Marcus Stephenson

Islamic hospitality in the UAE: indigenization of products and human capital

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges faced by the hospitality industries in developing an Islamic hospitality identity and indigenous styles of management, particularly in the context of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – especially Dubai. It also aims to identify and comprehend the socio‐cultural implications of Islamic hospitality in terms of products and marketing.Design/methodology/approach – This conceptual‐based paper critically reviews and amalgamates a diverse range of literature concerning Islamic hospitality (and tourism), Arab management and leadership qualities, human capital and nationalization of employment, industry skills and educational directives in hospitality and destination and product strategies.Findings – The work critically accounts for the changing nature of skills needed by localised hospitality managers and the industry in general, especially to keep pace with dynamic customer demands and an increasingly sophisticated market and consumer. The outcome of...

Travel and the ‘Freedom of Movement’: Racialised Encounters and Experiences Amongst Ethnic Minority Tourists in the EU

This paper presents a conceptual‐based discussion dealing with social and geo‐political concerns associated with the tourism experiences and travel encounters of ethnic minority citizens living in member‐states of the European Union (EU). Although EU legislation emphasises that its citizens have freedom of movement throughout member‐states, the prevalence of racialised situations transpiring within, across and beyond EU borders suggests that this commitment is socio‐politically ambiguous. The popular hysteria that has developed towards increased immigration from non‐EU countries extends to those minorities who have legal status of entry, residency and/or citizenship – as they too are visibly different from Europes white majorities. The paper thus reflects on ways in which the 11 September 2001 attacks in America have had a detrimental impact on peoples tourism and travel experiences, particularly in instances where individuals have been treated with high levels of suspicion from institutional bodies and ethnic (white) majorities. The work firmly emphasises that racial prejudice, institutional racism and xeno‐racist practices restrict ethnic minority citizens from appreciating cosmopolitan‐based tourism experiences and engaging in congenial exchanges with other European cultures and societies. One of the main contentions asserts that racialised movements limit ethnic minority citizens from achieving full rights to social and (multi)cultural forms of citizenship. The conclusion suggests ways in which researchers ought to respond to the study of tourism and racism within the EU.

Dubai's tourism industry and its societal impact: social implications and sustainable challenges

This paper initially outlines the principles and strategies underpinning Dubais ambitious plans to develop a rather unique destination of international distinction. The discussion, however, recognises the challenges presented by the global economic downturn as well as the recessionary measures that Dubai may have to pursue in order to encourage people to travel to the destination in significant numbers. It is proposed that Dubai may have to look to wider market segments beyond the traditional luxury travel market, particularly through the development of budget hotels. This could challenge any productive notion of a socially sustainable tourism environment and intensify prevailing social concerns. The paper then moves onto a detailed discussion concerning the social impacts of tourism development in Dubai. The discussion focuses on ethnic distinctions in migrant housing and geographical location, social ramifications relating to the urbanisation and aestheticisation of space, and limitations in the availability of cultural tourism resources and heritage infrastructure. Finally, constraints are identified in terms of mobilising local employment resources and human capital to serve the tourism and hospitality industry, and with respect to prevailing social issues concerning expatriate employment.

Holidays and the UK Afro-Caribbean Community

This paper considers the factors in modern society that will have a significant influence upon holiday-taking by a UK community of West Indian origin: the Afro-Caribbean community. Research on holiday-taking has tended to overlook the ethnic dimension with the result that the extent, form and direction of holiday-taking by this community are largely unknown. The paper examines the factors that are likely to influence holiday-taking by this particular community: economic, social and cultural and product-related. It is concluded that holiday-taking as experienced by the majority white population is unlikely to be evident in the Afro-Caribbean community; the extent of participation may be much lower and the form may be very different. It is suggested that ‘the holiday’ is culturally discordant and does not feature prominently in cultural priorities.

Tourism, development and ‘destination Dubai’: cultural dilemmas and future challenges

The aim of this conceptual paper is to provide a critical assessment of Dubais approach to tourism development, focusing on its cultural implications. The work initially observes ways in which the destination is building an image based on iconographic grandeur, monumental innovation and super-modernism. In doing so, the enquiry indicates that one fundamental sociological concern for destination Dubai is its perceived lack of cultural consistency, particularly in terms of the absorption of the old into the new. This position is evident through a paucity of heritage resources and institutions associated with the tourism market, as well as limited public knowledge concerning the ethnic and traditional elements of the indigenous society. Emphasising a more culturally focused tourism agenda could help to socially sustain and ground local communities (and identities) threatened by rapid urbanisation and Westernisation. However, one noted dilemma relates to the complexity of defining and deconstructing indigenous forms of ethnicity and identity. Nevertheless, the discussion claims that it is imperative not to lose sight of the possible opportunities for the productive advancement of localised forms of tourism and cultural capital. The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of examining the diversity of local perceptions of tourism, culture and development within an empirically informed framework.

Chapter 15 Tourism and Islamophobia

This chapter critically focuses on Islamophobic practices that are embedded in travel and tourism environments. Muslims, especially those journeying to other Western nations, are finding that their freedom of movement is restricted within environments perceived to be hostile, particularly in the context of post-September 11. The premise of this chapter is to illustrate the role of travel and tourism in continuing to reinforce Islamophobic attitudes of the West to Muslims worldwide. Importantly, the discussion critically highlights ways in which religious abhorrence, orientalist perspectives, ethnic detestation, and xenophobic intolerance significantly affect tourism experiences. These factors marginalize communities from appreciating the global attributes of tourism, especially elements that express the importance of cosmopolitan forms of citizenship.

The socio-political implications of rural racism and tourism experiences

Based on a presentation to the international tourism conference: Cutting Edge Research in Tourism- New Directions, Challenges and Applications, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey (6-9th June, 2006) which was awarded one of the best papers.

Accessible tourism: concepts and issues

Accessible tourism: concepts and issues, edited by Dimitrios Buhalis and Simon Darcy, Bristol, Channel View Publications, 2011, 336 pp., £34.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-84541-160-2 Best practice in accessible tourism: inclusion, disability, ageing population and tourism, edited by Dimitrios Buhalis, Simon Darcy, and Ivor Ambrose, Bristol, Channel View Publications, 2012, 408 pp., £34.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-84541-252-4