GEOG 1220 Journal #1 (2)
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Geography
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Apr 3, 2024
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GEOG 1220 Journal #1
Caleb Patry
Student # 1230150
February 8th, 2024
Lisa Marie Assante, Hsing Ivan Wen & Kimberly J. Lottig (2012)
Conceptualization of Modeling Resident Attitudes on the
Environmental Impacts of Tourism: A Case Study of Oahu, Hawaii,
Tourism Planning & Development, 9:2, 101-118,
Imagine yourself (a local) in Oahu. You look out to the ocean and down along the
coast. Almost everything you see has been affected by tourism, from the sea to the
mountains, the climate's relationship with the sky, and the freshwater far below
you. Nearly everything you see has been impacted by tourism in one way or
another. Although it may sound extreme, this is the path that Hawaiian tourism
levels are slowly being taken down. While the economic benefits of tourism are well
documented, the effects on local economies are rarely displayed. This study aims to
shed light on the attitude residents have developed. When environmental damage
or crowding outweighs the positives of employment and economic stimulation,
attitudes towards tourism drop, if the opposite is true, then local attitudes will
become more favourable. Generally, locals think tourism provides more negatives
than positives but opinions are starting to shift. Over three-quarters (76%) of
respondents said that tourism provides more advantages than difficulties. However,
79% of island residents believe Oahu's economy relies too heavily on tourism, and
77% believe the island prioritizes tourists above residents (HTA, 2006). The study
was taken by 440 locals (Ko, D.W. and Stewart, 2002) and the model was based on
the perception of government management, environmental tourism impacts, and
attitudes against tourism. The study results showed many locals believe that
tourists play a role in an improved quality of life by providing mutually beneficial
public services. However, the poll results revealed that respondents believe tourists
compete for natural resources. Even with recent efforts, several locals emphasized
that the state needed to prioritize balancing the demands of locals with those of
tourists.
Honderich, H., & Matza, M. (2023, August 15).
“you’re kind of raised
to hate tourists”: Maui fires fan tensions on Hawaiian Island
. BBC
News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66507019
It was another beautiful Monday in Maui. The skies were glowing, luxury resorts
lined the coastline, and guests enjoyed the beach. Inside one of these resort
lobbies, hosted a TV displaying the disaster of wildfires in Lahaina, only 48 km
away. In the wake of the deadliest wildfire in US history, frustration against tourists
had begun to mount. Locals expressed their opinion of “two Hawaiis”, one for
tourists' entertainment and a much harder one for locals. People were quickly
advised to evacuate the island with many travellers obeying this advisory, however,
thousands didn't. Causing a further divide between locals and tourists.
The Maui
Economic Development Board estimated that tourists account for 80% of the
money generated in Maui, which causes a fine line between accepting how much
value tourists provide vs the change in their way of life. "You're kind of raised to
hate tourists but that's really the only way to work on the islands. If it's not
hospitality then it's construction (
Honderich, H & Matza, M. 2023)”. There is a
mounting concern that the rebuild of Lahaini will be centred around the “second
Hawaii”, further challenging the “locals Hawaii”. Wealthy tourists have played
significant roles in raising house prices by purchasing vacation homes where many
primary inhabitants can’t afford. Locals also expressed concern about the likeliness
of Lahaina turning into Waikiki, centred around tourism, and dominated by luxury
resorts and shopping.
Reflection
The subject of place attachment was prevalent throughout the two articles. A
concept that describes the emotional and physical relationships people establish
with locations. Oahu locals are struggling with tourism providing economic
opportunities while also causing environmental damage and pressure on local
resources. The articles also hit on the concept of spatial inequality. Which shows the
inconsistency in allocating resources within certain geographic areas. The Maui
wildfires further heightened conflicts between locals and tourists, showing the
unequal dynamic and reliance on tourism. A quote I found intriguing was "locals'
Hawaii" and "tourists' Hawaii" which was just another example of the advantages
and disadvantages associated with high tourism levels. Another prevalent concept I
noticed was cultural landscapes. Tourism plays a very important role in both Oahu
and Maui's cultural landscapes. Which impacts not only the physical environment
but also affects the communities economically. There is a fine line between keeping
environmental resources for locals and fulfilling tourist expectations. The different
experiences that people faced in Oahu and Maui demonstrate both the good and
bad effects that tourism can have on their environments. These articles also
provided me with further insights into the concepts of place attachment, spatial
inequality, and cultural landscapes. Further reiterating the importance of
geographical stability in maintaining cohesive tourism environments.
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References
Bacilio, C. (2023, May 4).
Hawaii tourism: Opposite of a paradise for locals
.
International Relations Review.
https://www.irreview.org/articles/hawaii-tourism-opposite-of-a-paradise-for-locals
Assante, L., Wen, H., & Lotteg, K. (2006). Conceptualization of Modeling Resident
Attitudes on the Environmental Impacts of Tourism.
https://www-tandfonline-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/doi/pdf/10.1080/21568316.2
011.631354?needAccess=true
Ko, D., & Stewart, W. (2002). A structural equation model of residents’ attitudes for
tourism ...
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222535708_A_Structural_Equation_Mod
el_of_Residents’_Attitudes_for_Tourism_Development
Honderich, H., & Matza, M. (2023, August 15).
“you’re kind of raised to hate
tourists”: Maui fires fan tensions on Hawaiian Island
. BBC News.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66507019
Tourism
. Maui Economic Development Board. (n.d.).
https://www.medb.org/tourism/#:~:text=The%20visitor%20industry%20touches
%20every,for%20the%20County%20of%20Maui
HTA releases results from 2006 resident sentiment survey
. Hawaii Tourism
Authority. (2006).
https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/news-releases/2006/hta-releases-res
ults-from-2006-resident-sentiment-survey/