Islands' tourist development and local residents' prosperity: reality or an unsolved problem? (original) (raw)
Related papers
Boukas, N., & Ziakas, V. (2012, May). Cyprus Tourism in the Midst of the Global Economic Crisis: The Role of Special Interest Tourism as a Recovery Strategy for Small Islands. Presented at the 2nd International Conference on Tourism (ICOT 2012), Archanes, Crete, Greece.
Islands, due to their morphological characteristics, such as their location and natural/cultural features, constitute sites for tourism development. Nonetheless, because of these characteristics they also confront certain limitations such as isolation, unbalance development, and fragile economies. Cyprus as an island destination faces similar problems. The island’s competitiveness has been decreased during the last decade and several problems were highlighted further because of the crisis. The aim of the paper is to investigate the implications of the recent economic crisis on Cyprus tourism and to examine the strategies adopted regarding special interest tourism for dealing with its consequences. The study based on in-depth interviews with Cyprus’ tourism officials and industry’s representatives found out that four types of impacts were occurred due to the crisis: decreased visitation/revenues from tourism; escalated prices; lack of competitiveness, and; inadequate quality. In order to respond to the crisis, several measures were taken such as enhancement of special forms of tourism, targeting domestic tourists, and expansion on new high-spending markets. The paper concludes that there is an urgent need to examine the factors that determine the extent to which the tourism development plans effectively respond to the challenges of globalization and redress the impacts of the global economic crisis.
“Examining perceptions of local tourists towards domestic tourism in islands: the case of Cyprus”
Tourism is the consecutive growing industry all over the world, and it is one of the main economic activities in Cyprus. The purpose of this research is to analyze the perceptions of local residents towards domestic tourism and its development regarding to the provided offerings, as well as its management. This research also reveals the effectiveness of strategies which developed and applied by Cyprus tourism policy makers. Regarding the research methodology, our study is based on secondary and primary data, a careful investigation and analysis was done on the basis of primary data, beside other important related information was based on the secondary data. The research provides information regarding local tourist levels of satisfaction and expectations from the local Cypriot population. The results have shown that overall the local population is satisfied with Cyprus as tourist destination. However, there are discrepancies concerning some of the attributes of the local tourist destinations that affect the local population’s decision when choosing Cyprus as their holiday destination. From the data gathered, we managed to come up with recommendations that provide some guidelines for improving the current state of domestic tourism in Cyprus.
Residents' attitudes to tourism development: the case of Cyprus
Tourism Management, 1996
Since 1974, the Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been divided. The southern, Greek sector has benefited from international recognition as the Republic of Cyprus, and is generally much more developed than the unrecognised Turkish sector in the north. A boom in construction and environmental degradation has accompanied the rapid growth of southern Cyprus as a tourist destination. The large numbers of visitors are now viewed less positively than before, and the number of complaints by holidaymakers about noise and other forms of pollution is increasing. In contrast, northern Cyprus has been slow to develop, giving an important opportunity to the Turkish Cypriot community to avoid the pitfalls of the south. The growth of interest in alternative forms of tourism worldwide presents an opportunity for development to take place even where political problems exist, and to be both environmentally sensitive and profitable. This paper explores the possibilities currently available to the Turkish Cypriots, and recommends that resources should be switched from traditional 'sun, sand and sea' tourism towards alternative types. Some of the obstacles towards the implementation of a sustainable tourism strategy are also examined.
Purpose-This theme issue sought to find answers to the question: How could tourism planners and policymakers overcome the barriers to sustainable tourism development in the small island developing state of North Cyprus? The purpose of this paper is to draw on the collaborative work of tourism academics and practitioners featured in this issue. Design/methodology/approach-A thematic analysis of the articles in this collection draws together the key outcomes related to the strategic question, with particular reference to the contribution to knowledge, policy and practice and the implications for further applied research in relation to sustainable tourism development in North Cyprus and small island developing states (SIDS) more generally. Findings-The main finding is that insufficient and/or ineffective collaboration is one of the main obstacles in managing sustainable tourism in North Cyprus. More diversification of tourism products and better conservation of natural, cultural, economic and environmental resources are also needed. It is argued that this can be achieved through planning and policy improvements that focus on facilitating sustainable tourism development. Originality/value-This paper reflects on the strategic question discussed in this theme issue, and it contains a descriptive analysis of the results and recommendations for policymakers and tourism sector practitioners. The recommendations include: the development of sustainable tourism practices by harnessing technological advances and by raising the awareness of policymakers and tourism stakeholders. This paper and the collection of articles that it draws on, is the first to explore different academic and practitioner perspectives on ways of overcoming obstacles and managing and developing sustainable tourism in the SIDS of North Cyprus.
