ABSTRACTS

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11/3

David Barkin/Mexico

Social tourism in rural communities

Barkin@cueyatl.uan.mx

Social Tourism in Rural Communities: An instrument for promoting sustainable resource management
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana
Unidad Xochimilco
Apartado 23-181 16000 Xochimilco, DF, MEXICO
Fax: +525-483-7235 Email: barkin@cueyatl.uam.mx

Prepared for delivery at the 2000 meeting of the Latin American Studies Association, Hyatt Regency Miami, March 16-18, 200

Introduction:

Tourism: the industry without smokestacks. Many consider the industry to be a virtually costless generator of employment and well-being, offering seemingly limitless opportunities for "real" economic development to countless communities away from the centers of global industry and financial power. Even better, the industry is often heralded as a perfect instrument for achieving the goals of sustainable development, a vehicle by which a nation can exploit its resources while protecting them. A surprising feature of the tourism literature is its unquestioning acceptance of this vision, with many promoters fashioning an analysis designed to confirm the industry’s contribution to national development and most especially to foreign exchange earnings without critically examining 

Abstract

Large portions of rural South Africa can be considered to belong to the Third World. Tourism has been shown to often be the catalyst for the economic empowerment of such regions. There is no exception to this in the Free State, and particularly in the area formerly known as the Qwa-Qwa homeland. Since 1993, there has been no tourism development in Qwa-Qwa, therefore the purpose of this study is to investigate the lack and problems of tourism development in Qwa-Qwa, with emphasis on ecotourism in the Qwa-Qwa National Park (QNP).

Three role players were identified to be involved in developing ecotourism in the QNP: the community resident in the Park, Agri-Eco (a parastatal of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, established to administer the Park on its behalf), and the Provincial Government. Although the QNP has all the necessary resources and features to provide specialized tourist facilities, the following were identified as the major factors affecting ecotourism development in the area:

Abstract

INDICADORES DE TURISMO SUSTENTABLE EN EL CARIBE: ISLA DE COZUMEL – MÉXICO: AVANCES.

Oscar Frausto*
María Teresa Perdigón*
Melba González*
Noemi Castro Sansores*
Anna Claudia Ticca *

* Universidad de Quintana Roo – México, Departamento de Desarrollo Sustentable. Av. Andres Quintana Roo, calle 110 sur S/N, Frente a la Colonia San Gervasio, Isla de Cozumel, Quintana Roo, México – C.P. 77600.

Con base en la propuesta metodológica de la OMT para diseñar indicadores para el estudio, análisis y evaluación de las actividades turísticas en áreas críticas, se desarrolla el proyecto de Indicadores de Turismo Sustentable en el Caribe con miras a: 1. Formar un banco de datos temático, y 2. Estudio de cada indicador para determinar su riesgo, valor, relevancia, comprensión, comparabilidad y capacidad predictiva. Los indicadores se clasificaron entres tipos con base en su ambiente de desarrollo, en 30 subtipos según su nivel de riesgo y en 45 subindicadores de acuerdo al tema específico. Los indicadores estudiados son:

• Indicadores ecológicos: Manejo de desechos sólidos (volumen de desechos sólidos y naturaleza y tipo de desechos sólidos), Recursos de agua dulce (escasez / disponibilidad de agua dulce, calidad fisicoquímica y biológica de agua dulce), Protección de recursos biológicos degradación arrecifal (biodiversidad de especies en el arrecife, contaminación del agua cerca del arrecife, coliformes fecales en playas, número de especies raras/en peligro de extinción), Educación ambiental (educación directa de operadores, buzos y visitantes), Exceso de visitantes y congestión en las áreas de arrecife seleccionadas (Uso intenso en temporada alta), Fondos económicos para protección (ingresos dedicados a protección), Contaminación visual (construcción de edificios elevados a la orilla de la playa, % de la línea de la playa con poca o sin alteración).
• Indicadores económicos: Impacto del costo de vida para locales (canasta básica alimenticia), Dependencia singular en el sector de turismo (% total de empleo en la isla en turismo), Ingresos bajos en turismo (desembolso por turista), Acceso (vuelos directos nacionales/internacionales a Cozumel), Integración turística en el plan nacional (proceso de planificación –existencia de plan regional para destinos turísticos), Precio/ valor dinero (precio promedio mensual de cuartos, valor por precio).
• Indicadores sociales: Nivel de turismo (número de turistas que visitan Cozumel), Impacto social (proporción de turista por locales en temporada alta), Crimen (número de crímenes reportados por residentes y no residentes), Ocupación hotelera (ocupación de hoteles), Costos y beneficios del turismo (proporción del beneficio social), Niveles de población local (niveles de inmigración), Perdida de identidad cultural (lenguaje de signos - % en español e inglés, uso de la lengua maya, uso del vestido tradicional, hábitos de consumo de comidas), Impacto de barcos de crucero (llegadas de cruceros - total, por mes, en los días más intensos, desembarque / embarque de pasajeros), Falta de cumplimiento de normas y estándares (número de violaciones a las normas y estándares), Salud (higiene de restaurantes - número de casos reportados a las autoridades por violaciones a la salud), Participación local en decisiones de planeación en turismo (Niveles de involucramiento de la comunidad local).

