Program & Call for Papers -- Location, Venue & Travel -- Abstracts & Publishing -- Registration -- About
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Sustainability and Post-Conflict Tourism Development
Dr. Stephen W. Boyd Professor of Tourism, Ulster University, Northern Ireland Stephen Boyd is a Professor in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the Business School at Ulster University where he teaches courses on tourism impacts, and tourism planning, development and management. He earned his doctorate from the University of Western Ontario where he studied sustainability within protected areas. Prior to joining Ulster University in 2004, he taught in England (Staffordshire University) and New Zealand (University of Otago). Stephen has published extensively in many areas of tourism, including heritage tourism, tourism and national parks, tourism and trails, and tourism and political change. His current research examines visitor experience at key attractions along the Silk Route, China and the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland, as well as post-conflict tourism development within Kashmir (India). |
Abstract
Sustainability in a tourism context is hard to achieve in conflict-free environments; where regions are emerging from a prolonged period of turbulence and instability it is even more challenging. Unfortunately, not all places have enjoyed a conflict-free past. The focus of this keynote address is examine the relationship between sustainability and post-conflict tourism development where the goal is for places to become destinations that have moved beyond an initial phoenix stage of tourism development as they move out of conflict. Casuevic and Lynch (2011) viewed ‘phoenix tourism’ as a distinct period in post-conflict tourism. Using Northern Ireland as an exemplar, discussion focuses on the following: addressing vulnerability, developing resilience strategies and establishing strong governance that facilitates stakeholder empowerment, with an outcome that sees the nature of tourism development move beyond a narrow and often dark-focused product offer and experience. Discussion also focuses on issues such as dissonance, place identity and cultural integrity as these can influence the type of tourism opportunity a region can promote. Is there, however, a conundrum in post-conflict destinations over whether to promote a more inclusive form of cultural heritage tourism as opposed to the development of a more niche opportunity of dark and political tourism? Debate is offered around the issues of dissonance and cultural sharing and the role that dark and political tourism development can play in the ‘normalization’ of a region’s tourism industry (Boyd, 2013). The challenge, as discussed in this keynote address, is being able and willing to move to that position beyond a post-conflict development stage. Keywords: sustainability, vulnerability, resilience, empowerment, post-conflict tourism development, Northern Ireland |
Chinese Outbound Tourism: Context, Perspective and Prospects
Dr. Honggang Xu Professor of Tourism, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China Professor Honggang Xu has been a key faculty member in making Sun Yat-Sen University a leader in tourism research. She is a senior Editor for the journal, Tourism Geographies, and has published widely in leading international journals with her students and colleagues in China and abroad, and is a frequent presenter at international tourism and geography conferences around the world. She was a guest editor in for a fascinating special issue of Tourism Geographies (2014, v.16 #5) on recent tourism geography research in China. Some of her papers and profile can be found at ResearchGate.net. |
Abstract
The rising Chinese outbound tourism is one of the most important phenomena for the global tourism industries and tourism societies in recent years. However, the large scale of Chinese outbound tourists only started recently, after the Chinese opening policy and especially when Chinese government formerly permit the group package tour to foreign countries with the Approved Destination Status policy. While the Chinese outbound tourists have brought opportunities to destination counties, challenges and issues are also emerging both to the Chinese society and the destination societies. This study would like to present the historical development of Chinese outbound tourism, including the policies on Chinese outbound tourism, the patterns of Chinese outbound tourism and identified features of Chinese outbound tourism, based on the secondary data and literature. Yet the emphasis would be placed on the recent development and trend. This study argues that both more cooperation among the Chinese side and the destination countries are needed to enable a sustainable development through Chinese tourism activities. Finally, some of observations of Chinese tourists to Sri-lank will also be discussed. |
The Conundrum of Sustainable Tourism: Theorizing Human Rights Approach
Dr. Haidar Dziyauddin Associate Professor & Legal Advisor, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia Dr Haidar Dziyauddin is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), MAlaysia. He is presently the Legal Advisor for his university. He served as the Rector of UiTM, Kedah campus, from 2010 to 2013 and was appointed the Dean of the UiTM Faculty of Law from 2013 to March 2017. Dr Haidar Dziyauddin earned his doctorate from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in Media Law. He is well published and serves on the editorial board of several journals. He specialises in media law, human rights and civil liberties, and corporate law. |
Abstract
Tourism involves human activities propelled by the interest to travel and stay for various purposes. It is fast becoming a lucrative commercial product transacted like a commodity. People are willing to pay for an excitement, adventure, romance, memory lane, serenity, privacy and other condition in life. With the advancement of information technology, someone’s backyard can be turned into a tourist attraction through the viral effect of social media. The proliferation of tourist packages creates new commodities which encourages and supports socio economic development. Undoubtedly, from economic perspective, it creates revenue that helps to spur the progress of business activities at a larger scale. A vexed question that needs to be addressed is whether the commercialisation of tourism can be sustained for future generation particularly in the area of ecotourism, edutourism and cultural tourism. There exist a real dilemma between the catalyst for income generation and dilapidation of resources by way of a threat to ecosystem and biodiversity. A competing interest between resources and revenue requires a balance approach to guarantee the sustainability of tourism industry. Thus, regulation is required to ensure the longevity of tourism resources. Arguably, the approach of regulatory mechanism will put a constraint on the development of tourism and its commercial activities. On the other hand, concern of maximization of tourism resources based on laissez faire will jeopardize sustainable tourism. The writer will argue that a concrete approach by theorizing human rights approach to preserve and protect sustainable tourism is a legitimate recourse. Keywords: Tourism, sustainable, commercialization, human rights, regulation. |
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & EVENTS
Tourism and Cross-Cultural Understanding
Dr. Alan A. Lew
Chair of the Department of Geography, Planning and Recreation, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Alan A. Lew is a Professor of Geography and Public Planning in the Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation at Northern Arizona University where he teaches courses in geography, urban planning and tourism. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the Tourism Geographies journal and has published several books on geography and tourism, including Tourism Geography, 3rd edition, and is a Fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. His interests and writings focus on tourism across East and Southeast Asia.
Dr. Alan A. Lew
Chair of the Department of Geography, Planning and Recreation, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
Alan A. Lew is a Professor of Geography and Public Planning in the Department of Geography, Planning, and Recreation at Northern Arizona University where he teaches courses in geography, urban planning and tourism. He is the founding editor-in-chief of the Tourism Geographies journal and has published several books on geography and tourism, including Tourism Geography, 3rd edition, and is a Fellow of the International Academy for the Study of Tourism. His interests and writings focus on tourism across East and Southeast Asia.
CONFERENCE FIELD TRIP
- The field trip will visit
- Handagriya National Park
- Handagriya Traditional Village
- Bellanbandi Palassa Archaeological Site (site of Balangoda Man)
- The trip will end with a Sri Lankan theme night at Seelogama, a homestay tourism village in Belihuloya.
- This field trip is for International Participants only. Domestic participants who wish to join the field trip will need to register as an International Participant.
Additional Special Speakers & Events - To Be Announced
