A Community Approach to Mountain Adventure Tourism Development

LEONIDAS MAROUDAS* - ANNA KYRIKAKI** - DIMITROS GOUVIS***
* University of the Aegean
** University of the Aegean
*** University of Patras

Abstract
The gradual development of mountain tourism, which today represents an important segment of the global tourism industry resulted in placing mountainous and alpine areas in dominant position as a subject of the international discussion over sustainable tourism development, given that mountains are by their nature limiting environments. The democratization of mountain adventure tourism contributed, on the one hand, to the relative relief of isolation that characterized the mountainous regions, through the increase of accessibility, and on the other hand, to their economic development. Despite its importance, the increased commodification of mountain adventure tourism led to the appearance of certain negative effects: high levels of leakage of tourism development benefits from local communities and severe degradation of the natural environment. The implementation of a series of measures-such as regulations focusing on the seasonal and geographic spread of tourism activities, the appropriate zoning of land uses and activities, etc.-can contribute to the maintenance of the comparative advantages of mountain destinations. However, one of the most important prerequisites of the effective management of mountain destinations is the direct involvement of local communities in the decision - making process. The present article aims to set forth and analyze the perspectives and the eventual problems of the development of mountain adventure tourism, as well as to outline an organizational framework of destination management. The purpose of such a framework would be to contribute to the creation of sustainable communities endowed with on the one hand the resilience which will allow them to survive under the highly volatile conditions of tourist demand, and on the other, the ability to maintain the cohesion and support the welfare of all its members.

Keywords: sustainable tourism, adventure tourism, community participation.


A Regionally Distinctive Product and the Construction of Place Identity: The Case of Chios Mastiha

VASILIKI GALANI-MOUTAFI
University of the Aegean

Abstract
This paper highlights the relationship between culture and economy by examining the case of Chios mastiha: the meanings attributed to the product, mainly through production and marketing practices, and the images constructed that link it to place, thereby, informing the island's representations of identity. The shifts in power relations, which have occurred historically over the control and management of mastiha are also pointed out. It is demonstrated that in recent years the creation of distinctiveness of product and place in advertising and retailing reflect the power of local agencies to shape current symbolic and economic realities. These realities are explored mainly from the perspective of local economic development and the promotion of the island as a tourist destination.

Keywords: mastiha, Chios, cultural economy, product of regional origin, place identity.

Policies Supporting Sustainable Tourism Development in the Balearic Islands: The Ecotax

ANTONI SERRA CANTALLOPS
University of the Balearic Islands

ABSTRACT
Tourism in the Balearics has experienced a terrific growth during the last 40 years. Since the early 60's, the history of tourism in the Balearics has been one of continuous growth in tourist arrivals, with some short decreases from time to time due to economic crisis in the main generating markets. However, growing concerns about sustainability aroused during the nineties. Being aware that 'what worked in the past could no longer work in the future' and that stronger measures to protect the environment should be implemented, the Government of the Balearic Islands decided to establish an 'Ecotax' as an important measure to achieve a more sustainable tourism model for the islands. The measure received a great deal of interest outside the Balearics, but, at the same time, became the most controversial measure ever taken in the history of tourism in the islands. This paper analyses the background of the ecotax, the objectives of the measure, its functioning and the criteria for the projects in which funds should be invested. Responses from the different stakeholders (tourists, residents and tourism trade) are also analysed. Results indicate a tourist and residents' favourable attitude towards the measure, but a strong opposition from part of the tourism industry.

Keywords: Ecotax, tourism sustainability policies, environmental protection.

Environmental Sensibility: The Comparative Research Between the Local Community and Managers of the Hospitality Industry in Gokceada (Imbros)

HUSEYIN RIDVAN YURTSEVEN - DILEK SONMEZ
Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Abstract
The key purpose of this research, using Gokceada (Imbros) as a small island example, is to test the hypothesis: there are significant differences between levels of environmental sensibility: the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP), situational structures favouring the development of environmental problems, changing environmental sensibility of the local community and managers of the hospitality industry. The results clearly demonstrate the importance of the community approach to sustainable tourism development and managers of the hospitality industry cannot work without the local community directly or indirectly involved in tourism management. Gokceada as a case of small islands has a positive potential of environmental sensibility for sustainable tourism development.

Keywords: Sustainable tourism development, environmental sensibility, community approach, Gokceada (Imbros).

The Potential for Cruise Tourism in Kenya

EVORISTUS M. IRANDU
Department of Geography

Abstract
Today, cruise tourism is the fastest developing one in the travel and tourism industry. Yet, it is a neglected area with limited coverage in contemporary tourism literature. Cruise tourism has been concentrated in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean regions. However, operators in these regions are now facing stiff competition and are looking for alternative and more exciting destinations. The Kenyan coast and the rest of the Eastern African Coast provide such possible alternative destinations. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the potential for cruise tourism in Kenya. The paper is intended to provide valuable information to operators willing to develop cruise tourism in the region. It relies heavily on interviews, library research and personal observations in the field. In this paper, cruise tourism is considered as a system and Leiper's Tourism System Model is used as the main theoretical framework. The model helps in the understanding of various elements involved in cruise tourism. SWOT analysis is used to discuss the current situation in the industry. From the discussion, it is apparent that a lot of potential for cruise tourism exists in the study area.

Keywords: Alternative destinations, cruise-safari, exotic islands, itinerary, systems approach.