 Turismo Rural Sostenible como una oportunidad de desarrollo de las pequeñas comunidades de los países en desarrollo.

RESUMEN:

El trabajo trata de destacar la importancia económica que tiene la actividad turística para las poblaciones receptoras por los beneficios que el hecho social puede producir a la vez que advierte los peligros que una actividad descontrolada presenta, por los aspectos negativos que pueden afectar a las comunidades, no sólo por el fenómeno de la aculturación sino particularmente por los daños al entorno. Se establece un método para determinar la capacidad de carga o acogida en una determinada región y los factores a considerar para controlar la afluencia de visitantes. Se hace un análisis de lo que constituye el producto turístico para formular un concepto de lo que es el desarrollo turístico sostenible y los principios de dicha sustentación para preservar el legado histórico, cultural y natural del área. Se analizan los sistemas de gestión ambiental como una medida de control. Una vez determinado el concepto de turismo rural se establecen sus posibles variantes, particularmente el ecoturismo, como la modalidad más importante de un turismo orientado a las áreas naturales y alejadas de la poblaciones urbanas. Se definen algunas otras variantes de turismo rural como el agroturismo, el turismo de aventura, el turismo de salud, el turismo religioso, algunos de ellos ya considerados, en ciertos círculos, como ecoturimo

ABSTRACT

Nowadays security has a prime role as an essential condition for tourism. Several investigations about tourist safety show that violent incidents and crimes against tourists affect the industry in an unfavorable way. Tourists select a destination based not only on price and image, but also in personal safety (Pizam, Tarlow & Bloom, 1997).

Mexico City, as any other major city, faces several problems. Lack of security, high crime rates, air pollution, and lack of hygiene in food preparation might discourage tourists from considering the city as a destination.

This paper has two objectives. The first is to present the most relevant published incidents (international press releases, newspapers, internet, consular reports) about tourist safety that may have affected Mexico City's image. The second, is to present results of the study carried out to determine the concept that tourists have about Mexico City, particularly in relation to the crime and security index, and finally to identify the impact of these problems in the image of Mexico City as a tourist destination.

The results showed that Mexico City's image improved after the visit. . The perception of safety has a positive correlation with the image that the tourist has, after visiting the city in relation to the following attributes: cleanliness, public transportation, public safety, and peoples' attitudes. On the other hand, when people become knowledgeable about the level of crime, the correlation about crime and image became negative in relation to the following attributes: public transportation and price.

Abstract

Qualitative and quantitative data collected from October 1999 to March 2000 in communities bordering Costa Rica’s Corcovado National Park suggest that placing an economic value on forest resources may cause shifts in peoples’ environmental values. In personal interviews regarding the importance of Corcovado National Park and its surrounding forest, people who depended upon the forest for their economic livelihood tended to frame the forest’s importance in primarily economic terms. Forests were important they maintained, because "tourists like to see trees and animals." The park was important because it generated revenues for the community. Others claimed no benefit from the Park because they did not work in tourism. In contrast, in those communities where most members earned their living through agriculture or productive activities not associated with forests or the Park, people were more apt to see forests as important for their ecosystem functions and life-sustaining properties. Forests were important to them because they "purified the air and water" or because they provided animals with food and shelter.

Results from this study indicate that alternative income generating activities, such as ecotourism, may fall short in their goals to create a stronger conservation ethic in local communities. This leads to the larger issue of whether it is sufficient to merely promote sound conservation practices through ecotourism without addressing underlying environmental values and attitudes. The author argues that effective conservation relies upon instilling a solid conservation ethic, as well as encouraging favorable environmental behavior.

