Gareth Butler

Performing Expatriate Mobilities in Kuala Lumpur

Abstract Research focusing upon expatriates in Asia has been geographically sporadic in nature and has typically centered upon those based in China, Hong Kong or Singapore. Focusing on Kuala Lumpur this research analyses the experiences of expatriates via the notion of automobilty by critically observing their preferred modes of travel and the importance their car journeys play in overcoming problems in Malaysia. While a growing body of research has centered on expatriates’ integration into new surroundings, these themes have predominantly observed career motivations and progression, coping mechanisms and the neocolonialism of space. The significance of the decisions made by expatriates regarding how they travel and commute in their new surroundings have been noticeably overlooked. Indeed, the findings of this paper reveal that particular modes of transport are often intrinsic tools in terms of mitigating negative environmental sensations and uncomfortable social encounters. Moreover, it is observed that transportation choices afford some expatriates exclusive opportunities to encounter Malaysia. For others however, transportation preferences lead to a new range of frustrations that were often alien to their experiences back home.

Heritage Tourism in Malaysia: Fostering a Collective National Identity in an Ethnically Diverse Country

As the processes associated with globalisation swiftly erode distinct cultures and identities, it has been argued that heritage attractions have emerged as powerful communicators in developing collective national identities. Although many countries reveal histories and collective pasts that are universally representative of homogenous populations, Malaysia represents a distinctly contrasting scenario. Malaysian heritage attractions do not necessarily represent a singular population but three distinctive ethnic groups. Thus, selecting heritage attractions that appropriately represent Malaysia remains a complicated issue. Using photographs as “real-world” variables to supplement focus-group interviews, this article reveals that young Malaysians exhibit a limited understanding of religious heritage attractions and have developed identities that are highly specific to their ethnicity and own religious beliefs. However, the stories told by several respondents also show that Malaysias ethnic- or religious-centred heritage attractions have the power to foster a simultaneous collective national identity if promoted effectively.

Independent tourist's automobilities in Norway.

This paper critically examines the methods of transportation used by independent tourists and how importantly they value mobility throughout their journeys. While independent tourists are frequently identified as being adventurous and highly mobile, relatively few researchers have critically examined the modes of transport they use or the importance they play in enhancing and fulfilling their desired experiences. Indeed, most literature portrays independent tourists as habitual users of public transport as opposed to modes of personal transport. In this paper, the notion of automobility – a combination of autonomous and self-directed movement – is explored from the perspective of independent tourists in Norway. A multi-method qualitative study was undertaken which analysed the views of 38 independent tourists at eight different locations. The findings revealed that personal modes of transport were intrinsic features of the journeys undertaken and that they offered alternative sensory experiences in contrast to public transport. Moreover, for many independent tourists, autonomous journeys were considerably more important than the destinations they visited. Thus, for many independent tourists in Norway, demands for control, flexibility and adventure could only be satisfied by using particular modes of transport.

Inclusive local tourism development in South Africa: Evidence from Dullstroom:

Growing international debates surround the notion of inclusive tourism development. The objective in this paper is to examine the issues around inclusive tourism development in South Africa through a locality study. The analysis focuses on the small town of Dullstroom which has experienced considerable tourism growth over the past decades as a consequence of its rich tourism products of fly-fishing, agritourism and second homes tourism. Findings are reported from qualitative interviews with black (African) employees of tourism establishments in Dullstroom. The results reveal tourism development in Dullstroom provides a range of positive economic and social benefits for local residents and that this small town exhibits evidence of an inclusive trajectory of tourism development.

Barriers to visiting South Africa's national parks in the post-apartheid era: black South African perspectives from Soweto

Almost 80% of South African citizens are of black African origin, yet are significantly underrepresented in numerous leisure activities and especially at national parks: they accounted for only 8.8% of visitors to South African parks’ recreational spaces in 2010/2011. A review of literature on this issue finds a series of research shortcomings. Using a sample of 466 respondents from Soweto (414 self-administered surveys and 52 in-depth interviews), this paper re-examines the significant barriers deterring black South Africans from visiting national parks. Economic impediments to travel were frequently reported but other previously ignored barriers emerged, including lack of paid holidays, leisure “immobilities” fostered under apartheid, transport issues, time constraints, and lack of understanding and knowledge of what to do in national parks. All maintain the perception of parks as unwelcome spaces for many black South Africans. While park management is now largely done by black South Africans, and valuable policy statements now exist, the problems remain. The paper suggests potential actions to reverse the common belief that national parks remain exclusive white South African domains, including deconstructing the parks’ historical relationship with oppression, better promotion, specialised tour development, and work with schools. Links are made to comparable situations elsewhere.

