Pietari Sajaniemi - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Pietari Sajaniemi

Rural areas around the world are facing serious problems today such as aging and population decli... more Rural areas around the world are facing serious problems today such as aging and population decline due to loss of employment opportunities and services. Many rural areas have turned to tourism in search of a better future and it has revealed its potential to sustain rural communities by providing significant income and opportunities. However, poorly managed tourism development can also destroy rural communities, which are extremely fragile to rapid social changes. Tourism can act as a saviour or destroyer. The theoretical framework of this thesis is based on literature, examining the principles of rural tourism, sustainability and the importance of social sustainability in the development and management of rural tourism. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the potential of tourism as a socially sustainable tool for rural development, specifically in the small Chinese village of Mutianyu under the Great Wall. A specific focus is on The Schoolhouse company, an up-scale lodging and restaurant company in the village, opened in 2006. The village has obtained major economical benefits from tourism, however, little research has been conducted on how tourism has actually socially affected the community. The aim is to evaluate whether this kind of development can sustain the village community in a socially sustainable manner and thus whether it could be further adopted in other rural areas in the future. The study is planned to mainly assist The Schoolhouse in future tourism development. The empirical part of this thesis consists of twelve qualitative theme interviews conducted in Mutianyu with community members. The interviews were conducted in September 2009 and each lasted 20 to 30 minutes. The results reveal that villagers have gained significant economical benefits and increased incomes from tourism development and they put great value to it. The villagers also perceive better infrastructure and built environment as major positive impacts of tourism, whereas increased traffic, noise and air pollution as negative impacts. The attitude towards tourism is generally highly positive, while attitudes towards The Schoolhouse are surprisingly indifferent, although clearly more positive than negative. According to this study tourism can be used as a socially sustainable tool for rural development, however, careful management, balancing and community involvement are required. The needs and opinions of local villagers need to be taken into account in all tourism planning and social impacts need to be proactively assessed. The Schoolhouse appears to offer a good model for socially sustainable tourism development, but there are also some recommendations for future, to reduce the social problems caused by, for example, increasing noise and traffic.

Rural areas around the world are facing serious problems today such as aging and population decli... more Rural areas around the world are facing serious problems today such as aging and population decline due to loss of employment opportunities and services. Many rural areas have turned to tourism in search of a better future and it has revealed its potential to sustain rural communities by providing significant income and opportunities. However, poorly managed tourism development can also destroy rural communities, which are extremely fragile to rapid social changes. Tourism can act as a saviour or destroyer. The theoretical framework of this thesis is based on literature, examining the principles of rural tourism, sustainability and the importance of social sustainability in the development and management of rural tourism. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the potential of tourism as a socially sustainable tool for rural development, specifically in the small Chinese village of Mutianyu under the Great Wall. A specific focus is on The Schoolhouse company, an up-scale lodging and restaurant company in the village, opened in 2006. The village has obtained major economical benefits from tourism, however, little research has been conducted on how tourism has actually socially affected the community. The aim is to evaluate whether this kind of development can sustain the village community in a socially sustainable manner and thus whether it could be further adopted in other rural areas in the future. The study is planned to mainly assist The Schoolhouse in future tourism development. The empirical part of this thesis consists of twelve qualitative theme interviews conducted in Mutianyu with community members. The interviews were conducted in September 2009 and each lasted 20 to 30 minutes. The results reveal that villagers have gained significant economical benefits and increased incomes from tourism development and they put great value to it. The villagers also perceive better infrastructure and built environment as major positive impacts of tourism, whereas increased traffic, noise and air pollution as negative impacts. The attitude towards tourism is generally highly positive, while attitudes towards The Schoolhouse are surprisingly indifferent, although clearly more positive than negative. According to this study tourism can be used as a socially sustainable tool for rural development, however, careful management, balancing and community involvement are required. The needs and opinions of local villagers need to be taken into account in all tourism planning and social impacts need to be proactively assessed. The Schoolhouse appears to offer a good model for socially sustainable tourism development, but there are also some recommendations for future, to reduce the social problems caused by, for example, increasing noise and traffic.

