Introduction
Question 1. (a)
I agree with Canada (1) that tourism, just like any other profit making activity, is a ripe area of conflict. I do agree with Canada because tourism shares the same qualities like those other profit making organizations. In any profit making organization, several interests can cause conflict (Matheison and Wall, 49). Thus, since tourism has several varied social sectors involved, there are bound to be conflict. It should be remembered that the different social sectors do not share same interests. These opposing interests are doomed to be a fertile ground for conflict. Tourism touches several other areas that include environment, economy, politics, culture as well as other social areas.
Question 1. (b)
For instance, conflict may arise from communities in the rural areas that may feel dispossessed of their natural or territorial endowments. Also civil society, as well as local authorities, may react to the myriad abuses, or even excesses were emanating from tourism particularly when real estate development may be involved. Further, there could be clashes arising out of a conflict of interests that among the various players in the sector on how to do business. Besides, conflict may arise due to legal, regulatory frameworks. Here the regulations could be flouted or could be stringent for the various players to conform to. Finally, the labor-related could arise as the sector employs so many people.
Question 2.
Conflict in tourism, just like any other industry, is inevitable. What should be the concern of many should be how best to mitigate the challenges arising out of the various conflicts addressed in this paper. Thus, this paper will attempt to give the mitigation measures for three major conflicts discussed. One mitigation measure will be stakeholder inclusion. This measure tries to address the conflict arising from community resistance to being dispossessed of their endowments. Secondly, the paper will discuss how private-public partnerships can save the industry from various conflicts. Finally, the paper will look at the issue of planning and responsiveness. This strategy can significantly improve the labor relations that exist between the employers and employees in the sector.
Question 2.
Introduction
Conflict may arise over rural communities that feel dispossessed of their natural or territorial endowments. The strategy that will use to mitigate this problem is making sure that the local community, as a key stakeholder is involved in critical areas of the industry. First it should be remembered that local community is usually impacted severely by the tourism more than any other stakeholder. If such stakeholder is ignored, then there is bound to be trouble. In cases where the locals are satisfied with the development of tourism in their locality, they (locals) will be a source of local pride. However, heightened unease may occur when the locals feel that they were not consulted in when the tourism industry was developed in their locality. We know that for any tourism to flourish there is the issue of land. Locals should not feel disposed of their natural resources. This can cause conflict that nay end up reversing the very gains that had earlier on envisaged. To help avoid such a situation occurring, the locals should be involved from the onset of establishing the industry. They should be made to see the benefits of the industry. They could be explicitly told the benefits of the industry as well as the other effects that will come with that establishment.
Discussion
The dispossession that comes through speculative dynamics should not be encouraged. Such speculative amassing should not be encouraged. Clear genuine investments should occur. There have been some cases where even private investors have blocked locals' access to the beaches. This may bring a lot of conflict between such investors and the local community. Sustainable investment should be encouraged where such practices are discouraged. So, measures should be taken where the locals should be allowed to access public beaches. By this, they will feel that they are part of the industry.
Conflicts from civil society and local authorities' reactions to the many excesses of tourism and real estate development can be mitigated as well. Private-public partnership can go a long way in solving such a complex conflict. This is a major conflict since with it comes issues such as environmental degradation, corruption, broken social fabric. Thus, one may find that citizen groups, social movements, and some political figures could join the fray and halt such abuses of and plunder committed. It has been found such type of conflicts do exist in areas where the population densities are high. This, therefore, means that had public-private partnership been involved then such a conflict could not have occurred in the first place. For instance according to Canada ( 3) there was the issue of sewage dumping by Hotel Occidental Allegro Papagayo as well as complete destruction of Costa Rica. In the two cases, a civil society spoke against such.
There has also been the establishment of a Marina in Costa Rica. This Marina limited locals from accessing the Beach. Also, the residents could not get clean water as a result. Solid waste management was also a problem. As such residents and even the local authority raised the alarm, leading to Supreme Court to halt the construction of the Marina temporarily.
Active planning prompt response to the plight of workers is a mitigation measure I would use to solve issues to do with conflicts emanating from workers' reaction towards unstable working conditions. Several labor disputes have arisen due to the provision of poor working conditions and labor relations (Henderson, 56). Worker unrest has been noted specifically during the construction of the main tourist hotels and other facilities. Some have been observed to have worked under unhealthy conditions to be the point of developing diseases and even dying. To avoid such an occurrence that may negatively impact the project, it is imperative that prompt response is accorded to issues, which have to do with worker safety and welfare. So, appropriate work plans and conditions should be put in place to avoid such challenges.
Tourism is an industry that has considerably contributed to economic activities in many countries all over the world. Thus, it has been a creator of jobs among members of communities both big and small. No careful analysis of its impact has been fully accessed. The general effect of tourism for many was seen regarding jobs, income, taxes, etc. However, various issues are associated with tourism. The impact is both positive and adverse. The negative impacts are the ones that also breed conflict (Robinson et al.78).
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be seen that unless tourism development managed sustainably in line with the needs of its host community interests, then the several confliction bound to occur. Therefore, there is the need for prudent planning and involvement of all the stakeholders in its development for it to flourish. Though it comes with a lot of benefits, care should be taken such that it is a fruitful and sustainable activity. Tourism faces several challenges that bring conflict. These range from resistance to host communities over usurpations of their resources. Next dispute may arise between civil societies, local authorities. Also, players in the industry may conflict over how to do business. Finally, conflict may arise from worker unrest. Tourism comes with its advantages such as new income and even employment for many people and even countries. So it is imperative that it is managed in such a way that it is beneficial to everybody.
Works Cited
Ernest, Canada. Tourism in Central America,Social conflict in a new setting. www.albasud.org,
2014. Web. 22 February 2008.
Joan Henderson, Tourism Crises: Causes, Consequences and Management (London: Routledge
Press), 2007. Print
Matheison, Alister. and Geoffrey Wall, Tourism – Economic, Physical and Social Impacts
(London: Longman Press), 1982. Print
Michael David Robinson, Mike Robinson, Priscilla Boniface, Tourism and cultural conflicts
(Massachusetts: CABI Press), 1999. Print
