Document

A Review of Community Impacts of Tourism Development: Ways to Measure and Mitigate

for Sustainable Relationships

Dr. Kelly BrickerThe University of Utah

Dr. Deb KerstetterThe Pennsylvania State University

A Review of Community Impacts of Tourism Development: Ways to Measure and Mitigate

for Sustainable Relationships

Dr. Kelly BrickerThe University of Utah

Dr. Deb KerstetterThe Pennsylvania State University

Eco/Sustainable Tourism?Eco/Sustainable Tourism?

• What is to be sustained?

– Natural environment– Social environment– Cultural environment– Economic viability– Quality of the tourism product/service

• What is to be sustained?

– Natural environment– Social environment– Cultural environment– Economic viability– Quality of the tourism product/service

• Enhances employment opportunities; training programs

• Increases purchase of local products/services

• Builds investment into local community (cash or in-kind)

• Increases access of product to local people (discounted fees, tour costs, etc.)

• Enhances employment opportunities; training programs

• Increases purchase of local products/services

• Builds investment into local community (cash or in-kind)

• Increases access of product to local people (discounted fees, tour costs, etc.)

Ecotourism and social benefits…Ecotourism and social benefits…

• Increases respect for local culture• Increases environmental awareness IF

accurate portrayal of destination• Leads to more sustainable uses of natural

resources in surrounding areas• Increases tolerance or adoption of species

once thought of as pests as icons for the community

• Modified hunting habits to allow for conservation of species

• Increases respect for local culture• Increases environmental awareness IF

accurate portrayal of destination• Leads to more sustainable uses of natural

resources in surrounding areas• Increases tolerance or adoption of species

once thought of as pests as icons for the community

• Modified hunting habits to allow for conservation of species

Ecotourism and cultural benefits…

Ecotourism and economic benefits

– Employment– Improved economy– Improved health and education

– Employment– Improved economy– Improved health and education

• Provide justification for park protection• Provide an economic alternative to

reduce exploitation of natural resources• Provide justification for park protection• Builds constituency which promotes conservation• Be an impetus for private conservation efforts

• Provide justification for park protection• Provide an economic alternative to

reduce exploitation of natural resources• Provide justification for park protection• Builds constituency which promotes conservation• Be an impetus for private conservation efforts

The link between eco/sustainable tourism and conservation…The link between eco/sustainable tourism and conservation…

• Social Benefit…– Laws enacted to assist the efforts supporting

local communities…

• Social Benefit…– Laws enacted to assist the efforts supporting

local communities…

Generates financing for Parks and Conservation…

Generates financing for Parks and Conservation…

Provides economic justification for park protection…

• Social Benefits…– Populations inside and outside protected areas are

demonstrating changes in attitude and behavior through a realization that nature is good for tourism…

• Increased environmental awareness• Ecotourism has led to more sustainable uses of

natural resources in surrounding areas• Species once thought of as ‘pests’ are now

tolerated or adopted as icons for the community

• Locals have changed hunting habits to allow for conservation of species

• Social Benefits…– Populations inside and outside protected areas are

demonstrating changes in attitude and behavior through a realization that nature is good for tourism…

• Increased environmental awareness• Ecotourism has led to more sustainable uses of

natural resources in surrounding areas• Species once thought of as ‘pests’ are now

tolerated or adopted as icons for the community

• Locals have changed hunting habits to allow for conservation of species

Economic alternatives to reduce exploitation of natural resources & protected areas…

• Social Benefits…– Reduction in illegal extraction– Employment– Improved economy– Supporting economic opportunities– Improved health and education– Community cohesion– Culture

• Social Benefits…– Reduction in illegal extraction– Employment– Improved economy– Supporting economic opportunities– Improved health and education– Community cohesion– Culture

Builds constituency which promotes conservation …

• Social Benefit…– Environmental Education– Increased environmental appreciation– Increased stakeholder involvement– Legislative support

• Social Benefit…– Environmental Education– Increased environmental appreciation– Increased stakeholder involvement– Legislative support

Residents’ attitude toward tourism impact…Residents’ attitude toward tourism impact…

Attitudes toward tourism have been researched, but the results are mixed and

tend to have been obtained from residents of developed countries and/or from residents who’ve been exposed to

more traditional forms of tourism

Attitudes toward tourism have been researched, but the results are mixed and

tend to have been obtained from residents of developed countries and/or from residents who’ve been exposed to

more traditional forms of tourism

What we know from previous research…What we know from previous research…

Characteristics of the destination, including quality of life, may affect attitudes toward tourism

