This document is downloaded from DR‑NTU (https://dr.ntu.edu.sg) Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Ethnic cultures, globalization, and tourism: Eurasians in Singapore Henderson, Joan C. 2013 Henderson, J. C. (2013). Ethnic cultures, globalization, and tourism: Eurasians in Singapore. Tourism Culture & Communication, 13(2), 67‑77. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/105926 https://doi.org/10.3727/109830413X13848886455100 © 2014 Cognizant Communication Corporation. All rights reserved. This paper was published in Tourism, Culture & Communication and is made available with permission of Cognizant Communication Corporation. Downloaded on 08 Oct 2021 04:43:35 SGT Tourism, Culture & Communication, Vol. 13, pp. 67-77 1098-304X/14 $60.00 + .00 Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3727/109830413X13848886455100 Copyright © 2014 Cognizant Comm. Corp. E-ISSN 1943-4146 www.cognizantcommunication.com ETHNIC CULTURES, GLOBALIZATION, AND TOURISM: EURASIANS IN SINGAPORE JOAN C. HENDERSON Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Teehnological University, Singapore The subject of the article is ethnic groups and the manner in which their cultures are presented as tourist attractions, a topic explored within the wider framework of the debate about the relationship between the forces of localization and globalization. Specific reference is made to conditions in Singapore and its minority community of Eurasians who tend to be ovedooked in comparison to the three main races of Chinese, Malays, and Indians. Globalization and intemational tourism, the latter a cause and consequence of the former, are seen to have the capacity to both threaten and help safe- guard ethnic cultures. Eurasians receive comparatively little attention in destination promotion and this is indicative of the small size of the population and the hybrid nature of the culture. However, they merit attention as an interesting indigenous culture that embodies local distinctiveness. Key words: Ethnic cultures; Eurasians; Globalization; Singapore Introduction however, while the presentation of those that are can inspire criticism about commercialization and Globalization is both a potential threat and pos- exploitation for the purposes of social and politi- sible protector of locally rooted ethnie groups and cal control. Singapore, the subject of this article, their cultures, indicative of the interactions between is a particularly instructive context within which to the local and global. Intemational tourism is a man- explore issues of ethnicity, globalization, and tour- ifestation of globalization and ethnic culture is an ism given its defining characteristics as a globally actual and potential tourism resource, frequently oriented young country, once a colony, of mixed featured in destination marketing and sometimes races. The city-state is a popular intemational tourist new product development. While closely linked to destination, and multiculturalism and its heritages are premodem societies, representations of ethnicity recurrent advertising themes with emphasis placed and multiethnicity can be a visitor attraction in eco- on the three main races of Chinese, Malays, and nomically advanced countries and especially major Indians. Eurasians, accounting for a significant pro- cities. Not all ethnicities are selected for promotion. portion of the remaining category, are less prominent Address correspondence to Joan C. Henderson, Associate Professor, Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798. Tel: 65 6790 6116; Fax: 65 67992 4217; E-mail: [email protected] 67 68 HENDERSON and their situation is the focus of this discussion, ethnic culture, is a well-established theme in the which is timeJy in view of future uncertainties. The literature (Jamison, 1999; Yang, 2011). anaJysis reveaJs the reJativeJy Jow importance allo- Ethnic tourism was initiaJJy conceived of primar- cated to an ethnic grouping on the margins of society ily as tourism involving indigenous people (V. Smith, with a culture that is not always easily marketable. 