Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Through the analyses of the case studies, characteristics and roles for the
private sector/tourism industry were identified that could contribute to minimiz-
ing the conflicts and meeting the challenges that occur in the interrelationships
between tourism initiatives and rural livelihoods. The roles and characteristics
identified could also address some of the constraints and barriers to the commu-
nities receiving appropriate and effective livelihood benefits, and raise awareness
within the community concerning the realistic potential of tourism to deliver
effective and appropriate benefits. Communication, or rather the lack of it,
seemed to play a significant role in engendering and sustaining the conflicts that
were present in both case study areas and the absence of regular meetings
between stakeholders and the lack of other formal and informal interactive struc-
tures such as participatory events, community meetings and feedback sessions
was also a notable contributor to an absence of understanding and interaction.
Communication appears to be a vital element at all stages of the development and
operation of any tourism initiative but especially in one designed to deliver
benefits to a community. It seems to be essential to provide a forum for greater
understanding of the realistic potential of a tourism initiative and to overcome
some of the barriers to the involvement of community members in the tourism
industry and associated secondary industries. Community knowledge and aware-
ness of the markets, their pitfalls and possibilities are clearly important. If we
assume that this knowledge is typically held by the private partner (Hall, 2007;
Simpson, 2008a), then it could be argued that the private sector is best positioned
to impart this knowledge and understanding to the community. During the estab-
lishment and negotiation phase, open communication is necessary to create trust
and to ensure that agreements match the expectations of all parties. The research
indicated that this communication and a facility for the community and its
individual members to express their views, needs and desires should be
maintained throughout the life of the initiative by using structured channels of
communication and encouraging regular participatory events.
The private sector appears broadly to recognize the issues of sustainability,
and to recognize the importance of the community as a stakeholder in the
paradigm of successful tourism, with the more aware operators and investors
understanding something about the needs and requirements of the community
(Swarbrooke, 1999; Scheyvens, 2002; WTO, 2005). However, when investors and
private operators consider an initiative in a rural area, there appear to be a number
of other serious considerations and potential constraints to the commencement
and long-term success of the project, including: a limited manpower and skills
pool; regulatory and policy restrictions regarding fundamental issues such as
construction and operation; cultural and language barriers; political constraints,
i.e. support or objections by local, regional and national government or conflicts
with current political agendas; an additional economic cost of conducting
business in a remote location; decisions about whether or not to involve the
community in the ownership structure or give the community some other level of
tenure in the business; and if one of the defined objectives of the initiative is to
benefit the community then weighing up the potential environmental, economic
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