Negotiating Rural Tourism Development at the Local Level

NEGOTIATING RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL A case study in Pisece, Slovenia Alenka Verbole Wageningen Promotor : Dr. A.G.J. Dietvorst Hoogleraar in de Sociaal-Ruimtelijke Analyse van het Landgebruik met bijzondere aandacht voor Recreatie en Toerisme Co-promotor: Dr. J. Lengkeek Universitair Hoofddocent bij de Leerstoelgroep Sociaal-ruimtelijke analyse landgebruik -v'/ NEGOTIATING RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL A case study in Pisece, Slovenia Alenka Verbole Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor op gezag van de Rector Magnificus van de Landbouwuniversiteit Wageningen, dr. CM. Karssen in het openbaar te verdedigen op maandag 15 februari 1999 des 16.00 uur in de Aula v>-> The editorial board of the ESRS publication SustainableRural Developmenti s acknowledged for its kind permission to include the Chapter 10 from the book in this dissertation. CIP-DATA KONINKLIJKE BIBLIOTHEEK, DEN HAAG Verbole, A. Negotiating rural tourism development at the local level: A case study in Pisece, Slovenia/Alenka Verbole [S.I.: s.n.] PhD Thesis Wageningen Agricultural University. - With ref. - With summary in Dutch, English and Slovene. ISBN 90-5485-984-9 Subject headings: rural tourism, politics and policy of rural tourism development, local community, Slovenia, an actor perspective/rural development Cover design by Tomaz Verbole, dipl.ing and Prof. Maja Sajovic-Verbole Photos by Alenka Verbole English correction: Stu Cottrell Printing: Ponsen & Looijen BV BIoLIOTHEEK LANDSOUWUNIVERCITEI"! WAGHMINGEN Nfi PROPOSITIONS In order to understand the development of rural tourism we need to address power relations in local communities and to consider how various local community groups network within and beyond local boundaries through time. This dissertation '... Better understanding of social worlds enables better decisions. However, better under standing does not necessarily in practice (in political terms) contribute to better decisions. A. Giddens, 1984 The Constitution of Society: Outline of the theory of structuration Local communities are not passive sponges that soak up 'foreign' ideas, and any resultant social change is a reflection not only of the State, but also the underlying strength of local actors. This dissertation Rural tourism development should benefit the 'whole' local community, and not just a small elite group. This can not be achieved without a convergence of, and partnership between both bottom-up and top-down approaches to development. This dissertation Formalization/institutionalization of bottom-up approaches to development may threaten the innovativeness and flexibility of the process in the local community. This dissertation At a certain point during the development process, outside intervention may be needed to provide impetus and/or assistance to enhance the progress of the rural tourism development process. This dissertation The advice of 'experts' can often create problems, especially when their experience base is not socially aligned with the given historical and cultural context. This dissertation Tourism is like fire. It can cook your food or burn your house. M. Fox (1977) The social impact of tourism: A challenge to researchers and planners Peoples' notion of society in transition, from a socialist self-management origin to a free market, has not changed as much as some would like to believe. In order to achieve what you want, it is important to know someone influential. Nowadays, that would mean someone who forged coalitions with actors from the 'right' political parties, in comparison to the past when the 'good old socialist boys networks' were dominating. This dissertation We need to address the intra-gender differences in order to understand the social complexities of tourism-related activities. V. Kinnaird and D. Hall (1994) Tourism: A gender analysis Women have enormous social power based on the immediacy of the affection, but they adapt poorly to the institutionalization of politics. R. Rosanda (1994) The women's movement in Latin America: Participation and democracy The advancement of women is central to achieving sustainable development. The FAO plan of action for women in development, 1996-2001 (1997) It is only with one's heart that one can see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eye. A. de Saint-Exupery (1995 edition) The little prince Propositions presented with the PhD dissertation 'Negotiating rural tourism development at the local level: A case study in Pisece, Slovenia' by Alenka Verbole, The Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands To My 'Family' TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Figures x List of Tables x List of Photos x List of Annexes x List of Abbreviations xi Glossary of Slovenian words xii Acknowledgements xv PREFACE xvii 1 PLACING RURAL TOURISM IN THE SLOVENIAN CONTEXT 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 General background 2 1.3 Slovenia's administrative and political system 4 1.3.1 The two levels of government 6 1.4 Key features of the economy 12 1.5 Developments in rural areas and agriculture 17 1.6 Tourism in Slovenia and the tourism sector's perspective on rural tourism 23 1.7 Tourism in the countryside - The perspective of the agricultural sector 29 1.8 Discussions and conclusions 35 2 GENERAL PROBLEMS AND ISSUES IN THE FIELD OF RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT 37 2.1 The phenomenon of rural tourism 37 2.2 Impacts of developing tourism in the rural areas 40 2.3 Sustainable development: a possible solution? 