Abstract

Design of Urban Tourist Routes for Puebla City
A Cluster Analysis Application

Author: Raúl Valdez M.  Ph. D.
Associate professor, Business and Marketing Department, Universidad de las Américas  Puebla
P. O. Box # 4 Sta. Catarina Mártir,  C. P. 72 820  Puebla, México
E-mail: rvaldez@mail.udlap.mx Phone: +52-2-229-24-75  (office) Fax: +52-2-229-27-26

Abstract
Mexico has many competitive advantages in the tourist sector by its extraordinary biological, natural, cultural and historical diversity. The State of Puebla counts in general with a great variety of tourist attractions and, particularly, the city of Puebla, its capital, declared by UNESCO Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity represents a wonderful tourist destination both historical and cultural being considered an important receiver of national and international tourism.
In this context, the urban tourism promotion represents an opportunity to revitalize Puebla City and its regional economy, and at the same time, to dignify and preserve its architectonic and cultural richness. Starting from the global image of the city and from the travel experiences lived by the tourist, this article shows the results of an empirical study oriented to identify the mean tourism attractions of Puebla City in order to design the more accurate urban tourism routes.
Results shows that the visitor perceives Puebla City as a tourist destination having a social atmosphere enabling it to live hedonist and cultural experiences. Also, the visitor thinks that he has lived a pleasant experience having the opportunity for being relaxed and, at the same time, for improving his personal culture. Finally, the study has identified two main tourist routes. The tourist route A integrated by historical sites, and the tourist route B, integrated by cultural sites. In managerial terms, we could conclude that the identification of these main urban tourist routes offers a conceptual basis for the planning, design and marketing of cultural tourism programs for Puebla City.

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15/4

Alicia Bernard

Indigenous communities, gastronomy and traditions/Case Sierra Norte of Puebla

abernard@mail.udlap.mx

Abstract

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, GASTRONOMY AND TRADITIONS
Case study: Sierra Norte of Puebla

Alicia Bernard and Patricia Dominguez
Universidad de las Américas, Puebla, Mexico

The Sierra Norte of Puebla is located above the parallel 19.5, in an area of great beauty and natural richness. The most important city of the region is Cuetzalan, place where the study was carried out. Its foundation took place in the year 200 BC. by the totonacos, ethnic group which have remained there until now. The area is considered one of the Mexico ecotouristic destinations, although its infrastructure is very limited. Nowadays, the economy of the region is deeply depressed.

The purpose of this paper was to identify and gather information related to the gastronomy, traditions and religious practices of the Sierra Norte de Puebla. With this information, a database can be generated to give support to tourist projects or of another nature that could energize the local economies, capitalizing in the great cultural wealth. Fifty-three people, whose activities were related to the local cultural legacy, were interviewed. This information was supplemented with direct observation and bibliographical research.

Findings: The flora and fauna richness of the area gives place to a varied gastronomy. Numerous fruit-bearing trees enrich the local diet and several drinks made with fruits and herbs supplement the offer.

The city has a small hospital where alopathic doctor and indigenous healers share the service to their clients. Traditional indigenous remedies, which are available for sale, are prepared with local herbs in a small laboratory.

Numerous legends, traditions, religious practices, dances and crafts were documented. It can be concluded that the great gastronomical diversity and cultural wealth constitutes an area of great richness. Sadly, it has remained widely unexplored. As an important cultural resource it can and should be integrated into the tourist products that the region offers. It has the potential to support sustainable tourist projects that can offer an alternative to improve the native economical situation and to preserve cultural values of the area.

ABSTRACT

Since the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, environmental regulations have affected business and profitability in numerous ways. In the 1980’s these regulations, coupled with an expanded awareness, resulted in an increased sensitivity toward environmental management, issues and concerns. In the early 1990’s, many companies incorporated the green (or environmental) concept into their corporate culture, through product lines, marketing, and public relations (Nichols, 1993).

Mexico has many environmental problems that must be addressed. In 1998, this was emphasized with a record number of forest fires and an historical record level of pollution in Mexico City. The government and the population are searching for a "quick-fix" solution that does not exist, and are increasing pressure on businesses to be more environmentally friendly and socially conscious in their activities. Consumers are buying products from companies that donate part of the proceeds from the sale of the product to local or national charities and causes, Silva (1998) mentioned, the companies in Latin America prefer to implement environmental conscious strategies to obtain goodwill.