Flashpacking and automobility

Recent research has attempted to distinguish the key differences between backpacking and flashpacking. However, research observing how both groups choose to travel between destinations remains a neglected theme, and one that may also reveal distinct behavioural differences. This paper critically examines the methods of transportation used by backpackers and flashpackers and analyses how both groups value mobility throughout their respective journeys. While both groups have frequently been identified as being highly mobile, few papers have critically examined the significance transportation choices play in enhancing or fulfilling their desired experiences. Despite suggestions that flashpackers possess far greater financial budgets, most studies have assumed that they travel in similar ways to backpackers. In this paper, the importance of automobility, which is deemed to be a combination of autonomous and self-directed movement, is explored in the context of Norway. Using a qualitative methodology, the experiences of 43 interviewees (26 backpackers and 17 flashpackers) at 10 different hostel locations were recorded in 2009. The findings revealed that backpackers and flashpackers exhibited highly contrasting mobilities, and that previous assumptions regarding how they choose to travel should be challenged.

Working to travel and long-term career dilemmas: Experiences of Western lifestyle migrants in Malaysia

In the context of business or human resource studies, research focusing on migrants has frequently documented the acculturation techniques of the ‘transnational elite’ in new geographical settings or their career progression expectations. Human geography and migration studies, on the contrary, have acknowledged the non-career-orientated motives of affluent ‘lifestyle migrants’ who relocate to new settings in order to obtain a better quality of life. Although migrants have previously received attention in tourism research, particular groups, such as working backpackers or Mediterranean-bound retirees, have arguably garnered greater attention than those that undertake foreign assignments to fulfil travel demands and to attain new experiences. Using lifestyle migrants residing in Malaysia as our focus group, this qualitative study analyses the experiences and travel mobilities of 22 Western migrants from 7 different countries. Our findings reveal that in contrast to business and human resource studies, and similar to human geography and migration studies, many migrants cited travel and leisure opportunities in Malaysia, and the surrounding region, as a dominant motivation for their relocation. However, although numerous positive experiences and highly fluid travel mobilities were recorded, simultaneous dilemmas also emerged that challenged lifestyle migrants’ career progression demands in the long-term.

Conceptualising Challenging Experiences and Post-Travel Culture Involvement

When cultural differences are significant and contact is relatively brief, it can be difficult to find personal relevance in the cultures of others, let alone develop an enduring interest in the host cultures, which would continue after travel. This chapter addresses these cultural tourism issues by examining the relationship between the concepts of challenge and post-travel culture involvement, and their association with self-development. The conceptual framework proposed here draws on interconnected theories from acculturation, cognitive appraisal and positive psychology, as well as relevant literature on immersive, memorable, adventure and transformative tourist experiences. It concludes that the acculturation process models and the stress, appraisal and coping theory are the most helpful for explaining this underlying relationship and for providing a more nuanced understanding of challenge in the context of cultural tourism.

Fostering community empowerment and capacity building through tourism: perspectives from Dullstroom, South Africa

This study observed tourism development in the popular South African destination of Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, and sought to identify the significant social benefits that have been fostered as a result. Dullstroom is synonymous with fly-fishing and is well-known throughout the country for its unique natural environment that is host to diverse flora and fauna. In the South African context, the impacts generated by tourism development on local communities have remained preoccupied with the economic benefits they deliver and rarely the important social gains that may also be developed. Between October 2012 and March 2013, a qualitative research methodology was developed to capture the views and experiences of 46 local employees (predominantly Non-white, South African females) and 16 owners or managers of local tourism-focused businesses. The findings reveal that tourism development has provided a number of positive impacts and that local community members encountered a number of benefits that ventured beyond economic factors. These benefits included empowerment through capacity building and the acquisition of positions that involved a high degree of responsibility, many of which would have been otherwise unobtainable but for the support of local tourism businesses. Others were afforded opportunities to pursue formal qualifications that enabled them to pursue dreams of senior positions or even new career paths beyond Dullstroom. The platforms that enabled these outcomes are discussed from the perspectives of both employers and employees in the local tourism economy.

Reaching the end of the unbeaten path? An analysis of Lonely Planet’s Digital Media “Requiem”

Abstract This paper examines the responses of the online community towards media reports in March 2013 of the potential decline of Lonely Planet (LP) guidebooks following the sale of LP by BBC Worldwide to NC2 Media. Through the inductive analysis of Tweets and comments posted in response to news articles in the online version of The Guardian, two key themes emerged around (1) feelings of nostalgia, sadness and loss and (2) critiques of LP users and impacts on local businesses. Thus, this paper adds new perspectives to a growing body of literature that has sought to question and scrutinize the influential role of arguably the strongest brand in independent travel literature and the increasing impact of technology on published guidebooks.