Resident Community Perceptions of the Socio

Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses : Honours Theses 2007 Resident community perceptions of the socio cultural impacts of tourism and host guest relations in a least developed country : An exploratory study of Phnom Penh, Cambodia Sotear Ellis Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons Part of the Tourism and Travel Commons Recommended Citation Ellis, S. (2007). Resident community perceptions of the socio cultural impacts of tourism and host guest relations in a least developed country : An exploratory study of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/1316 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/1316 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. 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Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. RESIDENT COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS OF THE SOCIOCULTURAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM AND HOST GUEST RELATIONS IN A LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRY: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA This thesis is presented for the award of Bachelor of Business (Honours) SOTEAR ELLIS School of Marketing, Tourism and Leisure Faculty of Business and Law Edith Cowan University, Western Australia November 2007 USE OF THESIS The Use of Thesis statement is not included in this version of the thesis. ABSTRACT This exploratory study of community perceptions of tourism impacts and host guest relations in a Least Developed Country (LDC) was undertaken in the Boeung Keng Kang I region of Phnom Penh city, Cambodia. A mixed methodology approach, with quantitative questionnaires of the local community and semi structured interviews with both the community and key informants from stakeholder groups, was used to investigate the appropriateness of social exchange theory and economic dependency theory to the LDC sustainable tourism development agenda set by the World Tourism Organization (WTO). While the concept of sustainable tourism incorporates the economic, environmental and sociocultural aspects of tourism, this study chose to focus on the current status of resident perceptions of tourism, tourism impacts and host guest relations in a LDC experiencing early stages of tourism development to build on research that seeks to understand the sociocultural aspects of sustainable tourism development in the LDCs of the world. This study has determined that the Boeung Keng Kang I community currently perceives tourism very positively and did not discern any severe negative tourism impacts. Tourism was perceived as highly beneficial to the community by providing employment opportunities, bringing services and prosperity, contributing to increased safety and security among others. Any nega.tive impacts mentioned, such as acculturation, were fears for potential negative impacts in the future rather than perceptions of current negative experiences. The role of the host guest interaction was also an important contributor to community perceptions of tourism. Results from this study support the interrelationship between positive perceptions of tourism impacts and a positive host guest relationship evident in the literature. That is, in this scenario, positive perceptions of host guest relations in the community appear to boost an overall positive attitude towards tourism in the Boeung Keng Kang I community. ii Moreover, the key findings support a new approach to social exchange theory and host guest relations by qualifying this relationship and identifying potential influences unique to the perception formation of these residents, and thus expanding the understanding of social exchange theory and host guest relations. This includes the influences of the Cambodian tourism environment, internal and external impact perception and the influence of culture on the host guest interaction. This research will highlight the importance of community perceptions of tourism and the host guest relationship to LDC tourism development strategies. It provides a case study of a community experiencing early tourism development which can inform similar cases in the future. With further research it could become a practical model to identify the challenges and successes of LDC tourism development in other regional and cultural settings. iii DECLARATION I certify that this thesis does not, to the best of my knowledge and belief: i) incorporate without acknowledgement any material previously submitted for a degree or diploma in any institution of higher education; ii) contain any material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the text; or iii) contain any defamatory material. iv) I also grant permission for the library at Edith Cowan University to make duplicate <;:opies of my thesis as required. ( ' iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research would not have been possible without the help and support of many people. My sincere thanks to my supervisor, Dr Lynna ire Sheridan, for her support, guidance and total faith in me and my research. Without her passion for cultural tourism and her own experiences with international fieldwork, this work would never have been completed. With deep gratitude, I acknowledge the community of Boeung Keng Kang I, for their acceptance of me into their community and their participation in this research. Special thanks to my family in Cambodia, especially Sam Vannat, Sum Raksmey, Sum Pach and Sim Tem for helping and supporting me throughout the entire fieldwork process. Thank you to Dr Chou Meng Tarr and Som Mithonarath for introducing me to many of the influential members of the tourism industry in Cambodia and providing much needed academic support in the field. I also acknowledge the Edith Cowan University Faculty of Business and Law, for providing me with facilities and scholarship funding for this research. Also, I thank Dr Charles Huang and the staff of the School of Marketing, Tourism and Leisure for their support. I am indebted to my mother, Vanna Ellis, who generously contributed her skills as interpreter and translator for this research, I also acknowledge my language consultants, Ranee Boulton and Thi Siem Lam. Finally, to my parents, Ross and Vanna Ellis, and fellow student Nicole Bennett: thank you for your support and understanding, without which I would not have been strong enough to rise to this challenge and succeed as I have. v TABLE OF CONTENTS UsE OF THIS THESIS ............................................................................................................. i ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ ii DECLARATION .................................................................................................................. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ V CHAPTER ONE THE THEORETICAL AND CAMBODIAN CONTEXT FOR THIS STUDY OF THE SOCIOCULTURAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM AND HOST GUEST RELATIONS IN A LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRY ....................................... 1 1.1. Sustainable Tourism Development and LDCs ................................................. 2 1.2. The Socia Cultural Impacts ofTourism ........................................................... 5 1.3. Factors Influencing the Perception of Tourism Impacts ................................. 7 1.4. Current Theoretical Viewpoints for the Evaluation of Resident Community Perceptions of Tourism ................................................................................ 12 1.5. T~eoretical Assumptions Underpinning the Research .................................. 15 1.6. Review of the Theoretical Research Context.. .............................................. 17 1.7. The Research Setting ................................................................................... 18 1.8. Boeung Keng Kang I, the Phnom Penh Field Study Site ................................ 23 1.9. Research Questions ..................................................................................... 25 1.10. Chapter Summary .................................................................................... 26 CHAPTER TWO THE METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK ................................................................................... 27 2.1. The Researcher ............................................................................................ 28 2.2. Research Design .........................................................................................

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