoliberal development: a tale of a Jordanian plaza

What happens when urban heritage spaces within developing countries, such as Jordan, are subject to touristic development funded by international bodies, such as the World Bank? This question is explored theoretically and practically by considering a popular local plaza in the secondary Jordanian city of Jerash that has been subject to three tourism development projects funded by the World Bank. The study, which incorporates and critiques the discourse of neoliberalism within urban heritage development studies, seeks to analyse the World Bank projects and, more specifically, how they have defined, approached and produced outcomes in the Jerash plaza and its context. In so doing, the study triangulates the analysis with accounts by local respondents that identify major drawbacks in the World Bank approach, particularly its emphasis on conventional ‘readings’ of urban space that highlight universal values and histories, while neglecting and marginalising local values and understandings. The triangulation offers attentive ‘readings’ of the plaza as a place understood and experienced by a people. The challenge is to break with the neoliberal paradigm that dominates urban heritage development programmes (and their associated West–East dualisms and top-down approaches) by presenting local sociocultural and economic contexts as assets to enrich development projects, rather than obstacles to be ‘fixed’ and ‘fitted’ for tourism.

Analysis of Tourism Resource Dependency on Collaboration among Local Governments in the Multi-Regional Tourism Development

The purpose of this study was to derive the multidimensional attributes of resource dependency of local governments in multi-regional tourism development. The questionnaire was designed based on resource dependence theory and related literature, and five factors of resource dependency were derived by analysis of the questionnaire for the civil servants who participated in the Jirisan area tourism development project which is a representative multi-regional tourism development project of Korea. The measured values of the derived possession, importance, discretion, alternative, and connection were found in various ways according to the project characteristics such as project scale and visitors in the Jirisan area tourism development project. This shows that a variety of variables have an effect on resource dependency.

Aeolian Geomorphology Resources and Projects Development Suggestion in the Badain Jaran Desert

Badain Jaran Desert is the third largest desert of China. The research on aeolian geomorphology resources will be beneficial to the sustainable development of tourist industry and environment in the Badain Jaran Desert. This paper uses these basic geographical data, such as ETM+, 1:50,000 topographic map, GDEM, Google Earth data and so on. Then we integrate geological surveys in the field and summarize the characteristics of aeolian geomorphology resources. By combining with tourism projects of aeolian geomorphology resources set in other scenic area, the tourism development projects of aeolian geomorphology resources and desert environment in the study are put forward with the purpose of offering practical advice for tourism development of aeolian geomorphology resources and the control and utilization of desert environment in the Badain Jaran Desert.

대규모 관광개발사업의 사업지연 요인

대규모 관광개발사업에 있어서 불확실성은 사업지연의 주된 이유이다. 본 연구에서는 대규모 관광개발사업에 대한 현황을 파악하고 활성화에 영향을 주는 요인을 규명해 보고자 한다. 막대한 선투자금이 소요되고 사업의 불확실성이 높은 대규모 관광개발사업의 성공확률을 높이기 위해서는 사업에 영향을 미치는 추진과정 요인이 중요하다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 이러한 전제를 기본으로 PLS 회귀분석을 통해 추진과정에서 어떠한 요인들이 영향을 미치는지에 대하여 분석하였다. 그 결과, 전체 요인들 중 지역협의단체의 참여와 역할이 가장 큰 영향요인인 것으로 도출되었다. 대규모 관광개발사업을 성공시키기 위해서는 다양한 이해관계자들을 고려하여 의사결정을 추진하여야 한다는 것을 의미한다. 대규모 관광개발사업을 계획할 때에는 검증 및 평가를 통해 민관 파트너쉽을 구성할 필요가 있다. Uncertainty in large-scale tourism development is the main reason of the delay on the project. The purpose of this study is to identify the status and effect of this large-scale tourism development project. Huge amount of funds has to be invested prior to the development of this project and with high uncertainty of successful development, the procedure is the most important factor of this project. Therefore, under the basis of these assumptions, we operated a PLS regression analysis to see any factors that has influence during the procedure of the project. The result of the PLS regression analysis resulted that among all of the factors, the participation and role of regional community is the highest priority. In order to lead large-scale tourism development to success is to listen to the ideas of various project-related personnels and form a public - private partnership for evaluation of the project.