Ethno-nationalism and impediments to cooperation in tourism in a post-settlement Cyprus?
Journal of Tourism Futures, 2016
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to clarify the position of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot professionals in the hotel and tourism industry on the island of Cyprus with regards to their expectations regarding the benefit of a political solution to the Cyprus problem on the island. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses data from two surveys in both political entities of the island. One survey is a survey of hotel owners, managers of hotels and travel agencies in both political entities on the island. The other is semi-structured interview with leading professionals in the hospitality and tourism industry in both political entities. Findings The surveys indicate that there is an expectation from professionals in both entities that tourism will benefit all following a solution, with large increases in incoming tourism to Cyprus. Practical implications The findings indicate that there are substantial expectations that there will be benefits for all following a solution to the...
The Impact of Tourism on the Sociocultural Structure of Cyprus
2006
This paper is based on evaluating tourism development in Cyprus, a European nation, and its impacts on the socio-cultural structure of the island. The principal concern of this research is aid in sustaining the resource base on which the tourism development in Cyprus depends on. The paper concludes that in spite of all the negative and positive impacts of tourism on Cyprus it is not yet clear whether the benefits outweigh the costs. The reason for this uncertainty is that most of the research is done on an estimate as there is no empirical data available as yet to support either side of the equation.
… and sustainable development in Southern Europe, 2004
Growing tourism demand opens new opportunities for island development. Due to the increase in the real income of the island populations, and the generation of employment, island governments have seen tourism as a promising opportunity for reducing the prosperity gap between themselves and developed mainland regions and as a means of modernising their economic base and retaining their population. Although the positive effects make traditional tourism development inevitable in islands, there are some inherent disadvantages resulting from their insular character and uncontrolled tourism expansion. These include: accessibility difficulties, high transportation costs, external dependency and control of the tourism industry, high leakage rates of foreign exchange earnings, landscape transformations and socio-cultural and environmental problems. It is the aim of this paper to review these difficulties, and to provide recommendations on the ways in which developers and decision makers of insular destinations may reduce some of tourism’s problems and increase benefits for islands and their inhabitants, taking as a case the Greek insular regions. Keywords: Island Tourism Development, Greek Islands, Problems, Benefits.
2000
In recent decades tourism development has expanded on most Mediterranean islands. Focusing on the island of Crete, this study recognises tourism as a highly visible and controversial component of change. The existence of the necessary infrastructure, the natural beauty, the climate, the culture and the history have contributed to tourism expansion, with Crete now attracting approximately 25 percent of foreign tourist arrivals and 55 percent of the total foreign exchange earnings of Greece. The perceptions of the local community in tourism were studied using personal interviews with three community groups: local authority officials, residents and tourism business owners and managers. The aim was to examine their views on tourism development, in an attempt to establish overall desired directions for tourism development and to suggest effective tourism strategies and policies to reinforce positive outcomes and alleviate problems resulting from previous unplanned tourism development. The research findings identify much agreement among the three community groups suggesting that it is feasible to further develop tourism with the support of the community. Although the areas used in the sample were in the maturity stage of Butler's (1980) life cycle model and therefore it might be expected that the community would be at the antagonism stage of Doxey's (1975) model, this was not suggested by the findings. Tourism is viewed positively as a development option, and further tourism development, with conditions attached, is supported. The expansion of tourism has brought economic gains, employment creation, increased population, enhanced community infrastructure and cultural and environmental preservation. However, there is limited co-ordination of tourism activities and insufficient collaboration between the public and private sector. In addition, the island is dependent on foreign tour operators, and the tourism industry is uneven geographically and seasonally. Tourism has modified traditions and has affected the environment and society. Since community perceptions match reality (what is on the ground from development), problems are real and it is necessary to find solutions for their amelioration. As a result, policy implications emerging from the results presented in this thesis are discussed and future strategies are suggested. Keywords: Community attitudes and perceptions, development, planning, Crete