CONCLUSIONES Y RECOMENDACIONES:

The study of economic impacts has proved popular. As Pearce (1989, p.2) stated: “…studies of the tourism impact on a destination or destinations have been the largest single element of tourism research…however, much of this is predominantly the work of economists and has concentrated on the effects of income and employment.” Wall and Mathieson (2006) and Stynes (1997) provided a list of reasons as to why there was so much emphasis on tourism economic impacts. First, economic impacts are easier to measure than other impacts, second, large quantities of reliable data have been collected on the economic aspects of tourism; third, economic benefits command great respect among the business, governmental and local communities; fourth, tourism economic consequences are considered to the most important

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factors in investing, marketing and management decisions, and fifth, there are a variety of research methods existing to measure economic impacts, such as “ multiplier analysis, linear programmes, general equilibrium models, and benefits-cost analysis” (Wall & Mathieson, 2006, p. 71). Normally, the economic impacts of tourism are perceived as positive, due to its contribution to increase foreign exchange earnings for host nation, government revenues, decrease unemployment rate by generating new job opportunities, stimulating the supply sectors of tourism, improving the level of economic activity, and furthering the standard of living in local communities (Andriotis, 2001; Ivanov & Webster, 2007; Ap, 1992: Liu and Var, 1986: Chazapi & Sdrali, 2006; Haralambopoulos & Pizam,1996).

The economic impacts of tourism can be especially important in many developing nations.

For example, Mason (2008) pointed out that the Indonesian island of Bali provided a good example of tourism stimulating significant economic growth in the 1960s to create a large number of jobs. Nicholson (1997) found that tourism dominates the economy of Boracay Island, Philippines. Tourism provided income-earning opportunities by providing accommodation in family-owned units. Those new sources of income have improved locals’

living standards. Kala (2008) conducted a tourism impact study in Jaipur, India, who discovered that 80.7% of respondents confirmed that tourism leads to direct economic benefits which include the provision of employment, an increase in income of locals, and improved the living standard for regional development. Additionally tourism development generate for many rural communities an opportunity to add to their social capital as they come into greater contact with the outside world. Evidence of this is provided in chapter 6 and 7 where, for example, villagers make reference to a growing awareness of demographic action in seeking to negotiate with local government.

Although, the economic impact of tourism is generally positive (Tosun, 2002), the negative economic consequences of tourism are not always largely mentioned by a local community.

Researchers like Wall and Mathieson (2006, p. 89) found that negative economic impacts of tourism included “… the danger of over dependency of tourism; increased inflation and higher land values; an increased propensity to import; the seasonality of production and the low rate of return on investments; the creation of other external costs”. Kala (2008) and Pearce (1989) are among those who identified problems connected with an overdependence on tourism, and its heavy infrastructure costs that may create an unfavourable impact on the

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balance of payments. Din (1993) and de Kadt (1979) even argued that that the economic benefits of tourism development were sometimes not evenly distributed within the local community. The income always goes to business and government; thus, the rich become richer and the poor become poorer. Furthermore, tourism has criticised for creating jobs with only low level of skill, and being part time, both of which will disrupt the traditional employment structure (Tosun, 2002; Townsend, 1997). For instance, Mason (1995) found that tourism in Bali gave evidence of being a cause of inflation. Before1968, land prices had been steady for 20 years, but after tourism developed, land prices rose by more than 100 per cent. A summary of past research is provided in Tables 2.1 and 2.2. Given that tourism can be either negative or positive, the question arises as to what determines the outcomes of tourism growth? Wall and Mathieson (2006) identified seven main factors, namely:

i. “The nature of the main facility and its attractiveness to tourists ii. The volume and intensity of tourist expenditures in the destination iii. The level of economic development of the designation area

iv. The degree of interconnectivity between the economic sectors of the destination in which tourist expenditures recirculate, including the ratios of expenditure to the

export of commodities and capital movement

v. The degree to which the destination has adjusted to the seasonality of tourist demand vi. The type and pattern of travel arrangements purchased by the tourists

vii. The size of the economic base of the destination area” (p.90)

Following summaries generally describe the economic themes from both positive and negative ones in most western studies.

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Table 2.1 Economic benefits of tourism summary Economic

Ap, 1992, Ap & Crompton (1998); Wall &

Mathieson (2006) ； Lawson, Williams, Young &

Cossens, 1998； Faulkner & Tideswell, 1997, Belisle

& Hoy, 1980; Chazapi & Sdrae , 2006; Kala, 2008

Haralambopoulos & Pizam ,1996, Li(2002), Faulkner

& Tideswell, 1997, Chen & Chiang, 2005, Belisle &

Lawson, Williams, Young & Cossens, 1998; Liu, et al., 2008;

Family income Tourism could increase family income

Chazapi & Sdrali , 2006； Liu, et al., 2008; Feng, 2008; Kala, 2008; Arlt & Xu , 2008

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Table 2.2 Economic costs of tourism summary Negative economic

impact

Findings Researchers

Increased cost of living Tourism results in increased costs of living for host community

Andereck et al, 2005; Wall &

Mathieson (2006), Williams &

Lawson 2001 Increased prices Tourism results in increasing

the local prices, such as

Benefits not distributed Tourism results in unfair distribution of economic

Inflation Tourism results significant inflation

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