Rural areas around the world are facing serious problems today such as aging and population decli... more Rural areas around the world are facing serious problems today such as aging and population decline due to loss of employment opportunities and services. Many rural areas have turned to tourism in search of a better future and it has revealed its potential to sustain rural communities by providing significant income and opportunities. However, poorly managed tourism development can also destroy rural communities, which are extremely fragile to rapid social changes. Tourism can act as a saviour or destroyer. The theoretical framework of this thesis is based on literature, examining the principles of rural tourism, sustainability and the importance of social sustainability in the development and management of rural tourism. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the potential of tourism as a socially sustainable tool for rural development, specifically in the small Chinese village of Mutianyu under the Great Wall. A specific focus is on The Schoolhouse company, an up-scale lodging and restaurant company in the village, opened in 2006. The village has obtained major economical benefits from tourism, however, little research has been conducted on how tourism has actually socially affected the community. The aim is to evaluate whether this kind of development can sustain the village community in a socially sustainable manner and thus whether it could be further adopted in other rural areas in the future. The study is planned to mainly assist The Schoolhouse in future tourism development. The empirical part of this thesis consists of twelve qualitative theme interviews conducted in Mutianyu with community members. The interviews were conducted in September 2009 and each lasted 20 to 30 minutes. The results reveal that villagers have gained significant economical benefits and increased incomes from tourism development and they put great value to it. The villagers also perceive better infrastructure and built environment as major positive impacts of tourism, whereas increased traffic, noise and air pollution as negative impacts. The attitude towards tourism is generally highly positive, while attitudes towards The Schoolhouse are surprisingly indifferent, although clearly more positive than negative. According to this study tourism can be used as a socially sustainable tool for rural development, however, careful management, balancing and community involvement are required. The needs and opinions of local villagers need to be taken into account in all tourism planning and social impacts need to be proactively assessed. The Schoolhouse appears to offer a good model for socially sustainable tourism development, but there are also some recommendations for future, to reduce the social problems caused by, for example, increasing noise and traffic.

Rural areas around the world are facing serious problems today such as aging and population decli... more Rural areas around the world are facing serious problems today such as aging and population decline due to loss of employment opportunities and services. Many rural areas have turned to tourism in search of a better future and it has revealed its potential to sustain rural communities by providing significant income and opportunities. However, poorly managed tourism development can also destroy rural communities, which are extremely fragile to rapid social changes. Tourism can act as a saviour or destroyer. The theoretical framework of this thesis is based on literature, examining the principles of rural tourism, sustainability and the importance of social sustainability in the development and management of rural tourism. The aim of this thesis is to evaluate the potential of tourism as a socially sustainable tool for rural development, specifically in the small Chinese village of Mutianyu under the Great Wall. A specific focus is on The Schoolhouse company, an up-scale lodging and restaurant company in the village, opened in 2006. The village has obtained major economical benefits from tourism, however, little research has been conducted on how tourism has actually socially affected the community. The aim is to evaluate whether this kind of development can sustain the village community in a socially sustainable manner and thus whether it could be further adopted in other rural areas in the future. The study is planned to mainly assist The Schoolhouse in future tourism development. The empirical part of this thesis consists of twelve qualitative theme interviews conducted in Mutianyu with community members. The interviews were conducted in September 2009 and each lasted 20 to 30 minutes. The results reveal that villagers have gained significant economical benefits and increased incomes from tourism development and they put great value to it. The villagers also perceive better infrastructure and built environment as major positive impacts of tourism, whereas increased traffic, noise and air pollution as negative impacts. The attitude towards tourism is generally highly positive, while attitudes towards The Schoolhouse are surprisingly indifferent, although clearly more positive than negative. According to this study tourism can be used as a socially sustainable tool for rural development, however, careful management, balancing and community involvement are required. The needs and opinions of local villagers need to be taken into account in all tourism planning and social impacts need to be proactively assessed. The Schoolhouse appears to offer a good model for socially sustainable tourism development, but there are also some recommendations for future, to reduce the social problems caused by, for example, increasing noise and traffic.