Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(including citizen science) to bear on issues related to resource conservation,
climate change, social equity and poverty alleviation (Agrawal, 1995; Rettie
et al. , 2009).
In the context of climate change, as Manuel-Navarrete et al. (2010) dis-
cuss, adaptation that includes locals may also foster modifications of gover-
nance structures and, perhaps, the very evolution of governance. Their
study of governance and climate change in the popular tourism destination
state of Quintana Roo, Mexico (in which Cozumel and Cancun are located)
indicates that, for effective climate change governance to occur, entrenched
tourism 'powerspheres' will need to shift to include local residents, which
include Mayan as well as other ethnic Mexican groups. The tourism pow-
ersphere has been dominated by, among others, tourism business factions
(which include a range of tourism business associations, national entrepre-
neurs, international corporations, etc.), along with regional and national
members of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the federal gov-
ernment. They 'share a core culture based on seeking economic gain, and
capitalistic development discourses' and their main concern is 'to control
the benefits of tourism growth, while forging alliances to attract capital to
the region, maximize investment returns, and further their position within
the powersphere' (Manuel-Navarrete et al. , 2010: 13). The prospects of
meaningfully involving Quintana Roo's indigenous Maya or poor migrant
populations working in the tourism service industry in Cancun in CBT,
PPT, or in participating and community-based governance of climate change
remain slim without significant changes occurring in the tourism 'power-
sphere' in Quintana Roo.
In sharp contrast to low indigenous involvement and poor cultural
empowerment in Quintana Roo is the case of beach fale tourism in Samoa
(Scheyvens, 2005). Embedded in a strong cultural independence or faaSamoa
despite almost a century of foreign domination by Germany of Western
Samoa, followed by New Zealand at the start of World War I, respect for
faaSamoa (the traditional way of life of the Samoan people) is key to the
cautious, slow and small-scale development of tourism on the island. This
respect is evident in government tourism policies, which have been closely
aligned with the strong social and cultural traditions of faaSamoa
(Scheyvens, 2005). Another essential consideration is customary land tenure
practices, which control about 81% of the land, so it cannot be sold or trans-
ferred but developers may gain access via 30-year leases or joint ventures. As
Scheyvens (2005) explains, local Samoans diversified reluctantly into tour-
ism as agriculture declined, and lack of interest in dealing with external
development interest enabled the rise of small-scale, locally-owned accom-
modations and services that cater to both international and domestic visi-
tors. External aid by the New Zealand government helped support tourism
development, including beach fale ventures, seminars for fale owners, com-
munity awareness programs, advice and financial grants. Beach fales are
Search WWH ::




Custom Search