Residents’ Attitude towards Educational Tourism in Malaysia

Introduction: Educational tourism is known as an imperative sector in the tourism industry to expand its sustainability. Malaysia is increasingly recognized by students from around the world as the preferred choice for continuing education. Methods: This study used the data collected through a cross-sectional survey among residents in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Interviewed questionnaires were used during the survey from December 2010 to January 2011. Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference in attitudes of local residents towards educational tourism. The finding also revealed that attention should be focused on the attitudes of residents with various job sectors. Conclusion: The difference between the residents' job is a critical issue in analyzing the impact of educational tourism and community development projects in Malaysia.Keywords: community development, educational tourism, residents, attitude

Ballyhoura—A Case Study of Cohesive Rural Tourism Planning in Ireland

The restructuring of the agricultural industry has been a central objective of many policies in Ireland. The central premise of these policies has been the diversification of the rural economy in order to prevent the decline of Ireland's rural communities (Rural Development Programme 2007–2013). This paper highlights these policies and outlines their importance with regard to diversifying from an agrarian base to tourism development in Ballyhoura Country, Ireland. Discussions are directed to assist in understanding the significance of rural planning so as to ascertain its importance and understand its link with regard to cohesiveness among organisations in the Ballyhoura Country region. The area of literature reviewed with regard to Ballyhoura has reiterated the importance of planning and community involvement in order to successfully diversify from an agrarian base to a thriving rural tourism hub. Ballyhoura has been future-focused and proactive with regard to formulating strategies and securing funding for development. This funding has been utilised to carry out research in relation to tourism development in the region—Ballyhoura Attractions Cluster Development Strategy, 2003, Ballyhoura International Walking Festival Visitor Survey, 2006, Galtee Mountains: Tourism Development Facilitation and Project Management Initiative 2011, Approaches to Participative Community Based Socio Economic Planning: Developing a Model to Underpin the Sustainability of Ireland's Local Communities, 2011, Research on Mountain Biking Trails, 2011, Slieve Felim Concept Plan, 2011. These reports highlight the importance of undertaking a detailed audit of existing tourism infrastructure within a region and ensuring community buy-in before creating or developing strategies and plans.

Ornamented Facades and Panoramic Views: The Impact of Tourism Development on al-Salt’s Historic Urban Landscape

Abstract This article discusses a series of tourism development projects for historic al-Salt in Jordan that began in the 1990s. A critical analysis of these projects reveals how their emphasis on tourism development results in superficial treatments that overlook the distinctive nature of the city’s morphology and the productive relationship between architectural elements and cultural, economic and political processes. Thus, using al-Salt in Jordan as a case study, this article reveals how preservation efforts can be rejected by a local community, particularly when the specifics of social, cultural, political and economic identity are not considered. According to the findings, these historical specificities contribute to shaping the city’s distinctive urban morphology. As such, al-Salt’s rehabilitation was reduced to superficial beautification and surface treatments that prioritize a fleeting visual experience for tourists but fail to address the fundamental aspects of rehabilitating the historic urban landscape.

Doing sustainability: an application of an inter-disciplinary and mixed-method approach to a regional sustainable tourism project

This paper describes and explains an interdisciplinary and mixed-method approach to a large-scale sustainable tourism development project. The research took place in a two-county area straddling the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia, USA. It was commissioned in order to develop a sustainable tourism centerpiece to enhance the region and encourage visitor expenditures while maintaining the environment and quality of life of the community. In response to Hollinshead and Jamal's 2007 call for a more bricoleur and third ear approach to tourism research, a gap analysis of the region's tourism offerings was performed using six interdisciplinary, mixed-method research phases seeking to identify discrepancies between the current region's tourism offerings, visitor preferences and community stakeholders. Phases included a Community Resource Assessment (GIS-based Inventory), Stakeholder Interviews, a Visitor Survey and GPS visitor tracking, the development of seven Potential Scenarios, a Potential Visitor Survey and an Economic Analysis. Subsequently, two potential tourism centerpieces were developed with the goal of showcasing the region's unique mountain and agricultural heritage. In addition to providing a detailed overview of the research project, the paper concludes with discussion of the practical and political challenges, time constraints and rewards that accompany this type of research.

The use of Amazigh identities in tourism development projects. Interconnectedness and embeddedness dynamics in the Moroccan mountains

This article examines the dynamics, challenges and impacts brought about by the emergence of a new tourism offer in the Moroccan mountains based on mobilizing Amazigh identities. It explores the embeddedness and interconnectedness dynamic which feeds these identity strategies implemented by the project managers, who search for territorial embeddedness by promoting heritage practices and objects they class to be representative of the latter. At the same time, they “interconnect” with global flow of identity imaginaries and referents, and with actor networks liable to back their discourse on any aspect of Amazigh identity. The different strategies, according to the objects, networks and referents used will be differentiated, and focus will be placed on the way in which these strategies work on collective identities and reinvent their territorial links. This paper is the result of fieldwork carried out in the Western High Atlas and Anti-Atlas regions.