Characteristics of the destination, including quality of life, may affect attitudes toward tourism

Characteristics of residents also affect attitudes toward tourism– Length of residence– Economic dependence on tourism– Distance of tourism center from home– Resident involvement in tourism decision-making– Birthplace– Level of knowledge– Level of contact with tourists

Characteristics of residents also affect attitudes toward tourism– Length of residence– Economic dependence on tourism– Distance of tourism center from home– Resident involvement in tourism decision-making– Birthplace– Level of knowledge– Level of contact with tourists

Case Study: Penghu, TaiwanCase Study: Penghu, Taiwan

• We found that residents expected three types of benefits from tourism development– Socio-environmental– Self-interest– Economic

• Socio-environmental and self-interest benefits were positively related to residents’ intention to support future tourism development

• Also found that residents have different attitudes towards current vs. future tourism development

• We found that residents expected three types of benefits from tourism development– Socio-environmental– Self-interest– Economic

• Socio-environmental and self-interest benefits were positively related to residents’ intention to support future tourism development

• Also found that residents have different attitudes towards current vs. future tourism development

What we learned?What we learned?

• Residents have difficulty distinguishing between “types” of benefits associated with tourism development.

• Residents have different attitudes towards current tourism development and what they believe will happen in the future

• The effects of different tourism benefits on support for tourism development vary.

• Residents have difficulty distinguishing between “types” of benefits associated with tourism development.

• Residents have different attitudes towards current tourism development and what they believe will happen in the future

• The effects of different tourism benefits on support for tourism development vary.

Theories used to guide our understanding of resident impactsTheories used to guide our understanding of resident impacts

• Destination Life Cycle Model and Limits to Growth

• Social Exchange Theory

• Social Representation Theory

• Destination Life Cycle Model and Limits to Growth

• Social Exchange Theory

• Social Representation Theory

Theories…Theories…

• Destination Life Cycle Model and Limits to Growth

– Threshold where tourism is detrimental to quality of life of residents

– Social Disruption Hypothesis• ‘Boomtown’ communities• Initial decline, with improvement over time as residents adapt

• Destination Life Cycle Model and Limits to Growth

– Threshold where tourism is detrimental to quality of life of residents

– Social Disruption Hypothesis• ‘Boomtown’ communities• Initial decline, with improvement over time as residents adapt

Theories…Theories…

Social Exchange Theory

– People favor tourism if the benefits exceed the costs and if they value these benefits

– Unbalanced…

Advantaged residents = positive perceptions

Disadvantaged residents = negative perceptions

Social Exchange Theory

– People favor tourism if the benefits exceed the costs and if they value these benefits

– Unbalanced…

Advantaged residents = positive perceptions

Disadvantaged residents = negative perceptions

Theories…Theories…Social Representation Theory

• To understand commonalities in resident perceptions and attitudes

• Includes values, beliefs, and common sense explanations of how the world operates

• To make the unfamiliar, familiar

Social Representation Theory

• To understand commonalities in resident perceptions and attitudes

• Includes values, beliefs, and common sense explanations of how the world operates

• To make the unfamiliar, familiar

Common approaches to studying these theories…

• Resident surveys

– Assess whether residents perceive that tourism can produce a valued reward and whether they support tourism (i.e., are they willing to exchange their resources for the benefits or tourism).

• Resident surveys

– Assess whether residents perceive that tourism can produce a valued reward and whether they support tourism (i.e., are they willing to exchange their resources for the benefits or tourism).

Additional approaches…Additional approaches…

Quality of life assessments

• Individual community members’feelings about and perceptions of various conditions

Quality of life assessments

• Individual community members’feelings about and perceptions of various conditions

Case Study: ArizonaCase Study: Arizona

Researchers found that personal benefit, age,education, and ethnicity were related to individuals’…

• cultural awareness and activities in the community;

• economic strength; • community well-being; and• natural and cultural preservation.

Researchers found that personal benefit, age,education, and ethnicity were related to individuals’…

• cultural awareness and activities in the community;

• economic strength; • community well-being; and• natural and cultural preservation.

What they learned?What they learned?

