Kay Dimmock

Management style and competitive strategies among tourism firms in the Northern Rivers.

Abstract Increasing pressure is placed on managers to achieve and sustain their firm’s competitive advantage (Hart & Banbury, 1994; Tse & Elwood, 1990). Competitive advantage can be achieved by developing factors that influence a firm’s competitive posture. External influences include relationships with distributors and competitors, government legislation and societal influences (Porter, 1980). Internal influences include the behaviour and decisions of senior managers, the style of management utilised and culture of the individual enterprise (Hitt & Ireland, 1986). The Northern Rivers region of New South Wales extends from Grafton to Tweed Heads and west to include the shires of Kyogle, Copmanhurst and Nymboida (Anon (c)1995). This study sought to identify the management style of eleven tourism operators in the region, and to recognise whether the style of management has any relationship with the competitive strategies pursued by the firms sampled. The businesses were investigated using a three stage multimethod research approach. Limitations to the work recognise that findings will be descriptive to the scope of the sample. The study was able to identify that a relationship exists between the management style and the competitive strategies of the sample. Several managers sampled are pursuing deliberate strategies to capture market growth. The study also found that deficiency in management style of some managers supports findings of a study undertaken on a national level (Karpin, 1995). From the current exploratory study it is hoped that future research will explore the dynamic nature of managing tourism within the Northern Rivers.

Finding comfort in adventure: experiences of recreational SCUBA divers

Adventure experiences are most often examined from a position that seeks to understand interpretations of risk and uncertainty. This paper has adopted an alternate view in seeking to consider aspects of participants’ comfort during an adventure‐based experience, namely recreational SCUBA diving. Interviews were held with divers who had variation in their level of experience and involvement with the activity. An interpretive approach to analysing the interview data revealed physical, social, psychological and visual contexts of comfort within SCUBA diving. Themes that reflect comfortable experiences are important to recreational SCUBA diving and the broader context of leisure.

SCUBA diving And mArine ConServAtion: CollABorAtion At two AUStrAliAn SUBtropiCAl deStinAtionS

reational activities. t wo New South Wales (NSW) volunteer underwater conservation groups [Solitary Islands Underwater research Group Inc. (SU rG) and Byron Underwater research Groups (BUrG)] were studied to characterize members’ motivations to assist with conservation in subtropi cal/temperate marine environments. t he collaboration between private and government organizations at two dive destinations was explored to reveal implications towards marine conservation outcomes. Primary motivations to engage in marine conservation programs were a desire to contribute to envi ronmental conservation and to increase personal knowledge and diving skill-base. t he volunteer work of these two underwater research groups builds on existing monitoring programs within local marine protected areas with benefits possible through collaboration at each diving destination.

In the Water with White Sharks (Carcharodon carcharias): Participants’ Beliefs toward Cage-diving in Australia

ABSTRACT White shark (Carcharodon carcharias) cage-diving tourism is a controversial activity that provokes emotional and often opposing points of view. With increasing demand for shark tourism since the 1990s, the un- derlying determinants driving this growth in participation remain unclear. This paper adopts a qualitative approach to investigate beliefs underlying tourists’ choice to observe white sharks while cage-diving at the Neptune Islands, South Australia. Elicitation surveys gathered responses from a sample (n = 86) of cage-diving participants. Content analysis of the responses revealed the decision to cage-dive with white sharks is driven by factors including education and the perceived naturalness of the experience. The findings of this study indicate an opportunity for cage-dive operators to pro- vide in situ education and interpretation with potential for increased tourist satisfaction and shark conservation outcomes.

Transformative Education and Sustainable Tourism: The Influence of a Lecturer’s Worldview

Education plays a central role in shaping societal change toward sustainability. The concept of education for sustainability (EfS) draws on transformative ways of teaching and learning, emphasizing critical reflection on values and the active empowerment of students to make change. Underscored by many tenets of critical pedagogy, EfS is centered on an education platform that helps learners to question their values, beliefs, and assumptions. Little research has explored the role of EfS in tourism higher education and how practicing tourism academics integrate “sustainability” into their teaching practice. This article critically analyzes the relationship between tourism lecturers’ understandings of sustainability and the way sustainability is taught and developed through curriculum. Adopting a conceptual framework of “weak to strong sustainability,” this qualitative, interpretive study explored the ideological perspectives of sustainable tourism lecturers. In-depth interviews were held with 31 Australian tourism academics who were involved in teaching sustainable tourism. The findings revealed quite marked ideological differences in how lecturers positioned and taught sustainable tourism, ranging from a “weaker” economic emphasis to a “stronger” sociocultural/environmental focus. It was also evident that tourism lecturers who held a strong sustainability perspective were more likely to engage with transformative tenets of political agency, critical reflection, and activism in tourism higher education.

Is there a place for education and interpretation in shark-based tourism?

