Rrporrs

‘R. Bntton. ‘Some notes on the geography of tourism’, Canadian Geographer. Vol 33, No 3. 1979, pp 276-282. ‘E. Cohen, ‘Who is a tourist. A conceptual classification’, Sociology Revrew, Vol 22, No 4. 1974 pp 527-555. “J. Jafari and J.R.B. Rrtchie, ‘Towards a framework for tounsm education: problems and prospects’, Anna/s of Tourism Re- search, Vol 8, No 1, 1981, pp 13-34. 5For examples of curriculum developments in tourism see D. Airev. and V.T.C. Middle- ton, ‘Course syllabi in the United Krngdom A review’, Tourism Management. Vol5, No 1, 1984, pp 57-62; D.E. Hawkins and J.D. Hunt, ‘Travel and tourism education: the George Washington approach’, paper pre- sented to TTRA 14th annual conference, 1983; D.E. Hawkins and J.D. Hunt, ‘Travel and tourism professional education’, Hos- pitality and Tourism Educator, Vol 1, No 1, 1988, pp 2-l 4; N. Leiper. ‘Towards a cohesive curriculum in tourism: the case for a distinct discipline’, Anna/s of Tourism Research. Vol 8, No 1, 1981, pp 69-84; R.W. McIntosh. ‘A model university curri- culum in tourism’, Tourism Management, Vol 4. No 2. 1983. DD 134-I 37: P.E. Mur- phy, ‘Tourism course proposal for a social science curriculum’, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol 8, No 1, 1981, pp 96-l 05; D. Pearce, ‘Course content and structure in the geography of tourism: the Canter- bury example’, Anna/s of Tourism Re- search, Vol 8, No 1, 1981, pp 106-I 15; and L. Stear, ‘Design of a curriculum for

destination studies’, Annals of Tounsm Research. Vol 8, No 1, 1981, pp 85-95. ‘L. Theuns and A.C. Rasheed, ‘Alternative approaches to tertiary tourism education with special reference to developing coun- tries’, Tourism Management, Vol 4, No 1, 1983. pp 42-51. ‘Ritchie, op tit, Ref 1. ‘D. Blanton, ‘Tourism training in develop- ing countries: the social and cultural dimension’, Anna/s of Tourism Research. Vol 8. No 1, 1981, pp 116-133; R. Howell and M. Uysall. ‘Tourism education for de- veloping countries’, Tourism Management, Vol 8, No 1, 1987. pp 62-64; C.L. Jenkins, ‘Education for tourism policy-makers in developing countries’, Tourism Manage- ment. Vol 1, No 4, 1980. pp 238-242; and Theuns and Rasheed. op cif. Ref 6. ‘D. Airey and M. Nightingale, ‘Tourism occupations, career profiles and know- ledge’, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol8, No 1. 1981, pp 52-68; and P.J. Sheldon and C.Y. Gee, ‘Training needs assess- ment in the travel industry’, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol 14, No 2, 1987, pp 173-182. “‘I, Van Weenan and E.L. Shafer, ‘Gradu- ate training in tourism: what the experts think‘. Tourism Management, Vol 4. No 2. 1983. pp 138-139. “D. Airey, ‘Tourism education at adv- anced level in the United Kfngdom’, paper presented to the 25th Europaisches semi- nar fur Tounsmus. Luxembourg. “/bid.

Tourism in rural areas Jonathan Edwards Senior Lecturer at the Dorset Institute, UK, describes, the

proceedings of a congress, organized by the Portuguese Director of Tourism

and the Regional Tourist Board of the Coste Verde, which took place on 26-28 May 1988 in the northern resort town of Viana do Caste/o. This was a most appropriate venue, lying as it does on the coastal plain with a hinterland comprising possibly one of the most viable and vibrant ‘rural’ societies remaining within ihe EEC. It was the third conference in a sequence concerned with rural tourism in EEC member countries held under the auspices of Tourism

Espace Rural (TER).

Rural tourism is at an early stage of development in Portugal and while the conference benefitted from the inter- national perspectives given by speak- ers from countries with a much longer history of rural tourism. particularly France and Ireland, much of the con- ference was given over to a considera- tion of the Portuguese case.

Portuguese speakers presented their assessments of the potential role of tourism in helpins to maintain and

regenerate the viability of rural com- munities and cultures. which are high- ly valued in Portuguese society. Early speakers dealt with the history of rurality in Portugal as a means of explaining regional differences. and the relationship between agriculture and tourism and between the country- side and tourism. This general back- around was followed by presentations describing the various promotional, marketing and financial strategies,

TOURISM MANAGEMENT March 1989

which have been and are to be adopted, in the context of the Portu- guese National Plan for Tourism. The general optimism of these presenta- tions was astutely put into perspective by a paper opposing rural tourism. siven by the Secctary of State for Culture, who succinctly summarized the range of disbenefits likely to result from overenthusiastic promotion of rural tourism. Indeed. a common theme referred to by several speakers related to the negative aspects of developments in the Xlsarve. the eco- nomic effects of which are influencing the whole Portuguese tourism indus- try.

All the Portuguese speakers dwelt upon the role played by the host in introducing visitors to the rural socie- ty. as visitors were seen as being more than mere spectators of the rural scene. It became clear that rural tour- ism in Portugal is perceiv,ed as being a highly personalized industry. This is due in part to the decision taken IO vears ago by the Portuguese govern- ment to develop tourism in rural areas of Portugal by stimulating the provi- sion of accommodation in larger. pri- vately owned, countrv houses. This scheme, known as T‘ctrk~ro Hcbitrrcrm

is effectively the only manifestation of a rural tourism industry in Portugal and is largely confined to the hinter- land of Viana do Castelo.