44 2.4 The research objectives 48 3 ACTORS, INTERFACES AND DISCOURSES IN THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESSES OF RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT 51 PART I: Theoretical considerations 51 3.1 Search for the best theoretical and methodological approach 51 3.2 Explaining rural tourism development: An actor-oriented approach 53 PART II: Linking method with theory 64 vn 4 PISECE AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT - First glimpse at the complexities of the rural tourism development process 75 4.1 Introduction 75 4.2 The Local Community of Pisece 76 4.3 The 1994 International Workshop in Atomske toplice 89 4.3.1 First day of theInternational Workshop 89 4.3.2 Round-tablediscussion in Pisece 92 4.3.3 Last day of the 1994 Workshop -A field trip toAustria 107 4.4 Discussion of the first observation layer of Pisece's reality - Actors, first signs of power asymmetries, local divisions, interfaces and discourses 109 4.5 Final thoughts 118 5 PISECE'S DOMAINS AND LOCAL NETWORKS 121 5.1 Introduction 121 5.2 Pubs - social and recreational locales of Pisece 122 5.3 Pisece's domains 131 5.3.1 Thepolitical domain of Pisece 132 5.3.2 Thedomain offamily clans, cliquesand networks 138 5.3.3 Thedomain of voluntaryassociations, societies and clubs 158 5.3.4 The churchdomain 170 5.4 Discussion and conclusions 171 6 THETRANSFORMATIO NO FRURA LTOURIS MDEVELOPMEN T IN PISECE - Internal and external actors' strategies 177 6.1 Introduction 177 6.2 Workings of power 180 6.3 Rural Tourism and Integrated Rural Development and Village Revitalization projects (CRPOV development projects) 181 6.3.1 Towardsan applicationfor CRPOVdevelopment project 183 6.3.2 Theformulation of a CRPOVdevelopment project 194 6.3.3 Theformulation phase of the CRPOVdevelopment project comesto an end and the 'Tourist-Wine Route'project becomesPisece's mainproject 199 6.3.4 A revisit:Pisece in late 1997 215 6.4 Discussion and conclusions 216 CONCLUSIONS AND DISCUSSION 219 Vlll REFERENCES 225 Appendices 235 Summary 257 Samenvatting 259 Povzetek 263 Curriculum Vitae 265 List of Figures Figure 1 Local map of the Pisece area 78 Figure 2 Map of the Pisece village 85 Figure 3 Pubs' networks 126 Figure 4 Damjan's and Maria's family clan 144 Figure 6 Marko's family clan 147 Figure 6 Dule's family clan 151 Figure 7 Tine's family clan 153 Figure 8 Janez's and Lenart's family clan 154 Figure 9 The five family clans and the CIB clique 157 Figure 10 Participation of locals in voluntary associations, societies and clubs 161 Figure 11 Gatekeepers and power brokers 203 Figure 12 The CIB and relations within the group 211 List of Tables Table 1 Land use in Slovenia in 1000 ha 19 Table 2 Different family clans' members involvement and participation in voluntary associations, societies and clubs in 1994/1996 160 List of Photos Photo 1 A view of Pisece's church 81 Photo 2 Pisece's castle 84 List of Annexes Appendix 1 Map of Slovenia 238 Appendix 2 Slovenia's municipalities 239 Appendix 3 The organigram of the Municipal Authorities 240 Appendix 4 The Organization of the Tourist Sector in Slovenia 241 Appendix 5 The list of the interviewees for the in-depth survey at the local level 245 Appendix 6 The list of the interviewees at the municipal and national level 248 Appendix 7 Examples of check-lists used to guide discussions 249 Appendix 8 The organigram of the Brezice's Municipal Authorities 252 Appendix 9 List of Pisece's voluntary associations, clubs and societies 253 Appendix 10 Pisece's voluntary associations, societies and clubs: ranking by locals according to its importance in the general local development 254 Appendix 11 List of locals willing to participate in the implementation of the CRPOV project for Pisece 255 Appendix 12 Villagers' hopes and interests associated with the rural tourism development 256 List of abbreviations CEFTA Central European Free Trade Association CFTP Centre for the Promotion of Slovenia's Tourism CIB CRPOV Initiative Board CMEA Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (the Warsaw Pact) CPB CRPOV Project Board CRPOV Centre for Rural Development and Village Revitalization ECEs Eastern

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