The purpose of this study is to begin to explore the environmental programs that hotel corporations in Mexico are adopting, as well as the attitude and intention that green Mexican travelers have towards hotels that are implementing environmental strategies, and their demographic characteristics they have.

Abstract

EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL IN THE COASTAL AREAS

Caret Bay Villas is a fourteen-unit condominium project on 4.74 acres of land located on the north central coast of St. Thomas, USVI. The land is steep, 40 to 60%, and the soil is rocky, overlain with a layer of dark brown clay loam. The parcel of land is along the shore with a steep cliff extending inland up to 100' feet from the shoreline.

All coastline projects in the US Virgin Islands are regulated under Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Legislation and as such, undergo extensive review before permits are issued. Thus the Project had extensive erosion and sedimentation controls from the beginning through to the final landscaping of the site. The obstacles to construction were that the site was steep, and the cliffline and nearby marine environment had to be protected. As part of these controls, an extensive monitoring program was developed. This project is one of the few that was constructed at a cliff edge. Prior to Caret Bay Villas, there were no projects which included this type of extensive erosion and sedimentat controls and a monitoring plan to evaluate the measures and controls used. The monitoring program has indicated that the measures taken for this project has resulted in no long term nor permanent damage to the marine environment. The overall results are that similar projects can be done if care is taken in
the development and implementation of good erosion and sediment controls. For the US Virgin Islands and other similar geographical settings, this project has shown some of the types of measures that should be taken to control erosion and sedimentation. Many of the measures used have not been extensively used here and specifically so many on the same project.

Abstract

There is perhaps no other city in the world resembling Hong Kong. It occupies a very small area of only about 1100 km², but has a large population of over 7 million, and is well known for its urban landscape with high-rise and high-density development. It is often assumed that Hong Kong has few natural resources of its own, yet it has more species of animals and plants than the entire United Kingdom & Northern Ireland. Some of them are endemic to the territory, and a number of plant and animal species are classified as globally/regionally rare and endangered. For example, the Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site is one of the most important coastal wetlands in east Asia where about three hundred species of bird are recorded and several hundred thousand water birds use its as wintering site or stop-over place during migration.

Hong Kong has in fact urbanized only about 17% of its land area, and over 40% of the territory is protected as country parks, special area, and Ramsar site; in percentage term this is probably the highest in the world. Hong Kong has great potential to develop its own eco-tourism. However, due to lacking of knowledge on the subject and interest from the tourism industry in the past, the eco-tourism potential of the city has not fully been explored. This paper will discuss the eco-tourism potential of Hong Kong, and in particular, it will focus on its advantages in terms of its biodiversity, infrastructure and associations with China mainland, and its limitations (physical and geographical). All of all, Hong Kong can develop its eco-tourism industry, but it might have to do it in its own unique way.

Abstracts
 
 

Trapped in Tourism
Abstract of Paper for Feria Ecoturistica, Santo Domingo, July 15-22, 2000

This paper presents and analyzes the roles of the tourism industry and the State in environmental degradation in the Dominican Republic associated with tourism development. After presenting and discussing a range of practices engaged in by hotels and the State in different regions of the country, the paper analyzes these practices and the resulting environmental degradation, in the context of the limited character of democratic representation and authoritarian character of State – society relations.

While the major beach hotels, usually members of large international chains, invest in infrastructure on their own properties, they engage in little investment in infrastructure and services in the areas around the hotels. Second, areas around the hotels often suffer environmental degradation from hotel practices, such as destruction of mangroves and contamination of ground water. Third, destructive practices extend well beyond the immediate vicinities of hotels, however, as hotels and cruise ships organize excursions to or use of sensitive environments, and make ‘improvements’ to these environments so as to be more attractive to tourism activity.

The role of the state is also critical in environmental degradation associated with tourism development. First, in its promotion of intensive development in concentrated regions, second in the lack of transparency of environmental accounting and protection, and the lack of public and community participation; third, the encroachment upon and reduction of protected areas; fourth, the virtual absence or minimal investment by the state in infrastructure and services in tourist regions, despite revenues from taxes on hotels and tourists, and; fifth, the neglect of or promotion of business practices which degrade the natural and cultural environments of other areas with potential for the development of domestic and international tourism.