ABSTRACT Interpretive encounters are a major component of many wildlife tourism experiences and can make significant contributions to tourist satisfaction and pro-conservation attitudes. The growth of shark-based tourism has provided numerous opportunities to contribute to conservation by exposing tourists to sharks in their natural habitat, provide them with education and interpretation programmes that dispel myths, and draw attention to the threats facing shark populations. However, little research has focused on the motivations and expectations of marine tourists in relation to on-tour interpretation, particularly within industries linked to adrenalin rush. The present study explored the role of on-tour education and interpretation during a white shark cage-dive tour in South Australia. Participant surveys sought to answer the questions, do cage-dive tourists want to be educated and what do they want to learn? Results support the demand for additional on-tour information focused on shark biology, habits, and conservation, suggesting participants want more than an adrenalin rush. The findings contribute to understanding the importance of education in shark-based tourism as the cage-dive participant experience and conservation potential of the tour can be enhanced with the addition of a structured interpretation programme.

Stakeholders, industry knowledge and adaptive management in the Australian whale-watching industry

Whale watching has become an economically valuable tourism sector. The whale-watching industry is complex, involves multiple stakeholders and can involve multilevel governance. This paper uses the concept of adaptive management to underpin an investigation of industry knowledge and information exchange between two key stakeholder groups in whale watching in Australia – whale-watching operators and environmental resource managers. Twenty commercial operators and nine environmental resource managers were interviewed using both quantitative and open-ended questions. Findings showed key differences between stakeholders involved, and inconsistent perspectives across the industry. Resource managers found biological issues, species health and numbers and interpretation important; operators sought clear and consistent knowledge on compliance, legislation and rules. Only half of the operators had direct access to research and researchers. Managers found the industry to be relatively unprofessionally qualified, especially small and non-specialised operators. Whale-watching operators did not specify that any information (about new knowledge, regulations or policy) was obtained from environmental resource managers through information exchanges. There was inconsistent contact between stakeholders, limiting information exchange and the knowledge-building potential of the industry. Improved dialogue between these groups may not only address existing uncertainties, but also lead to more sustainable outcomes across the industry.

Scuba divers and the Greynurse shark: beliefs, knowledge, and behavior

The critically endangered Greynurse shark (Carcharias taurus) is a popular attraction for scuba divers in Australia. However, there are concerns about diver behavior and impacts on the species. While conservation efforts focus on species biology and ecology, research into human behaviors affecting these sharks is absent. The theory of reasoned action was used to examine the divers’ beliefs at two habitat aggregation sites on Australia’s east coast. Results showed some divers were intent on approaching sharks in ways that may breach regulations and guidelines. A lack of knowledge about appropriate behavior was evident for many divers. The study revealed dive staff influence diver behavior and could provide persuasive messages that communicate appropriate behaviors and understanding of sharks and their environments. Such management strategies are important in supporting Greynurse shark conservation.

Presenting phenomenology: faithfully recreating the lived experiences of Surfer Girls

Phenomenology offers an appropriate philosophical orientation to investigate peoples lived experiences. It is an approach that is now widely acknowledged and applied in the social sciences. Despite its increasing adaptation in diverse contexts, the use of phenomenology in leisure studies remains limited and presents many conceptual, theoretical and applied challenges to researchers. A significant challenge is presenting research findings in ways that faithfully present peoples experiences. This paper provides reflexive insights into Lauras (the lead authors) attempts as a current Ph.D. candidate to embrace Heideggerian phenomenology to investigate the experiences of being a surfer. The paper is derived from Lauras thesis process, where she took part in 37 unstructured conversations with women surfers (‘Surfer Girls’), and incorporated her own experiences as a woman surfer into the study. In her thesis, Laura presents her findings in the form of ‘postcards’ to promote women surfers individuality, and to make their words come to life. Text, visual and other aids are incorporated in ways that enrich the written word, and that set a ‘surfing scene’ and create a surfing life-world for the reader. This paper examines and explains the importance of integrating phenomenological method and analysis to give faithful voice to peoples lived experiences, and suggests tools for presenting phenomenological findings. Finally, this paper justifies and promotes the use of phenomenology as an under-utilized means of deepening our understandings of peoples leisure experiences.

The importance of marine leisure environments: investigating visitor and local resident perceptions and uses of marine environments on Coffs Coast, NSW Australia

The coastal region of northern New South Wales, Australia is experiencing dramatic population growth as well as being an important regional destination. The qualities of the natural landscape and marine environments have been a central feature in the regions attraction and appeal. This study considered the importance of the regions marine environments for leisure-related purposes. A total of 267 visitors and local residents of Coffs Coast were surveyed about their activities and the importance of the regions marine environments to them. Both residents and visitors held high opinions of the quality of the regions marine environments and its importance to their leisure. The analysis found Coffs Coast marine environments to be important for the regular leisure activities of those living in close proximity, as well as for visitors. The preferred marine leisure activities included beach walking, swimming, and surfing. Respondents described the marine landscape as distinctive in its accessibility and uncrowdedness. Findings indicate that marine resources are used regularly by residents and visitors who reported a strong desire for the naturalness and integrity of marine environments to be retained.