Evolution of Tourism Practices
Losing the Center: Madrid, Flamenco, and Tourism
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Theresa Goldbach
In this paper I will examine the evolution of the network of flamenco venues (both formal and informal) in Madrid, Spain from the later years of the Franco dictatorship through the more recent economic crisis, tracing shifts in audience (tourist versus locals) and kinds of outlets (formal performance venues versus informal community gathering spots) for what these shifts reveal about both preservation of performing arts communities and influence of tourism. Especially in the wake of cuts in arts funding, tourism represents the largest economic support base for working flamenco artists in Madrid with tablao performances and instruction in flamenco schools as two primary sources of income. However, Madrid houses various professional and semi-professional levels of flamenco artists, who represent a distinct portion not only of the music and dance communities but of the art community in general of the city. In addition to the arts community, other groups like local residents, property owners, and municipal authorities often come into conflict over the urban spaces utilized in tourist related industries. I will also point to the distinct different tourist groups targeted by flamenco venues and propose potential compromises between catering to perceived tourist desires and local community needs.
Are We Still Eating, Praying, and Loving?: The Evolution of Culinary, Spiritual, and Romance Tourism
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Leslie Gail Scamacca
Over ten years ago, Elizabeth Gilbert wrote the novel "Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia." After divorcing her husband, Gilbert chronicles her journey of recovery through personal stories of her travels through Italy, India, and Bali. Gilbert’s book inspired wanderlust in travelers eager to “find themselves” and launched a desire to experience global cuisine, spirituality, and romance through travel. In fact, googling “romance tourism” returned “Visit Indonesia” as the first result. These themes shaped into vital areas of tourism known as culinary tourism, spiritual tourism, and romance tourism. This paper explores the three special interest tourism niches of culinary tourism, spiritual tourism, and romance tourism. First, we will discuss the history of these specific fields of tourism. Next, we’ll discuss the initial impact of Gilbert’s book, and the subsequent 2010 release of the movie by the same name, on these fields. We’ll continue the discussion with the changes and evolution of these tourism niches through present day; and finally, look at trends and predictions for the future.
Pedagogical Techniques for Teaching a Food and Culture Course: Drawing on Students' Own Cultures, Experiences, Strengths, and Interests to Help Them Understand Other Cultures through Their Foods
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Martin A. Goldberg
Food and culture courses are inherently multi-disciplinary, as they include geography, history, law, science, culture, religion, and sometimes even language and literature. While this may make such a course more interesting from the point of view of the instructor, it would also in some cases make it more difficult from the point of view of the student, who may have a natural interest and aptitude in some but not all of those areas. This paper reviews different teaching techniques designed to reach all of the students in a class with diverse interests and abilities.
