Exploring the Relationship between Tourism and Development
Exploring the Relationship between Tourism and Development

Exploring the Relationship between Tourism and Development

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  • Pages: 7 (1894 words)
  • Published: December 14, 2017
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Examine how tourism and development are connected by citing instances from diverse well-liked tourist spots.

To comprehend the link between tourism and development, it is imperative to comprehend the meaning of "development." In numerous developing countries, economic progress is currently synonymous with development. Sharpley et al. (2002:25) suggest that in order to tackle this problem, development should be defined as "reducing widespread poverty and unemployment," especially for third world countries as developed nations like England and France do not face significant poverty-related challenges.

Sharpley et al. (2002:27) suggest that development is an ongoing process that leads to beneficial changes in humanity's economic, social, political, and cultural aspects. Tourism is the primary economic sector in many regions such as various Mediterranean islands (Andriotis, 2003:23), contributing significantly to their socio-economic growth. However, creating resorts

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for tourists can have both positive and negative impacts on destinations like overcrowding according to Reid et al. (2003). This essay aims to explore the relationship between tourism and development by defining and examining the effects of development on selected tourist destinations while drawing insights from relevant literature.

According to Theobald (2005:172), the tourism industry is the world's largest, generating an estimated revenue of US$3.5 trillion and providing employment for one in every nine workers globally in 2004. Furthermore, Lanza et al (2005:1) indicate that global tourism receipts have been growing at a rate of nearly 8% annually since 1980. Consequently, an increasing number of developing countries are being targeted by "income hungry 'giants' of the western world" (Reid, 2003:72) due to this significant growth in the tourism market.

Despite the potential for western businesses to develop tourism in an area, there is a fundamental limitation: the

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area's "carrying capacity". This refers to the level of visitor use an area can accommodate with high levels of satisfaction for visitors and few impacts on resources (Lindberg et al, 1997:461). Thus, any development would impact on the area's carrying capacity and limit future development. However, as a resort develops, the number of tourists visiting should increase, creating a balance between development and visitors (Burns et al, 2008). To evaluate the investment level for a developing resort, it is crucial to forecast both the potential visitor numbers and carrying capacity of the region. Evaluating tourism demand within the region is therefore essential.

A study by Lanza et al (2005:4) suggests that tourism demand can be greatly impacted by various issues including natural disasters and terrorism threats. This is evident in areas like Bali which experienced a terrorist attack in 2002, where it is crucial to ensure that any development is accompanied by an increase in tourist traffic to mitigate the potential economic impact (Baker, 2006). Lanza et al (2005:227) also highlight the possibility of economic costs such as leakage to international corporations due to increased tourism. Therefore, it is vital to consider all potential positive and negative outcomes before implementing any development in the tourist industry. Modernisation, which involves societies following an evolutionary path to development, can have varying effects on different societies at different stages of development, from traditional to modern (Sharpley, 2002:247). Economic growth can also result in various forms of development such as the balanced 'big push' approach (Harrison, 1995), which offers a gradual build-up of the destination.

This text discusses the development of Goa, India and how western organizations are impacting rural life

without using a rational and logical method. Tourism is the main industry in Goa, representing 12% of all foreign tourists visiting India in 2004 according to the World Tourism Organization (WTO). In fact, available accommodation has doubled over the last couple of years as noted by Wilson (1997:53), indicating the success of tourism. However, 80% of hotel chains in Goa are owned by western companies, resulting in the majority of generated money being sent back to western countries instead of supporting local communities, despite providing a sustainable industry.

Smith et al (2003) argue that developed nations in the capitalist world system exploit less developed countries. Despite this, tourism has played a significant role in contributing to Goa's economic stability by creating multiple employment opportunities for locals who provide transportation services like buses and taxis. As a result, tourism has improved the standard of living by providing sustainable income sources. Moreover, Noranha et al (2002:295) highlight that there has been a substantial increase in popularity over the years, resulting in an annual rise in visitor numbers.

It is no surprise that the rapid development of Goa has received criticism for its speed of implementation. However, the economic benefits of the tourism industry closely reflect the process of development, particularly in third world countries. As governments gain more power over local communities, the perceptions of residents regarding tourism development and its impact on their daily lives become less important. According to Upchurch et al (2000) and Besculides et al (2002), this trend is noticeable. In Botswana, the difference between everyday life and when tourists visit is significant. The government uses certain villages and tribes as tourist attractions. Mowforth et

al (2003:247) highlight this by stating that “a plume of dust signals the arrival of a jeep."

The act of the villagers stopping their work and dancing in their costumes for the visiting guests indicates the control held by the government over the local populace. This highlights the awareness that the locals have of their duties. Upchurch et al (2000:500) refer to Riga, Latvia as an example, stating that the residents' outlook on tourism evolves from acceptance, tolerance, adaptation, to withdrawal. Upchurch highlights acceptance and adaptation as necessary steps for residents to acknowledge the arrival of tourists and make adjustments to their routine to facilitate tourism's growth in the area.

