Lee Jolliffe

Cultural rural tourism: Evidence from Canada

Abstract Tourism has become a development tool for many rural and more isolated areas to supplement traditional industries that are often in decline. In this paper, development of cultural rural tourism is examined in a case study of a French Acadian region on an island in eastern Canada. The roles of culture and community-based partnerships are considered in a proposed framework with four evolving development stages. The findings suggest that the framework is useful for rural tourism development; that culture, which is often well preserved in rural areas, is a valuable resource to include; and that community-based partnerships such as cooperatives may be very effective.

Seasonality in tourism employment: human resource challenges.

Seasonality in tourism has a profound impact on the management of human resources in organizations operating in a seasonal context. Tourism employment in Canada is profiled and its seasonality examined in Atlantic Canada, where seasonal tourism employment is common. A model for managing seasonality in employment is proposed as a continuum, ranging from “embracing” to “challenging” seasonality. For each approach, differing human resource management practices are identified and operational impacts are discussed, providing possible strategies for employers operating in seasonal tourism contexts. Ongoing research is planned in Atlantic Canada’s accommodations sector, testing the model for managing seasonal tourism employment.

Tea heritage tourism: evidence from Sri Lanka

Within the context of heritage tourism this article examines the supply components for the tea-related tourism in the tea-producing country of Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon. The tourism context in Sri Lanka is assessed and despite impediments to tourism development some evidence is provided of an early stage of development of tea heritage tourism in the country. The benefits of this form of tourism to the Sri Lankan tea economy are explored and barriers and threats to its development are reviewed. This is mainly based on qualitative field studies of tea accommodations, tea factory access and tea centre operations in the tea-producing hill country of Sri Lanka. From this investigation of the tea-related tourism in Sri Lanka, themes for further research on the demand for this type of tourism are identified.

Tourism and Cold Water Islands in the North Atlantic

When we think about islands, in the tourism context, invariably the images that come to mind are those of sun-drenched, white-sanded, palm-fringed paradises. There are, however, alternatives — destinations which are much more on the periphery of mainstream tourism but for which tourism has been, is or is planned to be, an important component within their profiles of economic activity. Such cold water islands do not have the intrinsic climatic advantages of sun destinations but, none the less, attract visitors for very different reasons — the natural environment, outward bound activity, culture and heritage, to name but a few. Iceland, the Shetlands, the Hebrides, and the Falklands are examples of locations which are seeking to attract visitors without the advantages which sun islands have at their disposal. Other such islands, generally rather closer to main centres of population, developed in popularity relatively early in the growth of modern tourism and, in some cases, have suffered relative decline in the face of competition from warmer alternatives. The Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, and the Baltic islands of Bornholm, Gotland and the Alands are examples of cold water islands which experienced their tourism heydays between ten and fifty years ago and have been struggling to adjust and re-focus their tourism offering in the light of changing market demands since that time.

Heritage tourism in the Caribbean: current themes and challenges

Heritage tourism is one of the most rapidly growing tourism niches. Interest in cultural tourism, especially at World Heritage Sites (WHSs), has been growing all over the world. According to international research, approximately 50% of all tourists seek to visit sites that have to do with culture and heritage. With an estimated 900 million international arrivals visiting the 890 UNESCO WHSs in 2009, heritage tourism has become an important niche market. Today’s tourists are more conscious of, and interested in, the protection of the natural, historical, cultural and social environment. Heritage tourism is often viewed as being synonymous with cultural tourism, historical tourism, arts tourism, nature tourism or attraction-related tourism. The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines cultural tourism as ‘. . . movements of persons for essentially cultural motivations such as study tours, performing arts, and other cultural tours, travel to festivals and other cultural events, visits to sites and monuments, travel to study nature, folklore, or art or pilgrimages’ (UN World Tourism Organization [UNWTO], 1985, p. 131). This definition is inclusive of the two major types of cultural heritage:

Tea and hospitality: more than a cuppa

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how tea relates to hospitality in both the home and commercial contexts. Tea, when taken out of the home situation, represents a service product with a resultant revenue stream that has the potential to be more than a “cuppa”.Design/methodology/approach – This viewpoint reviews related literature and management strategies.Findings – Identifies from a practitioner viewpoint the possibilities for using tea to increase profits within the hospitality business.Practical implications – Argues that tea drinking is pivotal to a wide array of hospitality events and that its potential to generate revenue is often underestimated.Originality/value – An original look at a very old service.

Sculpture trails: investigating success factors

ABSTRACT This paper examines a diverse range of sculpture trails/routes around the world in order to contribute to research currently being undertaken on linear heritage tourism spaces. This is achieved by investigating the scope and settings of sculpture trails and routes; their role in enhancing community heritage and tourism resources and how strong local partnerships are built and maintained. Two case studies from Australia and Canada, respectively, are presented in detail in order to explore these factors further in relation to how their popularity has grown with tourists and local residents.