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 (60’s) • Rapid growth of mass tourism • Cautionary platform (70’s) • Reaction to severe negative impacts • Adaptancy platform (80’s) • 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 Economy Tourism • Positive • Economic value • Preservation of historic buildings • Improved aesthetic appearance • Negative • Over use / development • Pollution (air/water, sound) • Traffic, overcrowding Environment

7. Social & Cultural Impacts on Hosts • Positive • Gender equity • Intercultural learning • Preservation of cultural identity • Pride in one’s 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 you’re 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 you’re 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. 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 An Educated Guess…

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