Tazim Jamal

COLLABORATION THEORY AND COMMUNITY TOURISM PLANNING

Abstract This paper applies the theoretical constructs of collaboration to tourism destinations and offers insight into interorganizational collaboration for one specific tourism domain, the planning and development of local, community-based tourism destinations. Drawing primarily from the literature on interorganizational relations, the theoretical constructs of collaboration are discussed first. Challenges and considerations in the planning and development of local tourist destinations are then summarized, followed by examples of community-based collaboration research. Propositions are presented for guiding collaborative initiatives and for investigating the application of collaboration theory to the planning and development of tourism destinations, from a community-involvement perspective.

THE DISCIPLINARY DILEMMA OF TOURISM STUDIES

Abstract Though tourism is a complex phenomenon crossing many disciplines, researchers tend to approach tourism studies from within the specific boundaries of the main discipline in which they have been trained. Existing tourism theory is thus fragmented and weak. This paper looks at the potential for developing more holistic and integrated theories than currently exist, and for tourism studies evolving into a distinct discipline. The current state of debate in this area is introduced, and several disciplines impacting on tourism studies are examined. Insights are drawn from two distinct philosophy of science perspectives, T.S. Kuhn and R.J. Bernstein. Suggestions are made for advancing the evolution and integration of tourism studies.

Collaboration theory and tourism practice in protected areas: stakeholders, structuring and sustainability

A growing body of research is emerging on tourism and partnerships in protected areas, but conceptual development remains fragmented. This paper tackles this challenge by focusing on three aspects important for sustainability: (1) complexity (nested systems of biophysical environments, tourism and park management structures, community–resident systems, local–global systems and use–conservation gap; (2) scale, structure and scope of collaborations (including community involvement and control) and (3) challenges of implementation and long term structuring (for sustainability and success). Some related questions are: How does the tourism system fit with the protected area system? Who represents “Nature” in negotiations over conservation and use? How can plans and programmes be effectively enacted at the local level for long term success? A theoretical discussion plus an example of community-based collaboration for conservation and economic development in Bolivia (Chalalán Ecolodge) are provided to explore these questions. Chalalán shows an evolving partnership between local and international stakeholders toward local control, and also a complex relationship between local–traditional and scientific knowledge, and cultural change.

The environment-community symbiosis: a case for collaborative tourism planning.

This article advances the proposition that sustainable tourism can be achieved through recognition that the public and private sector, the host communities and the natural environment are interdependent stakeholders in a complex tourism ‘domain’, where no single individual, agency or group can resolve strategic tourism issues by acting alone. The planning and management of this domain for the purpose of achieving sustainability requires moving away from traditional approaches towards dynamic collaboration among the stakeholders of the tourism development and planning domain. Collaboration provides a flexible process which evolves over time, enabling stakeholders to disseminate and manage problems or issues on an interactive basis. It offers an attractive alternative to adversarial problem solving methods in tourism planning and management, when inter or multi‐sectoral participation is required. The paper commences with a discussion of the shortfalls of traditional tourism planning processes and models, fo...

Sustainable tourism, justice and an ethic of care: toward the Just Destination

While a strong knowledge base has developed in sustainable tourism, theoretical links to justice and ethics have been slow to emerge at the destination level, especially about fairness, equity and justice for disadvantaged local groups, including poor, minority and indigenous populations. This paper draws upon, and justifies the use of several key philosophical traditions and social-political perspectives on justice to tackle this issue. A case study illustrates a range of justice issues experienced by local Mayan residents in Quintana Roo, Mexico, related to procedural and distributive justice, fairness and equity in the development and marketing of their natural and cultural heritage for tourism, as well as discriminatory and exclusionary practices toward that ethnic minority. Together, theoretical and empirical insights corroborate the need for a justice-oriented framework that addresses the social and cultural well-being of disadvantaged populations, and attempts to ensure that the poor are better off through tourism development and marketing. Following Rawls’ concept of justice, and linked to Fainsteins Just City, a preliminary framework, based on a joint ethic of justice and care, is outlined to guide tourism development, marketing and policy making in the Just Destination and to offer performative resistance to a globalized culture of consumption.