To understand these combinations of environmentally destructive practices engaged in by the tourism industry and the state, it is necessary to place them within the context of the political culture of the Dominican Republic, or the system of domination. The tourism industry and the state appropriate, use and misuse areas, notwithstanding the fact that civil society or sectors thereof actively and publicly militate for more environmentally responsible policies and practices. The centralized, authoritarian structure and operation of relations between the state and society in the Dominican Republic mean that there is not a democratic whereby community concerns can be expressed or, where they are expressed, exert substantial, effective influence over tourism development policies and practices. Nor do any significant revenues go to communities or municipalities from the state by which they could counteract the sources of environmental degradation, invest in services and infrastructure, or act to transform industry and state practices which undermine the environmental and social integrity and sustainability of their regions.

ESTIMATING TOURISTS' DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES IN PUNTA CANA-PC, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

In the Caribbean region, ecotourism may represent one of the most important means for both economic growth and management of environmental resources. Tourism planners in this region are in search of new management practices in order to preserve the quality of the environment, and natural resources. To appraise tourists' preferences and values for environmental and natural resources services is an important piece of information to bring into the planning process. In March 2000 a survey to appraise tourist preferences and estimating willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental services was conducted. A total of 179 face-to-face interviews were carried out at the PC Airport. The Contingent Valuation methodology was used to evaluate four
programs: (1) botanical garden, (2) biodiversity museum, (3) aquarium, and  (4) water management. An attempt to assess tourists' perceptions regarding  sustainable development in PC was made. The study is the first of its type ever done in PC. The results indicate that, even when most of the interviewees expressed their interest in the programs, the aquarium and the water management were the most preferred. This interest was expressed both in qualitative and monetary terms. The average rate of interest for these programs (on a scale of 1 to 7) was 6.0 and 5.4 respectively. WTP was  elicited using two formats. The results confirm other findings that WTP values are susceptible to the elicitation format used. Thus, the need for calibration of WTP values is suggested.

Abstract

Eco-tourism is considered by many to be an ecologically sustainable way of tourism practice for it fosters environmental awareness, appreciation and conservation. Since Hector Ceballos-Lascuriain first used the term eco-tourism in Mexico in 1988, it has become a popular marketing tool for the industry worldwide. China was not late in catching up with this trend, as its location and vast territory award the country with rich resources crucial for eco-tourism. For instance, China is the world third richest country in flora and fauna holdings, right after Brazil and Malaysia. It has very unique and precious species such as met sequoia, ginkgo, the giant panda, etc.

The common knowledge of the Chinese people about nature, wilderness and landscape is mostly gained from its cultural classics - poetry and paintings. Most of the Chinese people are familiar with many places and landscapes in China theoretically (through readings) even though they have never been to the places. Thus they tend to appreciate nature, wilderness and landscape through images illustrated in literature and art rather than harsh physical experience of nature and wilderness.

Consequently, to most Chinese tourists, Hangzhou’s picturesque lake, Suzhou’s gardens, old capital cities and palaces, and sacred mountains are more attractive than Gobi Desert, highlands of Tibet, and virgin forests of Xingan Mountains, which present tremendous challenges to making eco-tourism popular in China.

This paper is to discuss the implications of the Chinese traditional way of viewing nature, wilderness and landscape for the country’s domestic eco-tourism development. While presenting the challenges, it will also propose strategies for reducing these challenges.

16
Abstract

An evaluation of a nature based tourism in a community and nearby lodges in the Brazilian Amazon

Evaluation of the inter-relations between a riverine community and local jungle lodges used for eco-tourism in the Brazilian Amazon.

In response to the recent focus on eco-tourism in the Brazilian Amazon I will present one community and its inter-relationships with nearby nature based tourism jungle lodges. It is widely acknowledged that in order for all participants to benefit from eco-tourism attention needs to be given towards the perceptions and understandings of the participants, taking into account the
evel of community involvement and the social impacts of such involvement. As such, the aims of this case study are to carry out an evaluation of the roles played by the community, tourists and lodge owners, their inter-relations and perceptions of such relations. While also analysing the implications for sustainable development, carrying capacity and gender roles, which are all
important concepts in eco-tourism. The objective of the evaluation is to test if eco-tourism in the Brazilian Amazon is reaching its goals, and if not,   suggest ways that such obstacles can be overcome.