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In what ways does tourism change the host community? This book offers original insights into the broad and deep influences of tourists and tourism, and places them within the historical context of globalisation. Intensive ethnographic fieldwork spanning many years on one of the Canary Islands (La Gomera) has produced a rich portrayal of the community.
Issues addressed include the extensive transformation of working lives and the economic base; challenges to cultural values, gender roles, sexual behaviour and personal freedom; the construction and utilisation of history; changing identities; conflict over the natural environment and development plans; the shifting centres of power; and new approaches to family life. The predominantly independent tourists are also examined, including their backgrounds and motivation, and their unique impact is explored.
The research material emphasises the indigenous experience, and includes crosscultural comparisons. It employs the methods of socio-cultural anthropology, detailing the lives of the local population and their interactions with individual tourists, and it also refers to the multidisciplinary findings of tourism studies. In doing so this book is innovative, and it profoundly challenges standard understandings of the influence of tourism on small communities.
Contents: The Issues, The Community and the Tourists • Tourism, Globalisation and Cultural Change • Theoretical Concerns • Globalisation, change and agency • Identity, authenticity and the gaze • Islands and tourism • Accounts of history • The Fieldwork Site • Valle Gran Rey: A Changing Destination • La Gomera in Context • The Physical Setting • Vueltas: the settlement • Perspectives on History • Recorded history • Local observations • Fishing development and decline • Individual voices • The Tourists: Types and Motivation • Examining Tourists • The Growth of Tourism • The Variety of Visitors • Seasons and tourists • Tourists: Motivations and Experiences • Motivation • German women and Gomeran men • Cultural stereotypes • Foreign Settlers • Change and the Future • The Influence of Tourism • Work and Property • The Transforming Economy • Employment and social stratification • Tourist types and specific impacts • Business and Employment in Vueltas • The working environment • The business of fishing • Changing Attitudes Towards Work and Property • Gender and the division of labour • Tourism and new work • Business attitudes and new opportunities • Property • Power and Conflict • Global Events: The European Union and its Impact on Vueltas • Local Politics • Formal structure • The elections • Personalities in politics • Political power and patronage • Local Conflicts and Global Issues: The Protest • Social Identity • Introduction • Local Identities • Pre-Hispanic influences on identity • The Gomero • Thefi Sherman • Gender roles • Global Influences • Strangers • Mass media and education • Tourism and social boundaries • Family, Belief and Values • The Family in Vueltas • Specific family groups • Lacasa • Belief and Value • Religious behaviour • Supernatural powers • Envy, competition and criticism.• Respect and shame • Local Attitudes and Global Ideas • The Ability of Tourism to Change Culture • The Environment and Identity • Tourism and the Globalisation of an Island • Tourism and Cultural Change • The specific influences of tourism and touristsISBN - 9788130901831
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Pages : 244
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