A clear path towards sustainable mass tourism? Rejoinder to the paper ‘Organic,incremental and induced paths to sustainable mass tourism convergence’ by David B. Weaver

The paper forms a rejoinder to the paper by David Weaver (‘Organic, incremental and induced paths to sustainable mass tourism convergence’). It fully agrees with David Weaver that a sustainable development of tourism should focus on sustainable mass tourism development and not, as is currently the case, so much on niche products labelled ‘sustainable’. However, it critiques Weaver's operationalization of sustainability, his assumption that sustainable mass tourism (SMT) will be the ‘emergent norm’ due to external factors, and his destination development theory showing different paths that, however, all end in SMT. Finally it is shown that the path development idea might be at odds with systems thinking.     

The relationship between Islamic religiosity and residents’ perceptions of socio-cultural impacts of tourism in Iran: Case studies of Sare’in and Masooleh

Religion is known to influence people’s perception and behaviour. This study explores the influence of Islamic religiosity (measured on dimensions of ‘Islamic Belief’, ‘Islamic Practice’, and ‘Islamic Piety’) on the perceived socio-cultural impacts of tourism among residents in two tourist areas in Iran. The results showed that respondents both possessed a high level of Islamic Belief and perceived socio-cultural impacts of tourism positively. The propositions which stated that ‘Islamic Belief’ and ‘Islamic Practice’ have negative relationships with the perceptions of socio-cultural impacts of tourism are not supported. However levels of ‘Islamic Piety’ had statistically significant variations relating to potential changes in infrastructure, life quality and cultural practices that may be due to tourism. This paper also discusses the implications of its findings.     

The influence of dance music on the UK youth tourism market

Today's young people are influenced by a variety of factors when considering a holiday. During the late 1980s and 1990s we have witnessed a rise in recreational drug use and the move in music taste towards repetitive rhythms of re-mix DJs creating their music from synthesized tunes on records and CDs. The ‘Big Name’ DJs such as Sasha, Pete Tong, Danny Rampling, etc. are superstars within today's youth culture and receive wages to match their status. During the past 5–10 years, we have also witnessed a move towards young people taking holidays to pursue their interest in Dance Music and to follow their favourite DJ to wherever in Europe, or the world, they may be playing. Often the established night-clubs within countries will seek to attract these DJs, but sometimes special holidays are packaged by tour operators with a distinct Dance Music theme, highlighting famous ‘superclubs’ such as Cream and Ministry of Sound. Radio stations are also becoming involved, especially London's well known Dance Music station ‘Kiss FM’ who, in conjunction with a tour operator, offer a distinct Dance Music tourism experience.     

The missing component in the ‘greening’ of tourism: The environmental performance of the self-catering accommodation sector

The self-catering accommodation sector has witnessed substantial growth for well over 20 years due to a range of factors, including increases in second home and holiday home ownership and property investment. During this time, debate has arisen over the impact of such ‘holiday homes’ on local communities and rural economies. However, today they are also a substantial element of tourism supply in the self-catering accommodation category in many rural areas, which has largely been ignored and particularly so in the context of the ‘greening’ of tourism and environmental performance (EP) of tourism enterprises. This article aims to address this paucity of attention. First, the background to the ‘greening’ of tourism and tourism enterprises is established and the significance of this to self-catering accommodation. Subsequently, the main findings of a survey into the EP of self-catering accommodation undertaken in the Lake District National Park are discussed.     

Benefits of visiting a ‘dark tourism’ site: The case of the Jeju April 3rd Peace Park, Korea

This research examines visitor experiences at a contemporary dark tourism site: the April 3rd Peace Park on Jeju Island, South Korea, a site commemorating and memorializing one of the most destructive episodes in modern Korean history. The study employed quantitative and qualitative research methods, with 46 semi-structured interviews forming the basis of a questionnaire, and 407 valid questionnaires obtained for data analysis. The implications of the findings are firstly that ‘obligation’ remains a key motivation for a visit, with a number of subsequent visitor benefits also identified. Secondly, that a benefit-based approach provides an effective framework for comprehending visitor experiences in dark tourism contexts. And thirdly, that a ‘hot interpretation’ of visitor experiences in dark tourism contexts remains particularly valid for comprehending visitor experiences, and in turn, for effectively designing and managing dark tourism sites within Asia and more generally.     

