2018 Research Seminars
The School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, USP
Research Seminar No. 14
Integrated Resort Development: Las Vegas – Macau – Singapore
Singapore has historically opposed casinos because of the historically negative perceptions about gambling. Today Singapore hosts two of the most popular integrated resorts in the world which have not only changed the skyline, but redefined Singapore’s image.
Dr. Nazarechuk’s presentation will provide an understanding of those fundamental concepts that are vital to the development of integrated resorts in any destination.
Dr. Andy Nazarechuk has over twenty-five years’ experience in the casino industry. He was president of APacCHRIE and former dean at Taylor’s University, Malaysia. He is now based in Subic Bay, Philippines.
Research Seminar No. 13
The shutdown of a tourist paradise: Sustaining the environment or sustaining jobs?
Speaker: Dr. Andy Nazarechuk
Date: Tuesday 01 May, 2018
Abstract
As recently reported in newspapers around the world, the Philippines government decided to shut down its famous and important tourist destination Boracay island. Boracay’s beaches have been ranked being the best for over a decade. But, poor tourism practices caused the government to close the island to tourists for six months causing economic hardship for the thousands of locals who depend on tourism to survive. This problem was not a surprise, but an issue that was ignored by the local government for many years. This presentation will show how this tourism issue was created over the years.
The School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, USP
Research Seminar No. 12
Hypothetical Natural Ecosystem Valuation for Sustainable Tourism
Speakers: Chethna Ben (Assistant Lecturer- School of Land Management and Development, USP)
Karishma Sharma (Teaching Assistant – School of Tourism, Management and Hospitability, USP)
Date: Wednesday 25th April, 2018
Time: 17.30-18.30
Venue: STHM Tutorial Room
Abstract
Civilization is inseparable to the natural ecosystem. Humans are axiomatically dependent on the natural environment for all its services. However, with the increasing demand for the competitive uses of natural resources defining and classifying ecosystem services it is central to aid decision making (Fisher et al., 2009). The presentation aims to identify and classify a hypothetical resource conflict problem in the context of tourism sustainability. In doing so, the presenters aim to highlight the growing importance of ecosystem valuation and tools learnt from a recent training at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) / University of East Anglia (UEA), UK. The instrumental and intrinsic methods are based on market price rather than value, and while this is a separate topic that needs to be explored, this presentation aims to provide a background on the implication of such an approach. Where majority land is owned customarily, tourism sustainability is sensitive to the sustenance, cultural and tenure rules of indigenous groups.
The School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, USP
Research Seminar No. 11
The Critical Tourism Studies – Asia-Pacific Conference: A Review and Ways Forward
Speakers: Lynn Beckles, Apisalome Movono, Alexander Trupp
(School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, The University of the South Pacific)
Date: Wednesday 14th March, 2018
Time: 6.00 – 7.00pm
Venue: STHM Tutorial Room
Abstract
The Critical Tourism Studies Asia-Pacific constitutes the newest branch of ‘Critical Tourism Studies’, a community of international scholars who share a vision of producing and promoting critical school of thought and social change in and through tourism practice, research, and education. The speakers of this seminar will provide a review of the conference keynotes and topics, with special reference to presentations in the regional Pacific Island context.
Furthermore, Lynn Beckles will outline her conference presentation on ‘Interrogating the value proposition of a heritage tourism niche in the Marshall Islands’: Heritage Tourism seeks to celebrate a destination’s culture, history and natural resources. Decisions concerning how culture, history and natural resources are used in creating tourism experiences do require the cooperation and support of the destination’s host community. Using a social constructivist perspective, this paper utilizes a tourism service experiences ecosystem to critique the utility of the value proposition that the heritage tourism niche can offer the Marshall Islands.