Sherma Roberts

Sustainability Indicators for Small Tourism Enterprises – An Exploratory Perspective

Despite the numerical dominance of small tourism enterprises (STEs) in many destinations, little is known about their role in helping destinations progress towards sustainability objectives. The a priori assumption is that, by being small and locally owned, these enterprises automatically contribute to sustainable tourism development. This paper argues that to test this assumption, relevant indicators of sustainability (ISTs) should be developed. In contrast to destination and community ISTs, which are often stakeholder driven, the indicators developed here take an unconventional but not unprecedented approach, drawing on published frameworks and peer-reviewed case studies. The methodology of this approach has been made explicit so that potential users and researchers can assess its value and build upon it. A list of indicators that emerge from the process, covering the four broad sustainability dimensions, is given, which can be used in assessing the STEs progress towards a destinations long-term sustainability goals.

Small Island Developing States: Issues and Prospects

Based on the need to break away from dependency on primary commodity exports and their fluctuating prices and the existence of only a few natural resources, many Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have sought to diversify their economies to tourism development. International mass tourism has thus become particularly important over the past three decades in many of these islands. The exogenous and endogenous challenges of many SIDS present developmental dilemmas. However, the challenges are but one part of the conversation pertaining to small states. The other part of the conversation is the strengths that are possessed by many SIDS and which should be used to enhance their competitiveness. The chapter focuses on the broad dialogue pertaining to small island states by examining their structural and functional weakness but also their strengths. It also considers briefly the rationale for tourism development in SIDS and the past and current tourism flows to these islands. The implications for competitiveness and destination marketing are discussed.

An exploratory analysis of factors mediating community participation outcomes in tourism

It is now widely acknowledged in the contemporary tourism literature that community participation is crucial to sustainable tourism development, the latter of which emphasizes local participation in the decision-making process. The rationale for resident involvement is that it helps minimize the negative social impacts of tourism development, it increases the level of buy-in into tourism projects and it creates an environment for the host community to receive optimal benefits from the industry. These assumptions have been challenged based upon the heterogeneous nature of communities and the power differentials in participation which can often undermine expected beneficial outcomes. While acknowledgment of these issues is crucial to any discussion on community participation initiatives and outcomes, this paper argues that there are other factors that mediate the extent to which communities are able to access the benefits of community participation initiatives. These factors have been identified in this study as clear and consensual objectives, sustained interest and institutional support. The study was conducted using interviews and a focus group among residents of a small community on the island of Tobago.

Papers from conference proceedings of the 1st international tourism conference - Beyond the boundary: Creating new epistemologies in tourism

www.palgrave-journals.com/thr/ The fi ve papers in this special edition have emerged from the 1st International Tourism Conference held from 8 to 11 December 2009 at the University of the West Indies, Barbados. The conference was the result of collaboration between the three campuses of the University of the West Indies in Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, and Jamaica along with the University of Surrey. Titled Beyond the boundary: Creating new epistemologies in tourism the conference sought to cross the disciplinary divide between tourism and the social sciences in order to allow for the interrogation of tourism phenomena through new methodological, ontological and epistemological lenses. The rationale for the conference can be found in the fact that since the latter half of the twentieth century, the world has witnessed unparalleled change at both global and local levels with issues such as terrorism, globalisation, sustainability, climate change, poverty alleviation and migration assuming centre stage. Politically and economically, the demise of the Soviet Union just over two decades ago seemed to sound the death knell of socialist experiments but the recent collapse of international and national fi nancial markets have also brought capitalist systems into question. The terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001 and subsequent incidents in Bali, Spain and the United Kingdom have given prominence to issues of safety and security and have resulted in fundamental changes to the way we travel. Finally, the proliferation of natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis appear to have provided legitimacy for climate change and environmental soothsayers. While these are but some of the phenomenal occurrences that have marked the past two decades of human history, it is clear that in this context traditional ways of seeing and knowing no longer provide adequate explanations for the rapid pace of global and local change. Tourism, which represents the largest voluntary movement of people across international boundaries, has not been untouched by these changes. While there have been some notable contributions with respect to critical approaches to tourism knowledge (for example, see Ateljevic et al , 2007 ), there appears to still be a predominance of normative discourses and practices within tourism which fail to take account of, or even provide explanations of tourism within the context of rapid global and local change. Therefore, it seemed axiomatic that there was a need to look ‘ beyond the boundary ’ of normative discourses and practices of tourism by embracing interdisciplinary perspectives which can provide more plausible explanations for tourism phenomena within the context of the twenty-fi rst century. The conference witnessed a variety of good quality paper presentations, which refl ected the interdisciplinary nature of the conference; however, owing to space limitations they cannot all be included in this special edition. Editorial

E-Marketing: An Evaluation of Tobago's Official Tourism Website

The highly competitive global tourism industry and changing consumer buying behaviour have meant that destinations need to be more aggressive and strategic in marketing their products. The current global financial crisis has added another layer of complexity for destinations as the marketing agencies now have to use their budgets more strategically. This chapter proposes that e-marketing of destinations provides one of the most strategic platforms for destination marketing organizations (DMOs). However, the implementation and effective use of Internet technologies must meet certain criteria if the website is to attract, appeal and stimulate the would-be consumer to action. This chapter examines and evaluates the official website of the Tourism Division of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the site and provides recommendations for an improved on-line marketing strategy.

The Competitive Island Destination

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) share unique characteristics that set them apart from mainland destinations. Their strengths and the related challenges they face present a distinct context for gaining a competitive edge in the volatile global tourism industry. The case study discussions in this book have highlighted some key strategic marketing issues that SIDS must consider in order to effectively compete in the global tourism industry. The aim of this chapter is to propose strategies that can be utilized by islands states to assist them in further asserting their position in the global tourism environment. Based on the case discussions, three core strategic responses can be delineated, including clarification of a destinations identity, effective use of marketing tools and strategically responding to crises.

Strategic Destination Marketing: The Key to a Competitive Advantage

Competition for a share of the tourism market has intensified as destinations around the world recognize tourism as a viable economic alternative. The international tourism landscape has changed dramatically over the last 10 years with the industry welcoming new players, adapting to new tourists and responding to new crises. As a result, the challenge for many destinations is how to remain or become competitive. Strategic destination marketing has assumed a critical role in establishing a destinations competitive position in this dynamic environment. This chapter examines the role that strategic destination marketing plays in establishing a competitive advantage for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This is done against the backdrop of a discussion on the volatile global marketplace with emphasis on the key characteristics of the new operating environment. The focus then shifts to the strategic marketing response of SIDS in the face of changing global circumstances.

Market Positioning: The Case of Barbados

This chapter reviews market positioning of Barbados using the key constructs of image and attributes. In looking at market positioning, it seeks common trends and any links to the countrys national marketing policy position objectives while reviewing the message used to strengthen the image portrayed to influence customer buying behaviour. There are commonalities and the resulting inference that the national position takes into consideration the needs and wants of the target market based on their perception of the destination product. The research shows that Barbados needs to maintain a global focus in market positioning rather than restrict itself to a regional competitive stance in order to enhance its branding potential.