An occupational hazard? Sex segregation in tourism employment

This article presents data from an exploratory study carried out over a 12 month period using qualitative research methods. The study tests theoretical concepts adapted from the model of the ‘vicious circles of job segregation’ (Collinson et al., Managing to Discriminate. Routledge, London, 1990) in the specific context of tourism organizations. It examines factors which contribute to the sex segregation of employment in selected tourism organizations, and the role of equal opportunities policies in resisting segregationary practices. The findings of this initial research conclude that participating tourism organizations rationalize job segregation in relation to the culture of tourism. In addition, the informality of internal recruitment systems serves to reproduce existing organizational structures. There is evidence to suggest that use of equal opportunities policies can provide one possible means of resistance to such segregation.     

Foreign travelers’ satisfaction with traditional Korean restaurants

Despite the tourism growth in Korea, foreign travelers remain dissatisfied with Korean restaurants. Accordingly, this research investigates the factors influencing foreign travelers’ satisfaction with traditional Korean restaurants. Using a modified SERVQUAL scale, three dimensions of service quality (‘intangibles’, ‘tangibles’, and ‘food’) as well as expectation and value for money appear to positively influence foreign travelers’ satisfaction with traditional Korean restaurants. In turn, foreign travelers’ satisfaction has a positive influence on both their intention to revisit and their intention to recommend. The results of this study are useful to help restaurants develop strategies to strengthen foreign travelers’ satisfaction with their experience at traditional Korean restaurants.     

Sex,romance and the carnivalesque between female tourists and Caribbean men

In this paper I examine interviews with female travelers who have been involved with Caribbean males during their holidays in Trinidad and Tobago and suggest that their experiences can best be understood employing the concept of the carnivalesque. Bakhtin (1984 [1968]) has described the carnivalesque as a temporary liberation of the established order, a world ‘upside down’ where bodily excess is celebrated. The concept of the carnivalesque seems useful not only because of the apparent suspension of the traditional order that takes place when white, Western, middle-class women are dating poor, uneducated, black males, but also because it allows to transgress the dichotomy of sex tourism and romance. Furthermore, carnival has been considered as potentially subversive, as it leads to an inversion of hierarchies, but also as conservative, since a temporary transgression is often followed by a return to an order that is thereby strengthened. Indeed, the narratives of some women suggest that their engagements with social and racial ‘Others’ remain temporary with little effect to the racial discourses they draw on, while others appear to transgress social and racial borders more substantially without falling into racial Othering.     

Building a model of local food consumption on trips and holidays: A grounded theory approach

This study examines the factors influencing consumption of local food and beverages in destinations. The study used grounded theory to obtain insight into the local food experiences though interviews with 20 individuals and used these data to propose a model of local food consumption. The model constitutes three categories: ‘motivational factors’ (i.e. exciting experience, escape from routine, health concern, learning knowledge, authentic experience, togetherness, prestige, sensory appeal, and physical environment); ‘demographic factors’ (i.e. gender, age, and education); and ‘physiological factors’ (i.e. food neophilia and food neophobia). This study established an in-depth understanding of consumption of local food in destinations.     

Ecosophy and tourism: Rethinking a mountain resort

This paper explores how an ecosophically inspired tourism strategy could enhance a Scottish mountain recreational site threatened by climate change. Drawing on qualitative data, the paper focuses on three research questions concerning: the impact of current infrastructure and management strategies on tourist experiences; tourists’ current interpretations and desires; and how the notion of an ecosophically informed tourist attraction might be realised in the light of these experiences, interpretations and desires. Conclusions indicate that the site is a long way from being an ecosophically inspired tourism resort which might foster an engagement with nature. Insights are provided as to how this might be achieved. Critical to the paper is a consideration of how the ‘packaging’ of tourist experiences militates against a meaningful personal connection with the mountain environment.     

