Tourism Intersections with Social Responsibility
Living up to the Hype: Considerations for the Construction of an Inclusive and Diverse Agenda for Tourism of Cultural Events
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Beatriz Bedoya V., Paola Podestá, Willy Henao, Jaime Espinal
Creating an agenda of cultural events to enhance a city’s tourism involves multiple actors, stages, processes, adjustments and a framework of analysis. Cultural events allow knowledge, understanding, and strengthening of the cultural identity of individuals and communities; any event that becomes part of an agenda for tourism of cultural events should reflect the cultural identity of a region or city, being inclusive with all the diversity that it comprises. Agenda-Building and Agenda-Setting theories, fostered in communication, are used in this study to analyze the construction/consolidation of an agenda for tourism of cultural events, and to analyze the visibility, formation and setting of said agenda, respectively. Both theories conceptualize the “what” and “how” of issues’ relevance, importance, priority and worth for citizens’ discussion and consideration. The aforementioned framework becomes a tool for the assessment of permanent and special agendas that enable a city or region to operate cultural events in 3 specific and simultaneous dimensions: seasonal agendas, permanent agendas, and special agendas. Seasonal Agendas take advantage of the natural seasons of tourism in the city; Permanent Agendas guarantee there is always something to do in the city; Special Agendas are balms in a city’s daily life, with extraordinary events that break the routine, shake the establishment, and renew the aesthetics of regular events. This study presents the analysis of the agenda building and setting processes in a Colombian city, resulting in the identification of three strategies for consolidating a cluster of tourism of cultural events that accounts for the city’s diversity.
Perceptions, Motivations, and Barriers of CSR: Case Study among Travel and Tour Operators in Nepal
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Rojan Baniya, Brijesh Thapa
The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has emerged as an act of benevolence towards society by the business community. However, CSR holds different meanings, significance and structure within developed and developing countries, especially among travel and tour operators (TTO). This purpose of this study was to examine CSR perceptions, motivations and barriers among TTO. In addition, to also examine the relationship between perceptions and importance of CSR activities. The study was conducted in Nepal, which is a small country in the Himalayas whereby tourism is the mainstay of the economy, and largely dependent on environmental and cultural resources. Data were collected via a survey method among the TTO during the summer of 2018. A total of 138 completed responses were achieved. Results identified that CSR was important for the TTO, and considered to be beneficial to practice. In addition, societal impact and promotion/image were noted as reasons that primarily influenced CSR activities, whereas lack of resources and understanding were listed as the key barriers. Further, the perception of customers that favor institutions that practice CSR was significant and positively related to the importance of CSR activities. Such results provide an initial benchmark as this was the first such study with respect to CSR among TTO in Nepal. Additional research is needed to further assess and formulate clarity, conceptualization, promotion, and engagement in CSR activities in Nepal.
Cruise Tourism and Overtourism
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Allegra Celine Baumann
Several European cities nowadays struggle with the consequences of mass tourism, which also leads to conflicts between residents and tourists – a phenomenon referred to as "overtourism." Most of the affected cities are seaports, like Barcelona, Venice or Dubrovnik. Therefore, cruise tourism with its cruise ships and cruise tourists is a main aspect in the debate about overtourism. It is in the spotlight of movements and campaigns of residents, political measures, and journalistic reporting. Pictures of cruise ships in front of Venice’s ancient buildings are well-known examples. In contrast to the small and ancient old towns of European cities, cruise ships appear like gigantic machines, spilling thousands of cruise passengers at the ports. These cruise passengers flood the old towns, rushing through them, driven by a lack of time. Hence, this paper argues that time and space are important categories for addressing cruise tourism in the context of overtourism. The aim of this paper is to examine the notions of time and space in the context of cruise tourism and overtourism, and to highlight the temporal and spatial concentration of cruise tourists and cruise ships.
