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!