‘An edifying spectacle’: A history of ‘tourist corroborees’ in Victoria,Australia, 1835–1870

Parsons [Parsons, M. (2002). “Ah that I could convey a proper idea of this interesting wild play of the natives” corroborees and the rise of indigenous Australian cultural tourism. Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2(1), 14–27.] has persuasively argued that nineteenth century corroborees performed for non-indigenous audiences may be considered to be Australia's pre-eminent prototypical indigenous cultural tourism product. This paper extends Parsons' [Parsons, M. (1997). The tourist corroboree in South Australia. Aboriginal History, 21(1), 46–69; Parsons, M. (2002). “Ah that I could convey a proper idea of this interesting wild play of the natives” corroborees and the rise of indigenous Australian cultural tourism. Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2(1), 14–27.] analyses of ‘tourist corroborees’ in nineteenth century South Australia to corroborees staged in Victoria during the pastoral period and the gold rushes of the 1850–1870s. It argues that an Aboriginal-grown ‘business acumen’ developed rapidly in the economic climate of the Victorian goldfields. It also provides a historical context to this commodification.     

Holidays of older gay men: Age or sexual orientation as decisive factors?

Studies of holidays by gay men and lesbians reflect the characteristics and tourism profiles of younger persons. Invariably such studies show intensive holiday-taking and a desire for gay space when on holiday. Existing specialist product offer is targeted at this younger market by a small number of specialist tour operators. In this UK-based study, the requirements and current holiday profile of older gay men were examined. Studies of older gay men identified various views about lifestyles including both lonely, closeted individuals and well-adjusted individuals with surrogate families. Studies of ‘mainstream’ senior tourists implied intensive and experiential holiday-taking. On the basis of this literature it was postulated that the tourism profile of older gay men would be ‘positive’. The study was undertaken through interviews conducted with 23 men over the age of 35. It was concluded that holiday requirements were similar to those of other older people but with the further dimension of gay-friendliness. Informants felt there were opportunities for specialist and other tour operators to develop products and for destinations to be positioned appropriately for an older gay man's market.     

Revisiting the convergence hypothesis for tourism markets: Evidence from Turkey using the pairwise approach

This paper empirically revisits the tourism markets convergence hypothesis (Narayan, 2006) for the case of Turkey by employing the newly developed pairwise approach to the analysis of stochastic convergence ( [Pesaran, 2007] and [Pesaran et?al., 2009]). This new approach allows for unit root tests to be conducted on all possible pairs of tourist arrival differentials across Turkey’s 20 major tourist source markets, thus avoiding the need to choose a base source market or total tourist arrivals figure as the benchmark. Using monthly data over the period January 1996 to December 2009, the main finding is that despite considerable ‘co-movement’ of international tourist arrivals in Turkey, there is no evidence of long-run ‘convergence’ among Turkey’s major tourism markets. Cluster-based club convergence analyses alongside bivariate pairwise estimations confirm the lack of convergence and highlight specific tourist source markets with considerable untapped potential. These findings have profound policy implications for Turkey’s inbound tourism planning and promotion.     

Community-based tourism ventures,benefits and challenges: Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust,Central District,Botswana

The impact of Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) is seen by many as a ‘win-win’ situation with reference to natural resources conservation and the improvement of local communities' livelihoods. However, community engagements in CBNRM and tourism have elicited many views as far as natural resources utilization is concerned. Some affirm the importance of CBNRM; others question it, while others call for its improvement. The premise of this study is to investigate the benefits and challenges of community-based tourism in one community of Botswana. Results show that although some benefits have been identified, there remain many challenges for the Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust (KRST). It is evident that for community-based tourism to bring more benefits for locals, more interaction is needed between them and the Trust management. Increased local involvement and participation will help to ensure that people are empowered and the conservation of natural resources takes place. This paper asserts that community-based ventures, if properly run and managed, can promote the conservation of natural resources and increase local benefits through participation in tourism activities.     