Tourism is often blamed for altering a region's unique cultural identity, which is what distinguishes it from others. Take the Algarve, for instance; the once-pristine coastline, peaceful islands, and lively nature reserves have been transformed in the past two decades with the sole intention of catering to tourists' needs (Antunes, 2000:433; WTO, 2004). The establishment and enhancement of bus and train services across a region suggest that visitors are given priority due to the possibility of financial revenue. However, tourism has also enabled "local communities to voice and implement a common interest in the region's infrastructure effectively" (Gupta, 2002:367). In essence, tourism has fostered a sense of community among regions, resulting in an improvement in the quality of the tourism product. Furthermore, tourism has generated numerous employment opportunities for local residents in developing nations such as taxi drivers, hotel receptionists, and airport personnel.

Ultimately, tourism development can both limit local residents' freedom and identity while also providing financial support for families. The number of visitors to a destination

is tied to the product/service offerings for tourists. Economic improvements such as job creation also influence a country's decision to develop resorts. However, Besculides et al (2002) note that the development of resorts can face barriers, as seen in Phuket, Thailand during the 1990s. Residents opposed the construction of a resort on a public beach, leading the government to halt the project.

According to Butler's tourism life cycle model (1980), increased growth and demand for tourism can have negative impacts on a community. The residents of Phuket demonstrated this awareness by opposing the construction of a resort, highlighting that money is not always the solution to proposed development. This example shows that protests from residents can occasionally prevent expansion. The essay discusses the positive and negative relationships between tourism and development, which affect residents, regional income, tourists, government strategies, and other factors contributing to the tourism product.

To improve tourism in a region, it is necessary to recognize that sacrifices will need to be made, particularly by locals. These sacrifices are outweighed by the positive effects of increased tourism. It's essential to understand that tourism and development are mutually dependent; without one, there cannot be the other. This interdependence has a significant impact on daily life in different regions (Akbar, M. J.).

The article "Travel and Tourism: India" by K. Andriotis was published in Travel Journals: International, Volume 6 (1) in 2008. The article spans pages 1-33 and is available online at http://oxygen.mintel.com/sinatra/reports/display/id=294908/display/id=323288/display/id=294908/display/id=323288. Accessed on 15th October 2008.

(2003) The challenges encountered by Cretan tourism businesses and the opinions of their owners/managers with regards to dependency on Tour Operators are discussed in the International Journal of Hospitality and

Tourism Administration, Volume 4, Issue 3, pages 23-37. Meanwhile, the new management of the territory and the tourism chain in Algarve is examined in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Volume 12, Issue 7, pages 431-434 by Antunes (2000). Baker (2006) contributes to the topic with a book exploring Sustainable Development, published by Routledge. Another related study is the one conducted by Besculides.

Lee and McCormick, also known as M.E. and P.J., respectively.

(2002) The Annals of Tourism Research published a study by Burns, P. M. and Novelli, M. titled "Residents' Perceptions of the Cultural Benefits of Tourism", which can be found in volume 29 (2) on pages 303-319. Eight years later, the same authors published a book called "Tourism Development: Growth, Myths and Inequalities" in Wallingford through CABI.

The text consists of a list of three sources: an article by Butler titled "The Concept of a Tourist's Area Cycle of Evolution", a book by Ghimire called "The Native Tourists", and an author named Gupta. The citation includes the authors' names, publication dates, titles, and sources in which they were found. The entire text is contained within a

html tag.

(2002) From a theoretical viewpoint, the governance of global sustainable development presents institutional challenges as discussed in the International Environmental Agreements, 2 (1), pp 361-388 by Harrison. Additionally, Wiley and Sons published Harrison's book "Tourism and the Less Developed Countries" in 1995. Lanza, Markandya, and Pigliaru contributed to "The Economics of Tourism and Sustainable Development," published by Edward Elgar in 2005.

In their article titled "Rethinking Carrying Capacity" published in the Annals of Tourism Research in 1997, Lindberg, McCool, and Stankey (1997) discuss the concept of carrying

capacity. The article spans pp 461-465.

The second edition of the book "Tourism and Sustainability: Development and New Tourism in the Third World" by Mowforth and Munt was published by Routledge in 2003. One of the authors, Noronha, is mentioned. The text is enclosed in a paragraph tag.The article titled "Goa: Tourism, Migrations and Ecosystems Transformations" by Siqueria, A., Sreekesh, S., Qureshy, L., and Kazi, S. was published in the Journal of the Human Environment in 2002. The article can be found in volume 31, issue 4, and spans pages 295-302. Additionally, Peel, A. is also mentioned.

(2004) The World Tourism Organisation published "Tourism Trends: Get There First" in volume 5, issue 3, pages 74-91. The book "Tourism, Globalization and Development" by D.G. Reid was published in London by Pluto Press in 2003. R. Sharpley is another author relevant to the topic.

The text mentions two sources related to tourism and development: Telfer's book "Tourism and Development: Concepts and Issues" published in 2002 by Channel View, and an author named Smith. The information is enclosed in a paragraph tag.

Upchurch, R., (2003) The Ethics of Tourism Development, Oxon: Routledge, and Theobald, W. F. (2005) Global Tourism, Third Edition, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann are books on tourism.

The source of the information is a 2000 article titled "Resident perceptions of tourism development in Riga, Latvia" by S. and Teivane in the journal Tourism Management (volume 21, issue 5, pages 499-507). Another author mentioned is Wilson, D.

(1997) The Paradoxes of Tourism in Goa are discussed in the Annals of Tourism Research publication, volume 24 issue 1, pages 52-75.

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