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Globalization, Tourism and Livelihoods in Placencia, Belize

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Globalization, Tourism and Livelihoods in Placencia, Belize The Belizean Conundrum: Globalization, Tourism and Livelihoods in Placencia, Belize by Myriam Theriault A Practicum Report submitted to Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in International Development Studies Saint Mary’s University September, 2007, Halifax, Nova Scotia © Myriam Theriault, 2007 Approved Dr. Anthony O’Malley Supervisor Approved Dr. Henry Veltmeyer Reader Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Library and Bibliotheque et Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-35777-4 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-35777-4 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce,Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve,sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, preter, telecommunication or on the Internet,distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans loan, distribute and sell theses le monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non­ sur support microforme, papier, electronique commercial purposes, in microform,et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation. reproduced without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a la loi canadienne Privacy Act some supporting sur la protection de la vie privee, forms may have been removed quelques formulaires secondaires from this thesis. ont ete enleves de cette these. While these forms may be includedBien que ces formulaires in the document page count, aient inclus dans la pagination, their removal does not represent il n'y aura aucun contenu manquant. any loss of content from the thesis. i * i Canada Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Abstract The Belizean Conundrum: Globalization, Tourism and Livelihoods in Placencia, Belize By Myriam Theriault During the last decades, around the world, globalization has been the driving force behind the development of tourism. Pushed by a few international organizations, tourism rapidly became a way for Third World countries to reach development. Yet, the perceptions locals have of tourism, and the impacts it has on them, are not always positive. Placencia, Belize, was a small fishing village until tourism became the main source of income for most of its villagers. It is important to understand how tourism impacts the livelihood of Placencians to see if tourism is helping, or hindering, the development of Placencia. Using a livelihood approach, this report describes how the natural, social, physical, human and financial assets of Placencians are impacted by tourism. September, 2007 II Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Acknowledgement Un merci tout special a Carole et Jacques, pour tout. Tout; Merci tante Huguette, pour ton support tout au long de la maitrise... ; Thanks to Dr. Anthony O’Malley, for the countless hours spent advising, proof-reading and helping me; Merci a Sylvia et Severine... Votre aide m’a ete plus precieuse que vous ne le croyez ; Enfin, merci aux copains et copines qui m’ont supporte, aide, conseille, brasse et endure pendant la demiere annee : les « Magnificent 7 », Linda, Franky, Fabienne, Tim, Marie- Aude et Guillaume, Fran?oise, Estelle, Catherine et Jerome, Francine, Ken, Katy and Marian, les Pelletiers, Dubucs, Theriaults... And all my Belizeans friends, who I cannot name here. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. “Development does not come from a nation of waiters, bell hops and chambermaids, and far less from prostitute and pimps. Although such assertions clearly go beyond economic criteria, they are at the heart of many criticisms of tourism development” (Harrison, 1992: 18) IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Contents Chapter 1: Introduction .....................................................................................1 Chapter 2: Literature Review ..........................................................................6 2.1 What is development? ................................................................................ 7 2.2 What is the relation between tourism and development? .....................11 2.3 Tourism and development in a globalizing world ................................ 15 2.4 Brief review of past theories ....................................................................17 2.4.1 The three most common theories ...........................................................................18 2.4.1.1 Doxey’s irridex M odel ................................................................................... 18 2.4.1.2 Butler’s cycle of evolution .............................................................................19 2.3.1.3 Social exchange theory ..................................................................................20 2.4.2 Wall’s Segmentation approach (1983 ...................................................................21 2.4.3 Impact and attitude toward tourism ......................................................................22 2.5 Livelihood approach ................................................................................. 23 2.5.1 Financial assets o f livelihoods ...............................................................................27 2.5.1.1 Positive impacts on financial assets ............................................................. 27 2.5.1.2 Issues with financial assets ........................................................................... 27 2.5.2 Human assets of livelihoods ..................................................................................30 2.5.2.1 Positive impacts on human assets.................................................................30 2.5.2.2 Issues with human assets ................................................................................ 31 2.5.3 Physical assets of livelihoods ................................................................................32 2.5.3.1 Positive impacts on physical assets .............................................................. 32 2.5.3.2 Issues with physical assets ............................................................................ 33 2.5.4 Natural assets of livelihoods ..................................................................................34 2.5.4.1 Positive impacts on natural assets ................................................................ 34 2.5.4.2 Issues with natural assets ...............................................................................35 2.5.5 Social assets of livelihoods .................................................................................... 35 2.5.5.1 Positive impacts on social assets ...................................................................37 2.5.5.2 Issues with social assets .................................................................................37 2.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 39 Chapter 3: The country of Belize and Placencia fieldwork ..................... 41 3.1 Belize..........................................................................................................41 3.1.1 H istory ......................................................................................................................42 3.1.2 Economy ...................................................................................................................43 3.1.3 Human and physical assets .................................................................................... 45 3.1.4 Natural assets...........................................................................................................46 3.1.5 Society ......................................................................................................................47 3.1.6 Tourism .....................................................................................................................49 3.2 Fieldwork ................................................................................................... 55 V Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 3.3 Methodology ............................................................................................. 55 3.4 Fieldwork in Placencia ............................................................................. 59 3.4.1 Placencia’s tourists ................................................................................................
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