Bridging the interdisciplinary divide Towards an integrated framework for heritage tourism research

This study draws upon recent learnings of the dynamic context of travel, tourism and touristic practices to propose an interdisciplinary framework for heritage tourism research. Interdisciplinary barriers and intradisciplinary ‘prejudices’ have instilled fragmented, dualistic either/or approaches to heritage tourism research that perpetuate a micro-macro divide. Studies that decontextualize the individual (micro-level) from social structures (macro-level) belie the complexity of heritage and tourism. Production-consumption, local-global and economic supply-demand binaries are pointed out in the article, and theoretical attempts to bridge the binaries are discussed. It is argued that viewing heritage and tourism as performative practices involving relational forms of power, agency and dialogue helps bridge the micro-macro divide. The research challenges are illustrated using the example of a festival representing a medieval heritage: the Texas Renaissance Festival, USA. This case illustrates the importance of identifying the global, historical and postcolonial context in which the local festival and the individual tourist are situated. Directions are offered for developing an integrated knowledge base of the sociopolitical context, structures and practices that constitute heritage tourism.

Developing a framework for indicators of authenticity: the place and space of cultural and heritage tourism

The authenticity of tourism destinations, sites, events, cultures and experiences is of concern to practitioners and researchers involved in the planning, marketing, and management of heritage and cultural tourism. We address authenticity under three dimensions – the objective (real), the constructed (sociopolitical) and the personal (phenomenological) – and two aspects that contextualize authenticity: space and time. Indicators for addressing the object and experience of place, as well as “sense of place,” are discussed within this framework. This shows how authenticity integrally involves situating the object within a place and space that constitute the lived experience of both tourists and residents. An example of aboriginal cultural sites illustrates how the politics of authenticity is also the politics of space, identity and ethnicity (lived heritage). The paper argues for a theoretical and practically useful framework to guide research and practice. The framework and indicator-based application of the framework presented here illustrate the importance of (1) identifying tangible and intangible properties and characteristics of objects, sites and places, and (2) recognizing that these are embedded within sociopolitical, interactive and interconnected relationships between object, place and person.

Tourism on organic farms in South Korea: a new form of ecotourism≟

This exploratory research examines the potential of organic farms in South Korea to enable a distinct form of environmentally sustainable tourism. Case studies involving in-depth interviews with three organic farms and content analysis of the websites of 38 organic farms offering tourism-related activities were conducted. An analytical framework using key ecotourism principles was developed to guide an evaluation of activities and practices on the farms. Organic farmers in the study were concerned about ecological conditions on their land, possessed close ties to that land, and employed related knowledge to help preserve natural habitat and minimize adverse environmental impacts. Social–cultural gains were evident, for both visitors and local inhabitants. It is argued that this type of tourism on organic farms may be a potentially new form of ecotourism (eco-organic farm tourism). The study suggests that ecotourism principles may be usefully applied as a guiding sustainability paradigm for small scale, organic farms engaging in tourism. This new tourism type can be employed as a strategy for facilitating sustainable agriculture, local development, social–cultural and environmental conservation, wellbeing, and learning. Further research needs to be carried out both in Korea and elsewhere to develop this eco-organic farm tourism concept.

Sustainable tourism pedagogy and academic-community collaboration: a progressive service-learning approach.

This article proposes a progressive, experiential and collaborative approach to sustainable tourism pedagogy (STP). Six core STP literacies (technical, analytical, ecological, multi-cultural, ethical, policy and political) are identified, which guide skill and knowledge development for the sustainability practitioner. These are facilitated through experiential education in the field that facilitates critical thinking, practical knowledge and participatory action. It is argued that a critical reflexive stance combined with a collaborative community service-learning approach in STP enables phronesis (practical wisdom) and praxis (social change). A case example is provided of an academic-community collaboration involving undergraduate students, local public and private sector stakeholders, plus diverse rural residents that came together temporarily to explore a cultural heritage issue and challenge. This collaboration facilitated collaborative learning, diverse community involvement and community service. The case overview illustrates a teaching opportunity that conveys how some of these STP priorities were undertaken, including the need for critical social action (to address not only environmental issues but also social-cultural sustainability issues related to the well-being of minority, marginalized and diverse populations).

Multistakeholder Collaboration as Symbolic Marketplace and Pedagogic Practice

This article focuses on the role of power in multistakeholder collaboration. It considers this form of organization from a nontraditional, Bourdieun perspective, which has the authors focus on the how of power and on the role of language in the constitution and the exclusion of voice. A case study—a collaboration convened by a scientific task force to resolve an environmental conflict in Canada’s Banff National Park—is introduced, and this is read off against a number of Bourdieu’s concepts, namely capital, field, habitus, and misrecognition, doxa, and symbolic violence. Through such a reading, the article offers insights into elements of both surface and deep-structure power. The article, by focusing on a science-driven, environmental multi-stakeholder collaboration, also challenges common-sense constructions of the environment and raises concerns over the presumed neutrality or nonpolitical nature of both scientific and economic discourse.