Antonia Canosa

Empowering young people through participatory film: a postmethodological approach

Children and young people’s voices have often been neglected in tourism research, and this is particularly the case when exploring tourism from the host community’s perspective. The lack of children and young people in tourism research has been attributed to the slow engagement and adoption of alternative and critical methodologies which open up new and fresh ways of interpreting reality. The paper aims to explore the potential for participatory film to uncover the perspectives of marginalised members of the community such as children and young people. We also discuss the use of participatory film as an epistemic philosophy, and as a post-disciplinary form of methodology (or ‘postmethodology’) which is ideologically grounded. The findings suggest that children and young people feel strongly about their community and display feelings of anger and frustration towards tourists who are perceived to not respect the community and the environment. The methodological contribution of this paper lies in the use of an innovative and voice-generative participatory visual method to empower young people to actively participate in tourism research.

The role of travel and mobility in processes of identity formation among the Positanesi

This article is based on an ethnographic study of the community of Positano on the Amalfi Coast in the south of Italy. It examines how the flows of visiting tourists have shaped the economy, lifestyle and rhythms of this small but world-famous tourist destination. Through visual imagery and narratives, I explore how residents of the community create meaningful identities amidst the continuous flux and flow of people arriving and departing. The article builds on the concepts of travel and mobility as underlying features in postmodern societies and as vehicles of identity formation among residents in tourist destinations. The findings illustrate how tourism has transformed the locality of Positano into a network of networks, and has thrust the inhabitants of this small coastal village into the global economy. The research also explores some of the intergenerational differences among older and younger residents that are exacerbated by the changes brought about by tourism. Reflecting on my role as an anthropologist doing research ‘at home’, the article seeks to contribute to the growing field of the anthropology of tourism.

Growing up in a tourist destination: negotiating space, identity and belonging

ABSTRACT There is little research on children’s experiences of growing up in a popular tourist destination, where place and space are contested with visitors, migrants and temporary residents. Existing literature on young people’s experiences of their socio-spatial surroundings has focused predominantly on the rural/urban dichotomy, often neglecting to explore how identity and belonging are negotiated in complex community contexts such as tourist destinations. This paper reports on recent research that suggests that young people’s experiences of growing up in such an environment are nuanced and diverse, with their rich narratives disrupting socially constructed distinctions between the rural and the urban, merging experiences from both worlds.

Consumption, Leisure and “Doof” Neo-Tribes in the Byron Shire

This chapter explores the consumption patterns and leisure pursuits of young people residing in the popular Australian tourist destination of Byron Shire. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, I argue that the various migratory trends and socio-cultural fabric of the region have created images of a “laidback”, “hippy” and “fun” environment conducive to particular forms of entertainment–rave or “doof” parties being one such choice among young people. This chapter focuses on the important function that doof neo-tribes play among young residents, including the symbolic and political meanings attached to the non-conformist consumption choices made by these youth in the face of a heavily regulated night-time tourism economy. Doof neo-tribes thus function as landscapes of a shared identity and foster young locals’ need for belonging and communitas.

Reflexivity and ethical mindfulness in participatory research with children: What does it really look like?:

This article draws attention to the ethical nuances of conducting participatory research with children and young people growing up in a popular tourist destination in Australia. It responds to calls for more reflexively oriented approaches to documenting the ethical dimensions of qualitative research, particularly with children. Prolonged engagement in the field facilitated a deeper understanding of young people’s lived experiences and the challenges they face in negotiating identity, belonging and connection with community. Findings reveal there are a number of important benefits when actively involving young people in research. With the democratisation of the research process, however, comes an increased ethical responsibility which requires a reflexive and relational approach if meaningful and inclusive participation is to be achieved.

Anthropology and sociology in tourism doctoral research

Tourism doctoral dissertations have grown exponentially in recent years. Despite this, there have been limited studies which examine the contribution of specific disciplines to tourism doctoral research over time. Subsequently, this article explores the theories, concepts and methods employed in tourism doctoral dissertations informed by the foundation disciplines of anthropology and sociology. Drawing on a database of 2155 dissertations from four countries, findings revealed exponential growth in doctoral theses grounded in anthropology and sociology between 1969 and 2013. The United States is the primary location for tourism doctoral theses informed by anthropology and sociology, with the University of California as the leading institution. Analysis revealed identity theory was the predominant theory, with socio-cultural change, ethnicity and culture core concepts. Results also showed an increase in qualitative and mixed-methods research. Future research should examine tourism doctoral theses housed in other disciplines, drawing inferences for future scholarly inquiry.

The ‘Voiceless’ population: understanding the social impacts of tourism and their influence on the development of young people in tourist destinations

The International Conference on Sustainable Issues and Challenges in Tourism was held on 3–5 October 2013 at Boğazic i University, Istanbul, Turkey in order to celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary (1863–2013). The event was organized by Maria D. Alvarez (Boğazic i University, Turkey), in collaboration with Ali Bakir (Buckinghamshire New University, UK) and Eugenia Wickens (Help 2 Educate Foundation, UK). The conference featured high-quality presentations, bringing together perspectives from academicians and practitioners on the challenges that sustainability poses to tourism activities, destinations, stakeholders, and organizations. The programme was designed to provide a platform to exchange ideas, concepts, and best practices. The goal was to contribute towards a deeper understanding of the complex topic of sustainability in tourism, as Professor Maria D. Alvarez underlined during the welcoming remarks. In times of uncertainty and growing complexity, many societies and economic sectors face major developments and challenges (Albrechts, 2012). Among others, the growing awareness of environmental issues re-emphasizes the need for long-term thinking and more realistic and effective styles of planning and management of tourism destinations. Understanding destination management challenges is an essential element for the success of the global tourism industry (Fyall, Wang, & Garrod, 2012). Furthermore, tourism destinations are required to constantly improve their own features, attributes, and unique assets to become more attractive places (Alvarez, 2012). The focus of the conference was on sustainability in tourism, bearing in mind the multiple and complex settings of the concept. As mentioned in the foreword of the conference proceedings, sustainability is generally thought to encompass distinctive dimensions such as economic, environmental, and socio-cultural. So, tourism development should be considered within a long-term framework that encompasses the well-being of both contemporary and future generations. The conference was aimed at covering diverse ways of thinking about the main issues facing tourism destinations, destinations stakeholders, decision-makers, and public and private entities when trying to adopt sustainability as a planning and management philosophy. The paper presentations were delivered by delegates with multiple areas of expertise. They covered a wide collection of research studies, conceptual approaches, and best