Tillbaka till GM Travel Hemsida

The role of Small Scale and Medium Size Tourism Enterprises in Developing countries in Sustainable Tourism Development, using The Gambia as a case study.

 

Textruta: CONCEPTUAL FRAME WORK  “Sustainability requires an reconciliation of the ecological imperative to stay within the carrying capacity of the planet, the economic imperative to provide an adequate standard of living for all, and the social imperative to develop forms of governance that promote the values people want to live by”(Sustainable Development Research Initiative (SDRI). It means the solidarity, mutual respect, and participation of all players implicated in the process, especially those indigenous to the location and must be based on efficient cooperation mechanisms at all levels: local, national, regional and international” (Gartner, 1996 in Birch et al., 2002:48), which requires an “reconciliation of the ecological imperative to stay within the carrying capacity of the planet, the economic imperative to provide an adequate standard of living for all, and the social imperative to develop forms of governance that promote the values people want to live by (Sustainable Development Research Initiative (SDRI).  Halloway, 1998; Scheyvens, 2002; suggests that tourism is often regarded as an economic activity that would help a destination develop because it brings with it employment, trade, business, and additional development, regarded by most countries as an important source of revenue, also as a revenue generator for local industries (Harrison, 1992). Local support, is thus usually a necessary component for a successful tourism strategy, as noted by Bourke and Luloff (1995), and echoed by Brass (1996), Burr (1995), and Woods (1992). This will help motivate more local participation in tourism and minimise economic leakages. ‘lower multipliers have been associated with highly concentrated, large-scale, foreign-owned tourism complexes, while higher multipliers have been connected to more dispersed, small-scale, locally owned operations that tend to be better linked to the local economy (Brohman, 1996: p56). The linkage of tourism with other sectors is always a well emphasised ambition of tourism developers and regulators; one reason why local communities are encourage to take part in the production and selling of tourism products. Wanhill (2002) citing Murphy, 1985 and Inkeep 1991; suggests that the promotion of SMEs blends well with models of community tourism development, shown to forsta local development in developing countries particularly in poorer rural areas (Harris and Vogel, 2003). It is also estimated that around 80% of the bed capacity World-Wide correspond to small and independent, non-chain establishments, including many family-owned enterprises, which are more labour intensive than big resorts. The goal of economic growth, and the responsibility of  taking care of the economic, socio-cultural and environmental problems that can evolve through business activities directly and indirectly involved with tourism should be important in communities participatory role in tourism development, as they have a more need of the industry of their well being, and  should be related to the components of sustainability, “the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs “(Brundlandt Report „Our Common Future“, 1987). That is why tourism strategies must be consistent with local goals and be sensitive to sustaining a community's character and traditions. Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation (WTO, 2004). The criticisms on the mainstream international tourism from the dependency perspective inevitably exploitive in developing countries, gave rise to new perspectives of ‘alternative’ or ‘sustainable tourism development’ point of view (Cornelissen, 2005). This move has been supported by academics, industrialist and civil societies world wide as an effective tool for sustainable growth in the world’s poorest countries (WTO, 2005). However, the lack of simplicity toppled with complex ideas that are out of torch with realities and situations in developing countries, where means of survival, economy, nature and socio-cultural fabrics are different from that of the northern way of living have further make the concept of sustainable tourism development a dream yet to be accomplished. The concept has also fallen short of it’s generalization to developing countries for the fact that information and knowledge is key a determinant of sustainable tourism, the access of which is a problem in developing countries.  The practical implications of a participatory approach in development have been expressed by Pretty and Guijt in Mikkelsen, (2005:55) as follows:  “It will have to begin with the people who knows most about their livelihood systems. It will have to value and develop their knowledge and skills, and put it into their hands the means to achieve self development. This will require a reshaping of all practices and thinking associated with  development” There are a number of development models attracting tourists to nature areas for economic growth (Ceballos-Lascuráin, 1989). Consequently, the many adverse effects of tourism are over-looked due to economic growth (Mowforth and Munt, 1998), and have contributed to some of the reasons why the concept of sustainable tourism after many years of propaganda still remains a problem for researchers. It has been suggested by Halloway, 1998; Scheyvens, 2002; that tourism is often regarded as an economic activity that would help a destination develop because it brings with it employment, trade, business, and additional development. According to Busby (2003), the relation between tourism and Sustainability was first discussed by scholars such as Mathieson and Wall, 1982; who emphasised the diverse environmental, economic and social structures involved sustainable practices. Busby further cites Curtin and Busby, 1999; Page and Dowling, 2002; suggesting that the concept is about local communities as much as natural resources. However, clarity of the explanation of the meaning of development has not been realized from the offset, thus any concept attached to it for the purpose generalization can prove to be futile. Most people, even among tourism industry practitioners, do not understand what sustainable tourism really means and consequently, abuse of the concept is prevalent (AP and Mak, 1999). This misunderstanding can be attributed to the misconceptions of what  development means. Understanding sustainable development requires an understanding of development, a misused term that has a specific meaning in the international community (WTO, 1999). It goes further in its complexity of the way development is treated in the western concept c to the compared third world concept. Development researchers perceive development as moving from traditional peasantry to an industrial society. For this reason they have generally ignored tourism and the service industry in a development research debate. According to Capra (2005), development in the northern context, means economic development no other social aspirations or cultural values are allowed to get in the way.  It is appropriate to indicate here, that some of the products of the tourism industry are natural elements of "non-home occurring, or have been in place well before a destination’s embankment on tourism development and not built to attract tourists, but are simply products of history and cultural development. It is therefore essential to clarify the meaning of development and how it is perceived in the developing countries context to enable the oprationalisation of sustainable tourism. Development is intended to improve the quality of human life and generate opportunities, which includes, social, environmental, political and economical. A hypothesis is therefore that SMEs are more locally connected to local destination resources and are found to be more knowledgeable of the socio-economy, environment and culture of the destination and thus make the concept of sustainable tourism development more realistic when their role in the endeavor is clearly spelt out. Sustainability must go hand in hand with development, and stakeholders must have a responsibility in developing their facilities, products and services in a manner that abides with the concept of sustainable development. This seems to agree with the notion advanced by The Commission of The European Communities (2004), suggesting that the very concept of development has been changing in recent years. The definition now goes far beyond just economic criteria; it is now measured in terms of the environment, improved social conditions, anti-corruption measures, and governance. The debate on the merits of sustainable tourism development thus continues; conflicts between stakeholders prevail where tourism develops, and balancing the need for ecological responsibility and economic realities is a constant struggle (Curtin and Busby, 1999; Knowles-Lankford and Lankford, 2000; Liu, 2003; Pacific Asia Tourism Association, 2002). Development of ideas and the theoretical framework for the research was derived from this realisation relating to previous researches conducted in the area who seem to either focus primarily on policy proposals at the regional or state level (Burns and Sancho, 2003; MacDonald and Jolliffe 2003, Burns 2004) or merely focus on suggestive planning practices (Leberman and Mason 2002). Most of them appear to be addressing sustainable tourism practice without relating it to its wider perspective of development, and have ignored the role of the largest business group in this industry in sustainable business practices. This research is thus built on the concept of sustainable development with emphasis on the role of SMEs.        

