- Email: [email protected]
Tourism–Passport to development?
Books A framework of third world experience Tourism-Passport to Development? edited by E. de Kadt 360 pages, f2-50 (Oxford, Oxford University Press for the World Bank and UNESCO, 1979) It is the subtitle, “Perspectives on the social and cultural effects of tourism in developing countries”, which accurately describes the contents of this book. The title itself is almost misleading, and the question it poses is certainly not answered. The book emerges from a seminar organised by the World Bank and UNESCO in Washington, DC, in 1976. The aim of the seminar was to discuss the social and cultural impacts of tourism on developing countries, and to suggest ways to take account of those concerns in decision making. A number of individuals were invited to submit papers on different
aspects of tourism, and a commissioned working document provided a framework for the discussions. That document, by Professor de Kadt of the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University, forms the basis of the book’s introductory section. It outlines the major issues and problems, and provides a framework and summary. Tourist
effects
This is followed by 13 of the
papers selected and edited by Professor de Kadt. These make up the bulk of the work, and are grouped into three broad sections. The first group deals with planning and policy decisions in tourism, particularly concentrating on the economic effects. The second group appears under the title “Tourists, hosts and culture”. Finally, there are eight case
Booknotes Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Liability and its Insurance in Great Britain, D.W. Airey and R.G. Bamford (Guildford, University of Surrey, Department of Hotel, Catering and Tourism Management, 1980), 92 pages plus appendices, no price stated. The protection of the public from mischance at the hands of tour operators and retail travel agents has been taken to quite unusual lengths in the UK. It consists not only of statute law, but also a complex regulatory system operated by the Civil Aviation Authority, and an exclusive dealing pact under the bylaws of the principal trade association (now challenged as a restrictive practice). This unusually elaborate system makes the UK experience of wider interest, and this report was prepared for the Centre Universitaire de Recherche Europeene et Internationale at the University of Grenoble. The report deserves the attention of all who are interested in
246
the impact of regulation and law on the operations of tourism.
AJB Managerial Economics for Hotel Operation, edited by R. Kotas (Guildford, Surrey University Press, 1980), 294 pages, E13.95. This book (which it is hoped to review fully at a later date) consists of 13 chapters contributed by ten authors, all present or former members of the Department of Hotel, Catering and Tourism Management in the University of Surry, UK. The chapter titles indicate the scope: hotels and the national economy, demand for accommodation, the labour market, government intervention, the nature of competition, modelling techniques, methods of forecasting demand, cost concepts in hotel operation, sources and methods of finance, assessment of hotel projects, hotel marketing. hotelpricing,accountingandinflation. il’S
International
Journal
studies based on the experience of eight different developing countries. The authors include academics and researchers as well as planners and tourism organisation officials. The countries range from small, well developed tourist destinations, such as Bermuda, Cyprus, and Malta, to those in much earlier stage of development, such as many of the African countries. The book concludes with a set of policy recommendations adopted by the seminar. The comment is often made (and is repeated in the foreword) that the noneconomic consequences of tourism have received scant consideration by academics and researchers. As a result, our knowiedge of. eg the social and cultural effects of tourism, has tended to be superficial. This, if anything, has fuelled the controversy as to whether tourism is an appropriate activity for developing countries. Sufficient argument already exists about the well researched economic effects of tourism. If we add to these the little-examined social, cultural, and other effects. it is small wonder that there is not much agreement as to the proper role of tourism in development. It is against this background of controversy that the book was prepared. There are two main strengths in the book. First. de Kadt’s introductory section gives a useful and balanced outline of the major issues raised by the social and cultural impact of tourism. .\lore than this. it gives a very handy, framework of reference for those inquiring in this area. Many of his comments are not new. For example. he emphasises the need for further information; he underlines the point that tourism is but one of several modernising intluences: and he repeats the view that the gradualist approach is normally the best route for development. But
of Tourism
Management
December
1980
aspects of tourism, and a commissioned working document provided a framework for the discussions. That document, by Professor de Kadt of the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University, forms the basis of the book’s introductory section. It outlines the major issues and problems, and provides a framework and summary. Tourist
effects
This is followed by 13 of the
papers selected and edited by Professor de Kadt. These make up the bulk of the work, and are grouped into three broad sections. The first group deals with planning and policy decisions in tourism, particularly concentrating on the economic effects. The second group appears under the title “Tourists, hosts and culture”. Finally, there are eight case
Booknotes Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Liability and its Insurance in Great Britain, D.W. Airey and R.G. Bamford (Guildford, University of Surrey, Department of Hotel, Catering and Tourism Management, 1980), 92 pages plus appendices, no price stated. The protection of the public from mischance at the hands of tour operators and retail travel agents has been taken to quite unusual lengths in the UK. It consists not only of statute law, but also a complex regulatory system operated by the Civil Aviation Authority, and an exclusive dealing pact under the bylaws of the principal trade association (now challenged as a restrictive practice). This unusually elaborate system makes the UK experience of wider interest, and this report was prepared for the Centre Universitaire de Recherche Europeene et Internationale at the University of Grenoble. The report deserves the attention of all who are interested in
246
the impact of regulation and law on the operations of tourism.
AJB Managerial Economics for Hotel Operation, edited by R. Kotas (Guildford, Surrey University Press, 1980), 294 pages, E13.95. This book (which it is hoped to review fully at a later date) consists of 13 chapters contributed by ten authors, all present or former members of the Department of Hotel, Catering and Tourism Management in the University of Surry, UK. The chapter titles indicate the scope: hotels and the national economy, demand for accommodation, the labour market, government intervention, the nature of competition, modelling techniques, methods of forecasting demand, cost concepts in hotel operation, sources and methods of finance, assessment of hotel projects, hotel marketing. hotelpricing,accountingandinflation. il’S
International
Journal
studies based on the experience of eight different developing countries. The authors include academics and researchers as well as planners and tourism organisation officials. The countries range from small, well developed tourist destinations, such as Bermuda, Cyprus, and Malta, to those in much earlier stage of development, such as many of the African countries. The book concludes with a set of policy recommendations adopted by the seminar. The comment is often made (and is repeated in the foreword) that the noneconomic consequences of tourism have received scant consideration by academics and researchers. As a result, our knowiedge of. eg the social and cultural effects of tourism, has tended to be superficial. This, if anything, has fuelled the controversy as to whether tourism is an appropriate activity for developing countries. Sufficient argument already exists about the well researched economic effects of tourism. If we add to these the little-examined social, cultural, and other effects. it is small wonder that there is not much agreement as to the proper role of tourism in development. It is against this background of controversy that the book was prepared. There are two main strengths in the book. First. de Kadt’s introductory section gives a useful and balanced outline of the major issues raised by the social and cultural impact of tourism. .\lore than this. it gives a very handy, framework of reference for those inquiring in this area. Many of his comments are not new. For example. he emphasises the need for further information; he underlines the point that tourism is but one of several modernising intluences: and he repeats the view that the gradualist approach is normally the best route for development. But
of Tourism
Management
December
1980