chapter 1

Sustainable Tourism Overview

  • Course Code: TMPC 0313

Chapter 1: Definition, Dimensions, and Determinants of Tourism Impacts

Introduction to Tourism

  • Tourism has become a pervasive human activity, integral to leisure.

  • Government prioritizes tourism development for its economic benefits.

Potential Negative Impacts of Tourism

  • Improperly managed tourism can lead to:

    • Environmental destruction

    • Social disruptions

  • Future tourism professionals must ensure that tourism organizations and communities maximize benefits while minimizing negative impacts.

Defining Tourism Impact

  • Impact Defined: A change resulting from an external stimulus, in this case, tourism (Hall & Lew, 2009).

  • Tourism Impact: Effects resulting from tourism policies, related infrastructure, and tourist behavior.

Semantic Meaning of 'Impact'

  • Various definitions include:

    1. Influence

    2. Effect

    3. Outcome

    4. Result

    5. Consequence

    6. Aftermath

    7. Upshot

    8. Product

Dimensions of Tourism Impacts

  • Categorization based on:

    • Scope: Economic, Environmental, Social, Cultural, Political.

      • Economic: Inflation

      • Environmental: Improved connectivity

      • Social: Increased crime and prostitution

      • Cultural: Broadening of food choices; new sports like surfing

      • Political: Funding priorities based on tourism income

  • Complex Nature of Impacts:

    • Impacts are seldom uni-dimensional and may conflict (e.g., environmental vs. cultural concerns).

Direction of Change

  • Tourism can cause:

    • Positive changes (e.g., job creation)

    • Negative changes (e.g., economic leakage)

  • Leakage defined: Money that leaves the local economy due to imports and expatriate remittances.

Types of Impact

  • Actual vs. Perceived:

    • Actual (Objective): Supported by data

    • Perceived (Subjective): Based on opinions

  • Quantitative vs. Qualitative:

    • Quantitative: Measurable in numerical form

    • Qualitative: Observable and describable

  • Direct vs. Indirect:

    • Direct: Immediate effects on the receiver

    • Indirect: Effects mediated through others.

Temporal Dimensions of Tourism Impacts

  • Cumulative Impact: Effects develop over time.

  • Immediate Impact: Effects from single events, short-term.

  • Long-term Impacts: Ongoing impacts experienced over years or generations.

  • Short-term Impacts: Minor, non-endangering impacts.

Distribution of Impacts

  • Impact levels vary geographically.

  • Reversible vs. Irreversible Impacts:

    • Reversible: Corrected quickly

    • Irreversible: Require long recovery time.

Causal Nature of Impacts

  • Impacts can have chain reactions or isolated effects, particularly in mass tourism.

  • Impacts can be classified as:

    1. Point Source: Specific projects

    2. Non-Point Source: Mobile, intangible effects.

Determinants of Tourism Impacts

  • Factors influencing impacts:

    • Level of Development of the Tourism Industry:

      • More developed industries yield greater economic benefits.

    • Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI): Measures tourism development levels based on several criteria.

TTCI Sub-indices and Components:

  • Enabling Environment: Business environment, safety, health, labor market, ICT readiness.

  • Travel and Tourism Policy: Prioritization, openness, competitiveness, sustainability.

  • Infrastructure: Air, ground and port transport, tourist services.

  • Natural and Cultural Resources: Comprehensive resources assessment.

Framework for Tourism Potential Assessment

  • Cruz’s AS Framework (2009) includes:

    1. Access

    2. Accommodation

    3. Activities

    4. Attractions

    5. Amenities

    6. Atmosphere

    7. Attitude

    8. Administration

    9. Assistance

    10. Awareness

  • Access: Covers visa policies.

  • Attitude: Residents’ openness and friendliness to tourists.

Economic Linkages and Leakages

  • Economic Impact: Depends on income retained in the local economy.

    • Leakages occur due to spending on imported goods and expatriate employment.

  • Mitigating Leakage: Local sourcing is essential for economic stability.

Stakeholder Dynamics in Tourism

  • Equity in tourism outcomes is crucial.

  • Powerful stakeholders often disproportionately benefit, creating inequity.

    • Local elites influence tourism policies and resource allocations.

    • Weaker groups (farmers, indigenous peoples) face challenges in accessing tourism benefits.

    • Social Representations Theory (Moscardo, 2011): Limited tourism knowledge leads to unequal power and decision-making.

Environmental and Social Issues

  • Environmental Discrimination: Unintended consequences of policies impacting minority and lower-income populations.

  • Environmental Racism: Policies affecting disadvantaged groups based on race.

Tourism Policy as a Determinant

  • Tourism policy outlines national priorities and strategies for tourism development.

  • Guides the direction of tourism impact through defined objectives.

Investment Incentives and Development Strategies

  • Tourism Enterprise Zones (TEZ): A key strategy for development.

  • TEZ classification influenced by:

    • Size, location, criteria for environmental and cultural considerations.

    • Limited opportunities favor wealthier developers.

Evaluation Criteria for TEZ

  • Ranks projects based on criteria with specific weight:

    • Ecological design: 25%

    • Economic viability: 20%

    • Competitiveness: 20%

    • Cultural considerations: 20%

    • Community acceptance: 15%

Tourism Volume and Density

  • Tourism Density: Number of tourists relative to destination area.

  • Tourism Ratio: Volume of tourists to local population.

  • Higher density/ratio increases tourism impact.

Specific Cases in Tourism Control

  • North Korea: Tight control over tourism to limit foreign influence.

    • Tourists must always be accompanied by guides and limited to designated areas.

    • Containment methods used to manage negative tourism effects (e.g., red-light districts).

Tourist Market Segmentation

  • Institutionalized Tourism: Standardized experiences leading to decreased destination uniqueness.

  • Non-Institutionalized Tourism: Explorers and drifters engage more deeply with local cultures.

  • Canadian Tourism Commission’s Explorer Quotient (EQ): Segments tourists based on psychographic profiles affecting destination planning.

Types of Explorer Quotients

  1. Authentic Experiences: Seek genuine engagement with destinations.

  2. Cultural Explorers: Constantly seek cultural immersion.

  3. Cultural History Buffs: Focused on historical and cultural aspects.

  4. Free Spirits: Adventurous travelers seeking high-end experiences.

  5. Gentle Explorers: Prefer comfort and familiarity in their travels.

  6. No-hassle Travelers: Seek luxurious experiences without stress.

  7. Personal History Explorers: Connect to cultural roots through travel.

  8. Rejuvenators: Family-oriented, escape from stress.

  9. Social Samplers: Travel in groups, prioritizing major attractions.

Interaction Dynamics with Tourists

  • Demonstration Effect: Residents influenced by tourist behavior but remain insulated in their local experiences.

    • Minimal transformation of institutionalized tourists due to lack of local interaction.

Technology and Environmental Impact

  • Technology modifies tourism impacts, especially environmental ones.

Carrying Capacity of Tourism

  • Defining Carrying Capacity: The limit of human activity an area can support without negative consequences for the environment and visitor experiences.

  • Examples: Regulations like visitor limits at specific sites ensure sustainability.

Conclusion

  • End of Presentation: Thank you!