Tourism in a post-conflict situation of fragility (original) (raw)

2019: Memorial entrepreneurs and dissonances in post-conflict tourism. In: R.K. Isaac, E. Cakmak and R. Butler (eds) Tourism and Hospitality in Conflict-ridden Destinations. London: Routledge

Routledge, 2019

Based on various case studies in Colombia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, this contribution aims to analyze the role of tourism, and in particular some related discourses and representations, in the construction of peace. Although public authorities and international organizations often present tourism as a tool that helps enhance peace, research has demonstrated that the reality in the field is often much more complex. Soon after armed conflicts are over, some countries and regions experience a rapid growth in tourism, and the sector can offer promising business opportunities for recovering communities, including former war actors (e.g. soldiers, fixers, guerilla, narcotraffickers) as well as the victims. Moreover, tourism can also provide them with a tribune for disseminating specific discourses and representations of the war. Thus, while tourism stakeholders generally aim to detach the country’s image from the violence that preceded in order to attract visitors and foreign investors, the heritage and memory associated with the war are nevertheless elements mobilized in the tourism sector. Based on an analysis of the practices of what are conceived here as ‘memorial entrepreneurs’, this paper will show that different and sometimes competing actors contribute to building these touristscapes, using conflicting narratives and representations. Stakeholders involved in tourism and peacebuilding should thus be cautious when promoting tourism as a tool to enhance peace: while this sector can certainly contribute to reconciliation, it can also be a source of tensions

Work In Progress: The Role Of Higher Education In Post-Conflict Tourism Development, A Case Study From Rwanda

2014

El turismo y la hospitalidad han sido reconocidos como un factor economico importante en todo el mundo, y la competencia entre los destinos por el turista actual y futuro solo ha vuelto mas feroz. Dentro de estos mercados establecidos, como es el caso de los mercados de safari y playa de Africa del Este, no sera facil para los nuevos destinos diferenciarse y ofrecer un producto complementario o nuevo. Especialmente en el caso de Ruanda, plagado por una historia reciente de violencia y cuya imagen todavia se ve afectada, este objetivo no puede ser facil de realizar. Sin embargo, con el apoyo de socios internacionales y la dedicacion y ambiciones del gobierno nacional, en colaboracion con los actores locales, Ruanda esta avanzando. Aunque este caso de estudio se refiere a un ejemplo de Africa puede haber sugerencias y lecciones aprendidas que podrian inspirar a otros destinos a continuar por un camino similar.

Tourism amidst armed conflict: consequences, copings, and creativity for peace-building through tourism in Nepal

2011

Tourism is sensitive to conflict and responsive to peace. Nonetheless, it has to cope with peacelessness caused by violent conflict and its induced adverse factors. This paper analyzes the impact of a decade long (1996-2006) armed conflict on tourism in Nepal and explores the coping strategies applied by this sector to revive and sustain itself. Based on the historical political transformation of the state and some constructive efforts by the Nepalese tourism actors towards peace building, this paper argues that violent conflict is not always destructive but can also be a constructive social force for tourism if its actors are "practical" and not "apocalyptic". The paper also attempts to add some new knowledge on the complicated relationship between tourism, conflict and peace.

Effect of Civil War on the Perfomance of Tourism Industry in Africa .A Critical Literature Review

International Journal of Modern Hospitality and Tourism, 2021

Purpose: The tourism industry is playing an increasingly important role in the global economy, contributing 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), 30 percent of service exports, and 235 million jobs. The general objective of the study was to examine effect of civil war on the performance of tourism industry in Africa. Methodology: The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps. Findings: The study concluded tourists will not travel to countries or areas within large countries where they feel threatened. Some relatively recent examples are the 11 September 2001 events in the United States, the bombing in Bali on 12 October 2002 and the Iraq war of March 2003 (and ongoing). When such events occur, there is an immediate and often massive dislocation to country and regional travel affecting performance of Africa Tourism Recommendations: The study recommends that tourism managers sh...

Tourism in Conflict-Affected Communities of Basilan Province : Prospects , Challenges and Policy Options

2019

This study aims to determine the prospect of tourism industry in conflict-affected communities of Basilan Province despite of its long drawn image of conflict, violence and poverty. For this purpose, key-informant interviews and textual analysis of available references were conducted. Consequent interviews revealed that Basilan specifically the identified conflicted communities are naturally attractive which drive in tourists despite of its perilous image. This study strongly agrees that peace is not necessarily a requirement for attaining tourism development. Basilan if active policy actions will be undertaken has a strong potential to be as globally competitive as other tourist destinations in the country and worldwide. Local Government Units (LGUs) in coordination with other stakeholders should communally cultivate strategic mechanisms to deracinate its deep-rooted image of war, terrorism and impoverishment and replant a better community hovering with future tourism industries.

Tourism governance in East African Community, Chapter #15

2019

Africa provides a crucial counter-narrative to the prevailing colonial and reductionist perspective on Africa's tourism trajectory and future. It offers a uniquely optimistic outlook for tourism in Africa whilst acknowledging the many challenges that African countries continue to grapple with. By examining broad and localised empirical studies, conceptual frameworks, culturally centred paradigms, and innovative methodological approaches for African contexts, this book showcases the many facets of tourism in Africa that illustrate hope, resilience, growth, and survival. This volume explores themes such as community-based tourism, wildlife tourism, tourism governance and leadership, crisis recovery, regional integration, the role of indigenous knowledge, event tourism and the impact of smart technologies. It acknowledges the challenges and opportunities for growth that exist in these various contexts and explores how tourism creates value for the spectrum of its participants. Including a wide selection of contributions from diverse authors, many of them African, this book offers an Afro-centric interpretation of tourism phenomena. It will be of great interest to students, researchers and academics in the field of Tourism and African Studies, as well as Development Studies and Geography.

Tourism and conflict

Amidst the persistent conflicts in the history of the formulation of modern Nepal, the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN -Maoist) waged a decade long (1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006) violent armed conflict with the decisive aims of eliminating monarchy and establishing a democratic federal republic, had both negative and positive consequences on tourism industry. Though Nepal's tourism stubbornly responded conflict with coping strategies, it was on the brink of crisis.

2019 (Traduction): Guilland, M-L., Naef, P. Tourism challenges facing peacebuilding in Colombia. Via Tourism Review 15

Via Tourism Review, 2019

Declaring that a tourist Colombia guarantees a post-conflict reconstruction is not a performative act. We must therefore ask ourselves whether perceiving tourism as a tool in the service of peace is more of a myth or a reality. After a brief look at the recovery of Colombian tourism since the beginning of the 2000s, this article aims to observe some of the challenges that have characterised the sector since the signing of peace agreements between the government and the FARC-Ep, such as the rebuilding the country’s image, prostitution and narco-tourism, the issue of access to land and resources, the promotion of eco-tourism and "community" tourism, and the role of this industry in the reintegration of demobilised combatants.