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Wilson, 2006). Thus, although resorts in the pleasure-periphery are diversifying in terms of
their market segments and product functions, they appear to share some common develop-
ment processes and landscapes, which ultimately serve to work against the principles of
de-differentiation and specialisation which underpin their creation.
Moreover, in addition to the need for more detailed analyses of resort t ypes, another perti-
nent issue which may be added to what Ayala called a 'research fi eld in waiting' (1991: 569),
concerns the development and impact of beach resort hotel complexes (Ayala, 1993; Hall,
2001; Stiles and See-Tho, 1991). Even though much has been written about resort enclaves
(Carlisle, 2010; Hernandez et al. , 1996), discussions of their broader environmental impacts
are rather more limited. These focus on drawing distinctions between more eco-tourism-
based resorts and what Honey et al. (2010: 6) term those that are 'large-scale and mass market
in orientation'. More importantly though, in their study of Costa Rica, Honey et al.
(2010) contrast the environmental impacts which occurred during the late 1990s, when the
state encouraged private investment, with those that are associated with the later launch of
regular international fl ights and increased international investment. At this critical point, the
dynamics of the real estate market produced a boom in resort tourism. As they point out,
between 2005 and 2007, approximately 85 per cent of all new building was based in resorts,
with such rapid development bringing with it severe environmental and economic impacts
(Honey et al. , 2010).
In terms of the former, the construction of new hotel complexes and related shopping
malls has often led to uncontrolled development, causing water shortages and pollution.
Many of the development companies mentioned in the fi rst part of the chapter do highlight
their sustainable credentials but very often, as in the case of Costa Rica, development
processes take on a self-perpetuating mechanism and become in part uncontrollable. Clearly,
though, it is the relationships between the development stakeholders, associated processes and
the impact of resort development that in many instances remain under-researched.
Conclusion
This chapter has reviewed the broad global processes affecting coastal resorts and has identifi ed
some associated trends which are shaping and reshaping these tourism environments. In
addition, it has highlighted the important role of agents, specifi cally global hotel corporations,
and discussed their infl uence in the resort development process, most notably within the
pleasure-periphery. Furthermore, it demonstrates how aspects of postmodernism, particularly
de-differentiation and specialisation, are shaping resorts in the pleasure-periphery by creating
themed commodifi ed environments that are geared towards playfulness and fantasy. Although
the theming of tourism spaces is in itself nothing new - British and American resorts
were certainly also organised to cater for mass pleasure (Lencek and Bosker, 1998; Walton,
2000) - those in the pleasure-periphery are clearly the products of the global process of post-
modernism and neo-Fordism with their emphasis on aspects of consumption and lifestyle.
In reviewing the infl uence of global development processes on the creation and re-
creation of coastal resorts, this chapter also identifi es some important avenues for future
research. Most notably, it draws attention to the distinct lack of understanding of the detailed
processes underpinning development in these environments. Perhaps this is because exami-
nation of the processes of resort development is framed primarily within cultural contexts,
particularly postmodernism.
There is thus an urgent need to explore the contr ibution of other perspectives such as those
offered by the 'new economic geography' (see Debbage and Ioannides, Chapter 19 and
 
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