This pattern of development was clearly reflected in the conference by the considerable attention paid to the role of the ‘country’ or ‘manor’ house associations and the support they re- ceive both from municipal. regional and central government. For the 300 or so delegates, drawn from all the regions of Portugal, including Madeira and the Azores, these interreln- tionships were clearly of the greatest interest.

Against this background Henri Grollrau. joint author of a recent report on rural tourism Lvithin EEC member states. was able to provide a necessary European Perspective, and Suzanne Thibal, the president of TER, was able to outline the develop- ment of rural tourism in France. although the self catering gites ele- ment is almost entirely lacking in Portugal. Two speakers from Eire

73

uptlv discussed both the mamtenance of kcommodation standards and the problems of coordinating accommoda- tion units scattered o\er a large area. These topics are particularly relevant to the development of a rural tourism industrv in Portugl. which for the foreseeable future is going to maintain its heavy dependence upon interna- tional visitors. (6%90”0 from the UK). Speakers from Spain and Italk completed the broader European perspective.

The conference concluded by re- commending a range of measures to guide the further development of rural tourism in Portugal. These included the need to integrate tourism into rural society at various levels. in the manor house. in the village and on the farm thus providinp a vital economic input into all levels of the community. The appropriate administrative and financial structures \\ere proposed to allow for the cooperation of the public and private sectors in ensuring the continuation of viable rural cultures and communities. The need to in- crease the professionalism of pro- motional and marketing activities aimed at a sophisticated international audience \vas highlighted. as was the need for hosts to appreciate fully the level of hospitality required to run a successful operation.

Ten years ago, there \vere effective- ly no rural destinations available for visitors to Portugal. At the end of the first decade a start has been made in the northern provinces and delegates had the chance to see for themselves the quality and potential of this re- source. The next decade will show whether all the recommended propos- als, and the examples from other countries, put before the essentially domestic audience, do guide the fu- ture development of a tourism sector so vital to the Portuguese economy.

Jonathan Edwards Department of Tourism

Dorset Institute, UK

Note: Those wishing to obtain further details of the availability of conference proceedings are advised to contact Dr Francisco Sam- paio, Director, Regional Tourist Board of the Alto Minho. Viana do Castelo. 4900 Portugal.

74

Geographical approach international tourism

to

Dr S.J. Page of the Department of Geography, Christ Church College, Canterbury, reporfs on the proceedings of a conference organized by the International Geographical Union (IGU) Commission of Tourism and Leisure, 13-20 August 1988, at Christchurch, New Zealand. This was a pre-congress meeting with the theme of ‘International tourism’ and papers covered a wide range of tourism subjects from the perspectives of both the developed and developing world..

The broad theme of the conference was ‘International tourism’ \\ hich attracted geogaphers from I2 coun- tries. Some 26 papers were presented which adopted a varirty of approaches to tourism. Following the keynote address by Professor B. Barbier (Uni- versity of hlarseille, France) on the ‘Geography of international tourism’. the first session of papers entitled ‘International and domestic tourism‘ commenced kvith Dr D. Pearce‘s (Uni- versity of Canterbury. New Zealand) thoughtful discussion of the rela- tionship between ‘International and domestic tourism: interfaces and issues’. This raised ;I number of impor- tant methodological and conceptual issues which were absent from man) of the other conference papers. ;LI. Johnston’s (University of Canterbury. New Zealand) paper on ‘Risk esperi- ences of international and domestic tourists’ examined the dangers associ- ated with outdoor recreation pursuits. J. Shultis (University of Otapo. Newt Zealand) continued with the theme of outdoor recreation. emphasizing the diversity and variety of protected areas and national parks in New Zea- land. R. Heath (University of Zim- babwe) presented an interesting paper on ‘Domestic and international tour- ism in Zimbabwe with reference to Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park and Lake Kariba’. This paper high- lighted the paucity of research on Third World countries by their o\vn geographers who often had a better understanding of the social and cultu- ral significance of tourism and recrea- tion in such areas. These arguments were reinforced by Professor F. Hel- Ieiner’s (Trent University, Canada)

discussion of .Domshtic and intcrnn- tional tourism in Third World coun- tries’ where the indigencjus population has a different understanding of the term ‘tourist’ to that used by geog- raphers in dcvclopsd countries.

The second theme .Transport and

travel’ commenced with a paper by Dr C. Kissling (Canterbury United Coun-

cil. Ncn Zsaland) on ‘International tourism and civil aviation 111 the South Pacific‘ which emphasized the difficul- ty of air travel in the resion and the importance of tourism as a form of ‘trade with dignity’. Dr B. Anderson (I_Jnivcr\ity of Alberta. Canada) cons- idered the procesh of learning among Japanr>e students \vhu travelled to Canada to attend a ~ummc‘r school. Dr Xl. Rafferty (SW 1Iissouri University. USA) also presented a paper on stu- dent perception. lookinp at imapes of world tourist regions. a theme familiar to many conference participants. The last paper in this session by Professor L. kludman (Brigham Younp Uni- versity. USA) also considered stu- dents and their significance as ~OLIII~

international touribts. The session entitled ‘Hallmark

events and tourism in metropolitan areas’ produced a \+ide range of pap- ers. ht. Hall’s (University of Ne\% Enpland, Australia) presentation on ‘Hallmark events‘ examined the sis- nificance of stased tourist events in terms of who benefited and who was adversely affected. Dr W. Gartner (University of Wisconsin-Stout, USA) then presented the results of a surve], of Korean attitudes to the 19% Olym- pics in Seoul. Dr S. Page (Ealing College of Higher Education. Lon- don) examined the impact and signifi-

TOURISM MANAGEMENT March 1989