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Dive Tourism and Local Communities: Active Participation or Subject to Impacts? Case Studies from Malaysia
Author(s) -
Daldeniz Bilge,
Hampton Mark P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of tourism research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.155
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1522-1970
pISSN - 1099-2340
DOI - 10.1002/jtr.1897
Subject(s) - tourism , impacts of tourism , economic impact analysis , handicraft , tourism geography , local community , community participation , business , economic growth , marketing , environmental resource management , geography , political science , sociology , socioeconomics , economics , archaeology , law , microeconomics
Dive tourism impacts were examined in three Malaysian islands: Perhentian (backpackers), Redang (package tourism) and Mabul (upmarket dive tourism). Qualitative local participation approaches were applied to investigate whether host communities were merely reactive to dive tourism's impacts. Dive tourism affected many aspects of community life. Besides physical/ environmental impacts (new infrastructure), research found varied economic impacts including employment/business opportunities and differing economic linkages. Participation varied between locations, and obstacles to increased participation were revealed. Mainly negative socio‐cultural impacts were observed with minimal participation in cultural productions (handicrafts, performances). However, positive educational impacts emerged, especially environmental awareness and English language acquisition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.