Textruta: CHALLENGES FOR SMEs the vertical integration of the industry allows tour operators to control both transportation (charter flights) and retailers ( travel agency chains) making the majority of SMEs to most entrely depend on them for communication with consumers, see Buhalis, 2004. They lacked the required personnel, and information concerning sustainable practices, and finance. SMEs are both fragmented and lack a coherent lobby…lacking investment capacity to upgrade and the management/marketing expertise demanded by the tourism marketplace” (Cooper et al 1998:106). They are weakly managed and marketed, since they lack the resources on the one hand to employ specialised personnel, and on the other hand to promote themselves adequately (Bastakis, Buhalis and Butler, 2002) There is also growing evidence that SMEs in some countries may be less efficient with respect to resource use (World Bank, 1997b). Lacks planning and strategic vision, with tactical and operational decisions dominating their decision-making Olsen,1991; Buhalis & Cooper, 1992 in (Bastakis, Buhalis and Butler, 2002). These weaknesses coupled with the lack of basic business information force most SMEs to adopt a ‘‘product oriented’’ than a ‘‘market oriented’’ approach in their tourism offer (Buhalis, 1993). There is thus concern over the abilities of SMEs to conduct their businesses in conducive environment that enhances economic, social and environmental sustainability.          

Textruta: MULLINATIONAL The flow of tourists to a specific country or destination is to a considerable extent determined by the world wide tourism industry, represented by tour operators, travel agents and transport services in the countries of tourist origin (Christie and Crompton, 2001). The dominance and powers of international operators is enhanced through trends in international business, i.e. globalisation… based on the idea that tourism will yield overwhelmingly positive benefits on growth linked with development (Williams, 2005). an entirely independent firm that specializes in putting holiday packages together and selling them; Bigger tourism companies are in a position to offer their clients more attractive services at very competitive prices..aslo able to develop new tourism markets and offer new products (Keller, 2005).

