the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...

attraction to less developed economies. It is an industry 'without chimneys' which
requires relatively low capital input (Harrison, 1994). Additionally, tourism is a means
of earning foreign currency and hence, it may be considered an 'invisible' export
earner and a relatively low-cost means of balancing payments, and in some cases,
receipts earned from overseas tourism can be considerable (Harrison, 1997; Archer
and Cooper, 1998; Meethan, 2001).
As with other forms of modernity or modernisation, mass tourism was, at least
initially, the accepted model. However, the tourism spaces created are of a different
kind to those in the advanced capitalist economies in a number of ways. Firstly, they
did not cater for internal domestic markets, at least in their initial development
phases. Secondly, the majority of resort developments were built as enclaves. Even
though this may be seen as the replication of resort developments in the
industrialised economies as they too were kept spatially and socially distinct, spatial
segregation could also act to highlight both social and economic differences
between the host population and the guests. In some instances though, such
separation could be deliberately planned to limit outside influences on the host
population (Pearce, 1989; Meethan, 2001).
Modernisation assumes that development occurs on a linear or evolutionary basis,
and that given the right conditions, less developed societies can 'catch up' with the
developed world and this should be encouraged through strategic development
organised at a state level. In regards to tourism, this form of development assumes,
for example, that the building of large hotels or resort areas will act as a catalyst to
promote some form of 'trickle down' effect, which will be of benefit to the overall
economy. Additionally, the development of modern infrastructure, such as airports,
roads, etc., will also benefit the economy as a whole. There are obviously certain
problems in this scenario. Firstly, there is the possibility that any profits accrued will
leak from the national economy overseas. Secondly, economic developments may
only benefit existing national or more localised elite. In both cases the economic
relationship will be uneven, if not exploitative, and the indigenous economy may
suffer as a result of catering to the needs of the developed world (Meethan, 2001).
Hence, such an approach assumes that the spread of modernity in itself is both
desirable and achievable, and in turn, traditional values and cultures could be
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