1977) and embraces native settlements and recre- It also illuminates some of the problems and oppor- ations such as folk museums and villages. It is also tunities confronting etJinic popuJations in a rapidJy present in more developed regions of the world, and globalizing world and the dilemmas that arise when visits to ethnic neighborhoods in large American and their cultures are used to serve tourism. European cities (Conforti, 1996; Santos, BeJhassen, & Caton, 2008) have been termed "ethnic urban tour- ism" (Santos & Yan, 2008, p. 879). In certain cases, Issues of Ethnicity, Globalization, and Tourism doubts have been raised about how cuJtures are inter- Ethnicity has been deñned as "very strongly preted and presented to tourists and the excJusion of bounded, homogenous cultural identities, firmly communities irom decision making (Picard & Wood, associated with a particuJar homeJand, and rooted 1997; Ryan & Aicken, 2005). Reservations are not in strong kinship ties" (HaJl, 1995, p. 183), whereas confined to ethnic representations aJone, but appJy to cuJture can be conceived of as a "way of life, as a the mining of cuJture in general by the tourism indus- system of values and beliefs which, in turn, affects try (M. K. Smith, 2003; M. K. Smith & Robinson, culture as a creative, recreational practice" (King, 2006). At the same time, tourism interest and income 1991, p. 2). Societies with a mix of ethnic commu- can assist in reviving ethnic traditions in danger of nities are regularly referred to as multiethnic or mul- disappearing and be a catalyst for protection and con- ticultural, terms sometimes used interchangeably servation of built heritage. Ethnic minorities are not with muJtiraciaJism; the last impJies shared physicaJ necessarily hapless bystanders in their own saJes and characteristics that distinguish members, although marketing and may collude with private and public race, too, can be sociaJJy constructed (Applebaum organizations, welcoming tourists and the ensuing & Chablis, 1997). There are thus definitional ambi- benefits. However, images perpetrated of vibrant guities and some observers regard etJinicity as a ethnic identities and harmonious multicuJturalism ftuid concept rather than a fixed state with layers of do not always match realities of ethnic decUne, dis- meaning embedded in sociocultural structures and parities, and disadvantage (Liu, 2010). Analyses of processes (Eriksen, 1991). Ethnic diversity has the "touristic ethnicity" may thus be valuable in offering potential to enrich a nation's cultural heritage and "insights into the fate of ethnic identities in a global- the lives of citizens as well as exercising appeal to izing world" (Wood, 1998, p. 235). tourists. However, it can be a source of social and Globalization is a widely studied and sometimes political friction if rivalries and inequalities emerge. controversial phenomenon describing the manner Governments thus confront challenges in manag- in which economies, societies, countries, and cuJ- ing ethnic communities of assorted size and influ- tures around the world are becoming increasingly ence with fears about disintegration should they connected and interdependent (Robertson, 2001a). fail (Brown, 1994). Ethnic-related tourist attrac- Flows of people, capital, and ideas cross national tions and destination marketing can be harnessed boundaries, as do environmental poJJution, crime, to averting fragmentation and a nation-building disease, and terrorism (HjaJager, 2007). The desir- agenda in which hegemonic motives commonly ability of outcomes is thus disputed, and global- play a part. The treatment of manifestations of eth- ization has been condemned as an instrument of nicity can help in reinforcing one selected culture exploitation and neocolonization (Bauman, 1998), and its values or reconciling "peripheral cultures but a potentially positive accompanying deveJop- with a dominant core" (Gradbum, 1997, p. 199), ment is that individuals are likely to have greater possibly employed in endeavors to depolitieize race awareness, if not understanding, of what is happen- relations (Horst, 2003). Tourism and ethnicity are ing beyond their own shores. Nevertheless, citizens thus interconnected, and ethnic tourism, describ- tend to remain locally anchored, and notions of ing tourist activity inspired primarily by aspects of what constitutes local and global are distinguishable ETHNIC CULTURES, GLOBALIZATION, AND TOURISM 69 by the positioning of the first within the nation-state is attributable in part to 19th century globalization, (Quayle, Jongerden, Essegbey, & Ruivenkamp, which also led to the city-state's cosmopolitan- 2010). Strict demarcation, however, is obscured by ism. Originally inhabited by Malays, more modem their interactions as suggested by the idea of "glo- history after the arrival of Stamford Raffles in calization" (Robertson, 1995) whereby globaliza- 1819 saw the emergence of a multiethnic population. tion and localization operate independently and in Raffles reached an agreement with the ruling sultan combination to yield both homogeneity and het- whereby the island became a trading post for the erogeneity, or sameness and difference (Robertson, British East India Company, later administered as a 2001b). Despite the dissemination of a world culture British colony. It grew into a bustling international (Lechner & Boli, 2003), national and other subcul- port that attracted people from around