• Residents feel tourism can detract from their QOL as well as provide benefits

• There is a relationship between ethnicity and perceived negative tourism effects

• QOL assessments help to define what is important to the residents

• QOL assessment help to identify inequalities in the distribution of costs and benefits to various segments of the community

• Residents feel tourism can detract from their QOL as well as provide benefits

• There is a relationship between ethnicity and perceived negative tourism effects

• QOL assessments help to define what is important to the residents

• QOL assessment help to identify inequalities in the distribution of costs and benefits to various segments of the community

Additional approaches…

• Multi-phased approach

– Understand meanings residents ascribe to the environment in which they live…a two-phased approach…

• Multi-phased approach

– Understand meanings residents ascribe to the environment in which they live…a two-phased approach…

Case Study: Fijian VanuaCase Study: Fijian Vanua

• Phase– Sense of place interviews with key

informants (village leaders, women’s groups, coaches, youth leaders)

• Phase II-Five years after tourism development began.

– Resident survey

• Phase– Sense of place interviews with key

informants (village leaders, women’s groups, coaches, youth leaders)

• Phase II-Five years after tourism development began.

– Resident survey

Longitudinal – Phased Approach

• First Phase

Sample questions…

• What can you tell me about the place in which you live?

• What is the meaning of this place to you??• What is really important to your quality of life in

this place?• What are your main concerns for the future of this

place?

• First Phase

Sample questions…

• What can you tell me about the place in which you live?

• What is the meaning of this place to you??• What is really important to your quality of life in

this place?• What are your main concerns for the future of this

place?

• Second Phase…

– Survey of the community building upon information learned in the first phase.

• Second Phase…

– Survey of the community building upon information learned in the first phase.

What did we learn?What did we learn?

• Residents of highland villages differed in their level of agreement…

– Village traditions should be maintained– They would leave the village to make

more money– Environmental and natural resources

should be protected…

• While of a similar society, each village represented separate and distinct cultures

• Residents of highland villages differed in their level of agreement…

– Village traditions should be maintained– They would leave the village to make

more money– Environmental and natural resources

should be protected…

• While of a similar society, each village represented separate and distinct cultures

Case Study: Alachua County, FLCase Study: Alachua County, FL

• Planning process involved documenting residents’ vision

• Tourism visioning process resulted in the development of a plan for sustainable tourism

• Planning process involved documenting residents’ vision

• Tourism visioning process resulted in the development of a plan for sustainable tourism

What did they learn?What did they learn?

Government structure must support tourism visionoutlined by residents:

• Residents value…– Low impact tourism– Proper management of natural resources– Respect for local heritage, culture, nature– Respect for local inventory of facilities– Maintenance of a “sense of community”

Photo by Alachua County Visitors Bureau

Government structure must support tourism visionoutlined by residents:

• Residents value…– Low impact tourism– Proper management of natural resources– Respect for local heritage, culture, nature– Respect for local inventory of facilities– Maintenance of a “sense of community”

Photo by Alachua County Visitors Bureau

Case Study: The Yasawas, FijiCase Study: The Yasawas, Fiji

• Integrated approach…

– Focus groups/village meeting– Resident employed photography– Follow-up interviews– Picture books and discussion

• Integrated approach…

– Focus groups/village meeting– Resident employed photography– Follow-up interviews– Picture books and discussion

What did we learn?What did we learn?

• Residents value the village; their culture, history and traditions; access to information and technology; and the environment.

• These aspects of their village are deemed to be integral to the sustainability of the village and its residents.

• Residents value the village; their culture, history and traditions; access to information and technology; and the environment.

• These aspects of their village are deemed to be integral to the sustainability of the village and its residents.

Practical application of these findings?Practical application of these findings?

• Tourism development should take into account residents’ view of their sense of place

• Resident involvement can influence level of resident support

• Traditions are part of the experience and possible attraction to the destination—eroding traditions may erode the tourism experience

• Tourism development should take into account residents’ view of their sense of place

• Resident involvement can influence level of resident support

• Traditions are part of the experience and possible attraction to the destination—eroding traditions may erode the tourism experience

• Inform guests of cultural sensitivities• Address cultural differences, protocol

with regards to guides, workplace• Address cultural do’s and don’ts with

guests• Discuss cultural considerations with

villagers• Maintain accurate marketing images

• Inform guests of cultural sensitivities• Address cultural differences, protocol

with regards to guides, workplace• Address cultural do’s and don’ts with

guests• Discuss cultural considerations with

villagers• Maintain accurate marketing images

Implement ways to enhance respect for local culture…

• The results of these case studies have…

– helped us to better understand the values, attitudes, expectations, and desires of local residents being impacted by tourism development

– Informed the decision making of tourism planners, operators, and marketers

• The results of these case studies have…

– helped us to better understand the values, attitudes, expectations, and desires of local residents being impacted by tourism development

– Informed the decision making of tourism planners, operators, and marketers

Vinaka vaka levu!Vinaka vaka levu!