the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...
the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ... the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...
circumstances, the impacts of tourism will not be homogenous, nor will the measures available to minimise such impacts. 9.3 Globalisation and the Growth of Tourism As discussed in the theoretical framework in chapter three, tourism is one of the most obvious forms of globalisation (Held et ai, 1999). Meethan's (2001) description of globalisation as being characterised by increasing economic, social and cultural interconnections, that exist across national boundaries, and which are increasingly impacting upon the daily lives of people around the world is valid for this study. Globalisation has provided the context to facilitate the development of international tourism in previously isolated Third World locales such as the Okavango Delta, while alternatively, tourism itself has facilitated the spread of the globalisation phenomenon. This is in keeping with Ugarteche's (2000) view that globalisation is "...the growth in an economic activity (such as tourism) that transcends national and regional boundaries (p. 75). Coupled with, and as a response to the rise of globalisation and its resultant disintegration of national boundaries and spread of goods services and people to previously isolated areas, has been the use of tourism by Third World governments and economies as a development strategy. This has significantly facilitated the growth of international tourism in rural, underdeveloped destinations such as the Okavango Delta since the 1980s. 9.4 Tourism as a Development Strategy Research into the motivations for the growth of tourism in Third World economies led to theorising, which focused primarily on the use of tourism as a development strategy. Third World tourism growth can be conceptualised as a consequence of the rise of modernisation as a form of social order and conceptualising the world, the movement of society through the post-modern period, and the resultant development of the globalisation process. These changes in societal structures facilitated the demand by First World travellers for 'new and exotic' tourist destinations, effectively turning rural, previously isolated areas and cultures into 382
commodities to be sold in the global market place. As such, the growth of international tourism provided the opportunity for less developed countries to carve out a niche in the global market. This is possible as the rise of globalisation has provided a means of internationally promoting their many and varied tourism assets. Hence, tourism has/is developing in even the most isolated and seemingly detached from the global economy, regions as a form of economic growth and development (Ugarteche, 2000; Meethan, 2001). It was during the 1980s that tourism as an actual form of development first appeared in the African economies. As noted in the theoretical framework in chapter three, in the first stages of its global spread, tourism, as with many other forms of economic development, may have appeared as a path to modernity for many of the Less Developed countries. Unlike other forms of development, tourism has one major 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 therefore, it may be considered an 'invisible' export earner and a relatively low-cost means of balancing payments (Harrison, 1997; Archer and Cooper, 1998; Meethan, 2001). Most developing economies, including the Okavango Delta, have approached the use of tourism as a development strategy from a modernisation perspective. As discussed in chapter three, 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 (Meethan, 2001). This 'modernisation approach' to development is clearly evident in the Okavango Delta. As noted in the research findings in chapter six, the Botswana Government has largely concentrated its efforts, with regard to the development of the tourism industry, on the development of the necessary infrastructure to support the industry. 383
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circumstances, <strong>the</strong> impacts <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> will not be homogenous, nor will <strong>the</strong><br />
measures available to m<strong>in</strong>imise such impacts.<br />
9.3 Globalisation and <strong>the</strong> Growth <strong>of</strong> Tourism<br />
As discussed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>oretical framework <strong>in</strong> chapter three, <strong>tourism</strong> is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
most obvious forms <strong>of</strong> globalisation (Held et ai, 1999). Meethan's (2001) description<br />
<strong>of</strong> globalisation as be<strong>in</strong>g characterised by <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g economic, social and cultural<br />
<strong>in</strong>terconnections, that exist across national boundaries, and which are <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly<br />
impact<strong>in</strong>g upon <strong>the</strong> daily lives <strong>of</strong> people around <strong>the</strong> world is valid for this study.<br />
Globalisation has provided <strong>the</strong> context to facilitate <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
<strong>tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong> previously isolated Third World locales such as <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta, while<br />
alternatively, <strong>tourism</strong> itself has facilitated <strong>the</strong> spread <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> globalisation<br />
phenomenon. This is <strong>in</strong> keep<strong>in</strong>g with Ugarteche's (2000) view that globalisation is<br />
"...<strong>the</strong> growth <strong>in</strong> an economic activity (such as <strong>tourism</strong>) that transcends national and<br />
regional boundaries (p. 75).<br />
Coupled with, and as a response to <strong>the</strong> rise <strong>of</strong> globalisation and its resultant<br />
dis<strong>in</strong>tegration <strong>of</strong> national boundaries and spread <strong>of</strong> goods services and people to<br />
previously isolated areas, has been <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> by Third World governments<br />
and economies as a development strategy. This has significantly facilitated <strong>the</strong><br />
growth <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>ternational <strong>tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong> rural, underdeveloped dest<strong>in</strong>ations such as <strong>the</strong><br />
Okavango Delta s<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>the</strong> 1980s.<br />
9.4 Tourism as a Development Strategy<br />
Research <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> motivations for <strong>the</strong> growth <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong> Third World economies<br />
led to <strong>the</strong>oris<strong>in</strong>g, which focused primarily on <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> as a development<br />
strategy. Third World <strong>tourism</strong> growth can be conceptualised as a consequence <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> rise <strong>of</strong> modernisation as a form <strong>of</strong> social order and conceptualis<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> world, <strong>the</strong><br />
movement <strong>of</strong> society through <strong>the</strong> post-modern period, and <strong>the</strong> resultant<br />
development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> globalisation process. These changes <strong>in</strong> societal structures<br />
facilitated <strong>the</strong> demand by First World travellers for 'new and exotic' tourist<br />
dest<strong>in</strong>ations, effectively turn<strong>in</strong>g rural, previously isolated areas and cultures <strong>in</strong>to<br />
382
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