|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For information on the Harriman Retraced Expedition e-mail: harriman2001@science.smith.edu |
|
|
The title selected for this
on-board lecture was deliberately broad -- so that I could
refer to any number of sights and experiences as we retraced
Harriman's steps; and so as to incorporate the many
dimensions which are required to understand
sustainable tourism. Tourism has become a major
global industry, with the potential for significant negative
or positive effect -- on people and communities, the local
economy, the local culture, the environment, and even on
tourists themselves. In addition, everyone tends to feel
some sort of expertise about tourism, since everyone is a
tourist at some point, but they may well have only a very
partial perspective. There were a number of points I
wanted to convey -- that tourism is a complex and
far-reaching industry; that the apparent effects of
tourism are almost certainly less than the actual effects;
that appropriate management of tourism is critical --
it just won't develop the "right way" all by itself; that
local communities and cultures need to be involved in and
take control of decision-making to achieved their vision for
the future; and that there are tools to do this. For
example, Aboriginal communities today are increasingly
deciding that tourism must fit into their way of life,
rather than vice versa, so they are placing controls of
tourism &endash; of space, activities, timing and of
cultural sharing. It was useful to be able to incorporate my
research findings en route, such as the fact that the
individual who "willed" Garnett Ledge to be mined only by
the children of Wrangell, has enabled local youth to
earn significant dollars from the summer tourist industry,
such that they can contribute to their school clothes or
books, their church, or to their future. Thus tourism, plus
local foresight, has enabled one such youngster to save
enough over the years to go through college and he is now a
doctor. I also wanted to touch on the
fact that there are a range of types of "offerings" and
experiences possible in any destination (the supply end of
tourism), and equally, that there are a range of types of
visitors and markets (the demand end). For example, a number
of people feel somehow that their expedition cruise boat is
preferable to a large cruise boat. Whereas others may feel
that kayaking is preferable to cruise boats of any scale.
Thus actual local examples reveal a spectrum of
markets. In addition, I used original
Harriman Expedition commentaries to highlight attitudes and
opinions about Alaska's environment, resources, and Native
peoples. Many of the 19th century comments conveyed the
sense that Alaska was a massive land of untapped resources,
ready for exploitation, and that cheap labor (whether
Natives or imported Chinese) was similarly available to be
exploited. I wanted to demonstrate that
only in rare instances is "boom and bust" a satisfactory
tourism outcome as, for example, with Skagway's winter and
summer season. Thus I used the portrayals of "waves" of
plenty and scarcity, with 1899 evidence of natural resource
abundance/ exploitation and subsequent scarcity, the bustle
of thriving gold rush towns contrasted with the desolation
or abandonment of others, and the annual waves of tourists
in the summer months followed by a long slow winter, or even
the present-day mini-waves of tourists flowing on and off
cruise ships. All too often it is thought that
to be successful, growth (i.e., more) is the answer.
Whereas, nature provides abundant examples that to
sustainable, there needs to be diversity with this
increase in size. There are good reasons, for example, why
there are no elephant-sized mice! I like the idea of
strength through diversification for both ecology and
the economy. Economic development is not just "more of the
same," since one can't maximize economically, except
in the short run, and one certainly can't incorporate other
perspectives such as environment, society and culture and
take a maximization approach. It was very evident during the
Gold Rush that the only consistent success stories were the
diversity of middlemen -- those who serviced and
supplied the miners through a variety of services such as
breweries, restaurants, saloons, curiosity and general
stores. Similarly, in tourism there is strength in diversity
-- of types of tourism markets, modes of transportation,
cultures promoted, activities offered, seasons marketing,
and key icons used. I wanted to use parallel observations of
the 2001 Harriman Retraced participants, in particular
focussing on the cruise industry of which we are a part, and
where an increase in scale and volume is not necessarily a
positive thing for host communities, cultures, or the
environment. However, I also wanted to
introduce the power of market preference shifts in
tourism, as well as associated paradoxes -- where people are
more interested in activity experiences rather than
mere sightseeing, where wildlife viewing and soft adventure
have increased, as well as more hard core adventure and
wilderness appreciation. The paradoxes include the fact
these increased volume and interest shifts have resulted in
a greater radius of environmental impact, as both Alaskans
and visitors want to "get away from it all." In part, too,
motorization has contributed to the ability to get "further
away" more easily and quickly, as well as contributing to
new activities which have their own impact (heliskiing,
flightseeing, snowmobiling, and so on). Other elements which I wanted to
introduce were the importance of environmental services. Not
only does it act as a free good (supplying diverse
viewscapes and settings necessary for a range of
activities), but it also functions as a free "sink" -- where
it is used to dispose of our refuse and sewage. Thus, for
example, I hoped a discussion of using the ocean as a free
dumping ground for cruiseboat garbage, sewage and other
wastes, would give a sense of personal challenge to those on
the voyage of discovery, using a small cruise ship. Indeed,
it was timely that on July 1st, the State of Alaska took the
leadership step of passing legislation which exceeded
federal law in stringency, regarding cruise ship dumping. It
was also particularly relevant to discuss the fact that in
2000, cruise ships cooperated in voluntary sampling of their
effluent, and that 79 of the 80 ships sampled violated laws
for fecal coliform or suspended solid levels by up to 50,000
times federal standards. However, the one ship which passed,
was that used for the Harriman Retraced Expedition &endash;
the Clipper Odyssey! Above all, I wanted to stimulate
this diverse group to see the challenges and complexities of
the tourism industry, to enthuse them with the importance of
addressing tourism management in an environmentally and
culturally sensitive way, and to demonstrate that there are
tools in managers' toolbags which can address the
challenges, if we take an integrated approach rather than a
single perspective to what tourism entails. After the lecture, it was
interesting to note the reactions of fellow voyagers. One
individual proved to be an exception, by essentially
contesting many perspectives, and particularly assuming that
by advocating good tourism management the implication was
that government controls would increase, whereas he
advocated a free market approach to most things. This
resulted in a lively discussion about the fact that that
management could incorporate; voluntary or cooperative
initiatives with tourism operators; or
education/interpretation; or incentives; as well as the
conventional "command and control" approach often used by
resource managers. However, at least half the passengers
approached me within the next 24 - 36 hours to indicate that
they had been surprised by the huge range of elements
involved in tourism, that the breadth and depth of potential
impact is so large, that they found the discussion topic
"much more interesting than they had expected", and that
they had widened their understanding of the fact that there
is not a "typical tourist", nor even a "them and us", but
rather a spectrum of needs and desires. One person even
indicated that they had been taking relevant notes to send
to a relative who is a planner in Salt Lake City (hosting
the upcoming winter Olympics). The indications so far are that
the lecture provided a helpful background and context for
the multitude of forms of tourism in Alaska. However, I feel
it is the subsequent discussions and continued wrestling
with challenges and solutions, where the real personal
learning is taking place. This is particularly the case when
discussions incorporate our experiences in the range of
stopping places along the Expedition route. I hope that this
group discussion, personal learning, and revelation will
both disturb and excite participants, and that they will
take at least of some of the lessons and values of Alaska
away with them.
For information on the Harriman Retraced Expedition e-mail: harriman2001@science.smith.edu
Expedition
Log
Home | 2001 Expedition | 1899 Expedition | Maps | Log | Educators and Students | Film | Century of Change | After Expedition | About This Site