A visitors' evaluation index for a visit to an archaeological site

This study aims to propose and validate a visitors’ evaluation index (VEI) that captures service evaluation in the context of a visit to an archaeological site. Drawing on the literature on the concepts of ‘service quality’, ‘service experience’, ‘service convenience’, and ‘visitor's satisfaction’, the study develops a measurement index that includes the specific components of service evaluation associated with a visit to an archaeological complex. To validate the proposed VEI, the paper describes an empirical study of 1021 visitors to the Roman archaeological site of Italica, located in Santiponce (Spain). Following structural equation modelling (SEM), the results validate the proposed structure of four theoretical components in the VEI: (i) ‘service experience’; (ii) ‘service quality’; (iii) ‘access sacrifices’; and (iv) ‘effort sacrifices’. Of these, ‘service experience’ is found to be the major contributor to the robust VEI proposed and validated in the study.     

Web-based GIS in tourism information search: Perceptions,tasks, and trip attributes

People’s strategies and choices to utilize tourism information have shifted dramatically over the years following ubiquitous access to the Internet. Despite the fact that many tourism information searches on the Internet involve geo-spatial information through WebGIS, little is known about tourists’ behavioral patterns with this media. The purpose of this study was to examine tourists’ trip situations, tasks, and perceptions toward WebGIS. An electronic survey method and multiple regression technique were used to collect and analyze data. Findings indicate that ‘usefulness’ and ‘playfulness’ were the key factors that determined the level of usage and interaction. Users showed distinct behavioral tendencies under different trip situations and task performances when searching tourism information using WebGIS.     

Steps to Space; opportunities for astrotourism

Recent years have seen the emergence of the astrotourist following the $20 million trip by Dennis Tito to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2001. Although this is the preserve of the hyper-elite, within the next decade it is likely that there will be more affordable opportunities on sub-orbital reusable vehicles pioneered by the Virgin group. This paper offers an overview of recent developments in the space tourism industry as a whole and offers definitions for the new sector of astrotourism. Drawing on motivational theory, the study examines the motivations and experiences that astrotourists have demonstrated through interviews reported through the media. However, parallels are demonstrated with the existing terrestrial space tourism industry, which has been largely ignored to date. Consequently the paper also examines the management of these sites and the challenges this niche presents. There is also evidence of a travel career being marketed by space tourism travel agents, dubbed by one interviewee as ‘steps to space’. This builds on potential tourists' existing aspirations for space experiences allied to these companies' credentials in adventure tourism. Whilst sharing parallels to the work of Pearce (1982), the focus of this career on one particular theme is of interest. This theoretical bridging is useful for observing tourism organisations at work, and furthermore uncovers the massive potential that developments in space tourism present for the tourism industry as a whole.     

The demand for tourism in North East England with special reference to Northumbria: an empirical analysis

This paper examines the trends of tourism in North East England. In particular, we focus on the area of Northumbria to show the potential of tourism for economic development in the region. Within this analysis, we concentrate on the demand for tourism in the region, and in particular we are concerned with tourism by UK residents in Northumbria (‘domestic’ tourism). The long run relationship between domestic tourism demand, and a number of economic factors effecting this demand, is considered using the Johansen and Juselius (1990, 1992) Multivariate Cointegration analysis. An error-correction model is then proposed for short-run forecasting of domestic demand for tourism in Northumbria.     

Gap year volunteer tourism: Myths of Global Citizenship?

The valorisation of cross-cultural understanding and promotion of an ethic of global citizenship are at the forefront of the recent development and proliferation of international ‘gap year’ travel programs and policies. Governments and industry alike promote gap year travel uncritically as a guaranteed pathway to the development of inclusive ideologies associated with global citizenship. In this paper we examine how the neoliberalist context in which gap year travel programs have proliferated does little to promote tolerance. We then consider the recent growth of ‘volunteer tourism’ as an alternative gap year youth travel experience and explore how the implied resistance to self-serving neoliberalist values that it engenders can become coopted by neoliberalism.