Textruta: The objectives are: To investigate awareness and understanding of sustainable tourism issues, and what they mean for SMEs in tourism development. To investigate the structural influences within the industry, the community, the state and at the local government level in the efforts for sustainable tourism development. To identify barriers face by SMEs in developing countries in their sustainable tourism initiatives. To investigate how SMEs can contribute towards sustainable tourism development   Specific objectives divided in to two main themes; un   derstanding External and Internal drivers of sustainability and in particular, the economic drivers and their influence in sustainable tourism development.

 

 

Textruta: SMEs Many developing countries view Small-scale niche tourism as having greater potential for increasing local multiplier effects by enhancing links with agriculture and sectors (Forsyth, 1995). They are generally regarded as an important source of revenue, also as revenue generator for local industries (Harrison, 1992). They stimulate private ownership and entrepreneurial skills, and can adapt to changing market demand and supply situations, generate employment, help diversify economic activity and make a significant contribution to exports and trade Becattini, 1987; Håkansson, 1989; Brusco, 1989; Ford, 1990;  provided empirical evidence that shows that SMEs can operate in a large network that will enable them compete at an international level.

 

 

Textruta: MAIN THEMES OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW Ghauri et al, (1995) suggests that researchers usually start their investigation by examining secondary data to see whether their problems can be partly or wholly solved without collecting costly primary data. The relevant liteture on the research topic was explored to understand the isues surround the research topic, such as the importance of tourism in developing countries, the structure of the tourism industry and key palyers, looking at the characteristics of each, behaviour, impacts, costs and risks, and relative benefits to developing countries. Many have found it important to improve the linking of tourism with the other sectors of the economy as one of the foundations of tourism development policies, so as to capitalize on the benefits of the globalisation and internationalisation of markets (Diaz, 2001). They encourage and developed a variety of tourism ventures, which have impelled locals to enter quick tourism programs including building unplanned inns, hotels and “paradores” (Hamilton, 2004). They enter into tourism businesses that are directly connected with the immediate environment, for instance the activities of ground tour operations, such as the use of nature (fauna and flora), socio-cultural fabrics of society, and local people as part of their products. SMEs form the vanguard of the modern enterprise sector and present the propelling force of economic modernization and growth in developing economies (World Bank), and are increasingly being acknowledged by tourism industry officials, community development specialists and conservationists suggesting that tourism should be based on the concept of sustainability. it is “the low levels of concentration in an industry where small businesses dominate despite the fact that relatively few, large corporations have market prominence”( Cooper et al,1998:22). Manuaba, (2005) suggesting that SMEs act as resilient economic component of developing countries, as it absorbs a lot of man power.  they are important source of revenue, also as a revenue generator for local industries (Harrison 1992). It is estimated that 80% of the bed capacity World-Wide correspond to small and independent, non-chain establishments, including many family-owned enterprises, which are more labour intensive than big resorts However, tourism industry has been characterized by a high degree of monopoly, which implies a concentration of services and profits into very few big transnational corporations (Song, 2004), through the dominance and powers enhanced by trends in international business, i.e. globalisation (Williams, 2005).  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVOLVEMENT OF SMEs IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Textruta: It is evident that a strong tourism industry can be helpful in the efforts for national development, but the destination can be exploited of its attractive character that can destroy a region’s integrity and force tourists to transfer their interest elsewhere (Calabrese et al , 2002). The literature has identified the concept of sustainable tourism development as a remedy, and has suggested a collaborative effort that includes both SMEs and Multinational Corporation with emphasis on the destination’s resources and the role of SMEs in managing, preserving and protecting it. Local communities who are normally the operators of SMEs have little resources that take to support sustainable practices, but they have massive knowledge of the destination’s tourism product, culture and environment that is crucial for sustainable practice. It is thus apparent that the industry can find it difficult to operate sustainable practices without the involvement of SMEs. A proposed model of sustainable tourism development that includes and put emphasis on SMEs is demonstrated in figure above.   Textruta: DESTINATION Textruta: Tourism development Strategy Tourism product, people, Local industries Textruta: REGULATIONS Sustainable tourism operations TOURISM DEVELOPMENT REGULATORS Economic Socio-cultural Environmental       Economic Socio-cultur Environmental Textruta: Local stakeholders (SMEs) Textruta: Multinational Corporations

Textruta: ROLE OF SMES ?

