Community Reflections
Stakeholder Tensions in an Island Community: Balancing the Needs of Tourists and Local Residents
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Paul Freathy
The Western Isles of Scotland have been recognised as being amongst the most disadvantaged and economically fragile regions of the UK. This vulnerability is derived in part from their physical isolation and compounded by an over reliance upon particular industries, limited employment opportunities and an inadequate transport infrastructure. Tourism and leisure activities remain critical to the island's economy and are central in supporting retail and supplier businesses as well as hospitality and accommodation services. At the same time, the arrival of significant numbers of visitors from the mainland each year, impacts upon the lives of local residents. This paper is based upon a series of empirical studies undertaken by the authors and details the competing tensions that exist between commercial income generation and the maintenance of cultural and lifestyle values. It suggests that while the positive impact of tourism may outweigh other, more negative concerns, island life is not immune from the pressures of the market. These externalities manifest themselves in the spheres of both consumption and production. The paper concludes that while the Western Isles remain spatially and temporally unique, the challenges faced by the local population has broader, global applicability.
Assessing the Heterogeneity of Anti-Tourism Sentiment: A Historical Perspective from Santa Fe, New Mexico
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Samuel Reitenour
This paper argues for the usefulness of the discipline of history in studying stakeholders’ perspectives on tourism. It highlights the multiplicity of anti-tourism ideas within a single destination community and injects historians’ attention to change over time into interdisciplinary conversations on this subject. Understanding the historical evolution and diversity of sociocultural and economic arguments against tourism can help industry professionals and governing bodies respond appropriately to stakeholders’ concerns. It can also help stakeholders adjust their strategies for managing overtourism or pursuing economic diversification based on prior successes and failures. Although this study operates within the disciplinary framework of history, it breaches this discipline’s insularity by offering its interpretive strategies to tourism studies at large. As a case study, this presentation consists principally of a textual analysis of mentions of tourism in one newspaper, El Grito del Norte, between 1968 and 1973. It also draws on secondary literature and archival documents to make the case for a longue durée approach to anti-tourism sentiment. By qualitatively analyzing multiple strains of this sentiment through a close reading of newspaper editorials and write-ins, this study demonstrates that stakeholders’ points of contention with tourism emerge from multi-sided intracommunity dialogue, vary depending on their positionalities within the community, and shift over time as the industry itself evolves. This research suggests that historically grounded understandings of perceptions of tourism, rather than ones which react strictly to the immediate concerns of the present, represent a productive path forward for both the industry and the communities that sustain it.
Importance of Human Capital Development as an Integral Part of the Overall Development of the Destination
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Dino Daal
In the wake of accelerated tourism growth, Curaçao finds itself at a pivotal juncture, prepared to exploit the vast potential of its pulsating tourism and hospitality management industry. With its remarkable landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality, Curaçao has become an increasingly sought-after destination for travelers worldwide. However, as the industry experiences rapid expansion, it faces the pressing need to cultivate a skilled and resilient workforce capable of meeting the evolving demands of the market. As one of the key strategic planning areas of the Strategic Tourism Destination Development Plan (STDDP, Daal & Benjamin, 2022), the Human Capital Development Plan (HCDP) is designed to address this imperative, serving as a strategic blueprint for nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable growth within Curaçao tourism and hospitality management industry. By prioritizing the development of human capital, the island not only enhance the competitiveness of our destination but also empower the local communities, driving socio-economic progress and prosperity in a sustainable manner.
