Tourism for Development?
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Karlshochschule International University Tourism For opment? (Mis)Representation of Israel and the Palestinian Territories in Tour Operator’s Offers and Tourist Board’s Advertising Material Professor Prof.Dr. Antti Vihinen Student Name Esther Werling Degree Course International Tourism Management Matriculation Number H08204-032 Gerwigstr.14 76131 Karlsruhe 18.07.2011 Table Of Content Statutory Declaration............................................................................................................................................................ 3 Table Of Figures ...................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1Practical Relevance ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Scientific Relevance ................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Structure and Goal ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 2 Theoretical Frameworks ................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Research Forecast ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Israel/PT ........................................................................................................................................................................ 8 2.2.1 Geographic And Historical Setting .............................................................................................................. 8 2.2.2 The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict .................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.3 Socio-economic Conditions ........................................................................................................................ 11 2.2.4 Tourism in Israel/PT ..................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Tourism and Development .................................................................................................................................. 14 2.4 How External Representations Construct Development ........................................................................ 16 3 Methodology ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18 3.1 Research Design and Methodological Approach ........................................................................................ 18 3.2 Concept Specification and Operationalization ............................................................................................ 19 3.3 Data Extraction, Edition and Analysis ............................................................................................................ 21 4 Empiricism ......................................................................................................................................................................... 23 4.1 Descriptive Analysis ............................................................................................................................................... 23 4.1.1 On Tour Operator’s Offers ........................................................................................................................... 23 4.1.2 On Tourist Board’s Advertising Material .............................................................................................. 28 4.2 Interpretive Analysis ............................................................................................................................................. 32 4.2.1 On Tour Operator’s Offers ........................................................................................................................... 32 4.2.2 On Tourist Board’s Advertising Material .............................................................................................. 36 5 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................. 41 5.1 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................................................. 41 5.2 Requirements for the Representation of Israel/PT .................................................................................. 43 5.3 Critical Acclaim ........................................................................................................................................................ 46 VI References ........................................................................................................................................................................ 47 VII Appendix .......................................................................................................................................................................... 54 7.1 Legend/Description Of Evaluation Criteria.................................................................................................. 54 7.2 Overview Of Empirical Material ........................................................................................................................ 56 7.3 Empirical Data .......................................................................................................................................................... 58 2 Statutory Declaration I hereby solemnly declare that I wrote the Bachelor’s Thesis in hand entirely by myself without outside help, that I clearly marked all passages I adopted, and that I did not use any sources other than the ones I quoted. Date Signature 3 Table Of Figures Chart 1: Israel/PT, Source: CIA (2011) ........................................................................................................................ 10 Table 1: Size of the Palestinian Tourism Sector ..................................................................................................... 12 Table 2: Evaluation of tour operators ......................................................................................................................... 32 Table 3: Evaluation of tourist boards .......................................................................................................................... 36 4 1 Introduction 1.1Practical Relevance "No peace without justice; no justice without truth" -Noam Chomsky, 4th March 2001-1 As one can easily deduce from this excerpt from Noam Chomsky's speech on peace prospects in the Middle East, truth is essential for just and peaceful development in Israel/Palestinian Territories (PT). The thesis in hand heavily draws on this belief, for it examines external representations of Israel/PT in German tour operator’s offers and national tourist board’s advertising material. Based on the premise, that external representations of countries may in fact construct social 'truths' and shape national iden- tities, the thesis relates tourism in Israel/PT to the overall development of the region. Tourism's role in peace-building and development has been studied and debated thoroughly. It is widely acknowledged that tourism can be used as a tool for development, especially seeing that tour- ism is a growing industry.2 Furthermore, alternative forms of tourism may serve as catalysts for more just and sustainable forms of globalization.3 Yet, this may only be achieved, if tourism is designed adequately so that principled and ethical practice is reflected in particular travel itineraries. Judging tourism from a development politics point of view is especially significant when it comes to tourism within conflict areas. International actors may affect outcomes in fragile states in both posi- tive and negative ways.4 This challenges the tourism industry to contribute to peaceful and sustaina- ble development in those countries. Judging by the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, the United Na- tions World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) firmly believes tourism to be a force for peace and a fac- tor of friendship and understanding among the peoples of the world. According to the code, the tour- ism industry carries significant responsibility to objectively and comprehensively sensitize tourists prior to their trips, especially if they travel to conflict regions.5 In this regard, travel catalogues, as well as, material provided by national tourist boards represent important distribution- and impact channels. The thesis in hand draws on these sources as primary units of examination. The representation and practice of tours to Israel/PT is significant in terms of the economic and to some great degree also for the political development of the region. It affects tour- ist’s awareness and perception, which