 

Textruta: RESEACRH METHODOLOGY The continues growth of international tourism in developing countries and the increasing participation of Small scale medium enterprises in tourism trade is of great concern concerning their abilities to cope with sustainable practices. Ghauri et al, (1995) suggests that researchers usually start their investigation by examining secondary data to see whether their problems can be partly or wholly solved without collecting costly primary data. Both secondary and primary data is required. Secondary data consists of information that already exist, having been collected for other purposes. Such in-dept literature review enabled this research to gather secondary data, concentrating on techniques used by other researchers and their findings, as well, facilitates the analyses of such techniques, their properties of implementation, limitations and validity. This furhter facilitated the development of a conceptual framework on the subject and proceeding with collecting original primary data on the phenomena.  The primary data involved is quantitative in nature; investigation is being carried out to garther original information for the specific purpose (Ghauri et al, 1995),  which is being  conducted in the form of a case study in The Gambia, using an acceptable research methodology through the use of a questionnaire, as recommended by Veal (1997:146) who suggests that tourism is often a mass phenomena, requiring major involvement from governmental, non-profit and commercial organisations, which relies on quantified information for significant aspects of their decision-making. Sustainable tourism development is also a normative process which involves stakeholder values (Walsh, Jamrozy and Burr, 2001), values that people assign to a given resource, and their perceptions of that resource, will influence the pathways deemed appropriate to achieve outcomes that are considered sustainable (Hall, 1998) and requires understanding and knowledge of the subject matter. The research first looked at: The broad access to scientific information; a key for people to understand, participate and respond to the challenges that development poses to civilisation, the better they are understood, the better we can respond with appropriate actions, whether these are activism in public causes or changes at the personal level (de la Carlos, 2000). Without information, proper knowledge and appreciation for issues in hand there is risk that misconceptions and misunderstandings of such issues can be crucial. While many scientists in developing countries read and understand English, many scientific journals are not within easy reach to them (de la Carlos, 2000). Other sectors of civil society like NGOs, academia and national businesses, who can and should also play a key role in development issues within their countries, have had an even more restricted access to information in many countries (Daudpota and Zambrano, 1995). Against this background a seminar was thus proposed which facilitated a platform for discussion on the topic with participants, as well as a technical note containing a synthesis of published knowledge on tourism development and challenges faced by The Gambia in regards to sustainable practices derived from the literature review. Participants were business operators registered with tourism associations within The formal sector in The Gambia composed of the hotels represented by the Gambia Hotel Association (GHA) and the Ground Handlers and Equipment Hirers Association (GHEHA), which is composed of the inbound tour operators who have contracts with the originating market operators and members of the Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism (ASSETS), with two other resource persons who presented papers on Pro-poor tourism, and The Tourism Master Plan of The Gambia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Textruta: The seminar provided opportunities with the help of questionnaire to gather information concerning the level of information, knowledge and appreciation they have for sustainable tourism development, completed during the event through a participatory approach with participants as focus groups. It involved a self-administered survey with SMEs, done in a quantitative manner using part of the validated PhD research questionnaire representing views from general practice, knowledge of sustainable tourism in general terms, importance of sustainable practices to the commercial and sustainable success of tourism businesses in The Gambia. This was transcribed and analysed, the findings of which helped the researcher to proceed with the actual primary data collection process of this research. The intention was to give the researcher a rough view of sustainable tourism practices in The Gambia, which were further treated in a broader context in the main PhD research questionnaire.   It helped to identify opportunities and barriers to sustainable tourism development in The Gambia that could be generalised in a wider context, and to test a part of the research instrument for any further developTThhment. It also provided opport   unities to facilitate a foundation for the data collection process of the ongoing research easily and cheaper, as recommended by Veal (1999:159).  

 

Textruta: Primary data collected includes sustainable business practices in terms of behaviour, awareness and understanding of sustainable tourism issues and what they mean for SMEs, structural influences within the industry, community, the state and local government level, barriers face by SMEs and how they can contribute to sustainability. It seeks information from, stakeholders covering a wide geographical area in The Gambia on sustainable tourism practices on the destination. This study will answer the following research questions divided into three parts: PART 1 ENVIRONMENTAL What does sustainable tourism development means for Small and Medium size tourism enterprises in developing countries? What influence does SMEs have in sustainable tourism development compared to multinational co operations? What external opportunities and barriers are present for SMEs when considering sustainable tourism development? What internal opportunities and barriers are present for SMEs when considering sustainable tourism development? PART 2 AWARENESS OF OPERATIONS Are SMEs aware of sustainable tourism development? What are the perceptions of SMEs, local governments, communities, and the state of sustainable tourism development? Is there any cooperation between SMEs, multinational co operations and tourism policy makers towards sustainable tourism development? PART3 STRUCTURAL Can structural dominance in tourism influence sustainable tourism development? How can SMEs be included in the efforts towards sustainable tourism development?   Note: this is an ongoing research, do not cite FY Drammeh (2007)  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the way forward for the tourism master plan study

By sheikh Tejan Nyang , Study Coordinator .

Tourism Development Master Plan

THE GAMBIA