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A Review of Community Impacts of Tourism Development: Ways to Measure and Mitigate for Sustainable Relationships Dr. Kelly Bricker The University of Utah Dr. Deb Kerstetter The Pennsylvania State University

Eco/Sustainable Tourism?

• What is to be sustained?

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

Ecotourism and social benefits…

• 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 cultural 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

Ecotourism and economic benefits – – –

Employment Improved economy Improved health and education

The link between eco/sustainable tourism and conservation…

• 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

Generates financing for Parks and Conservation…

• Social Benefit…

– Laws enacted to assist the efforts supporting local communities…

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

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

Builds constituency which promotes conservation …

• Social Benefit…

– – – –

Environmental Education Increased environmental appreciation Increased stakeholder involvement Legislative support

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

What we know from previous research‌

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

Case 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

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.

Theories used to guide our understanding of resident impacts • Destination Life Cycle Model and Limits to Growth • Social Exchange Theory • Social Representation Theory

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

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

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

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).

Additional approaches…

Quality of life assessments

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

Case 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.

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

Additional approaches…

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

Case 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

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?

• Second Phase…

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

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

Case Study: Alachua County, FL • Planning process involved documenting residents’ vision • Tourism visioning process resulted in the development of a plan for sustainable tourism

What did they learn?

Government structure must support tourism vision outlined 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 Photo by

by Alachua Alachua County County Visitors Visitors Bureau Bureau

Case Study: The Yasawas, Fiji • Integrated approach…

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

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.

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

Implement ways to enhance respect for local culture…

• 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

• 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!