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Chang 1996 ( National Ubrary Bibliothèque nationale 1+1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1 A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 canada Canada The author bas granted a non­ L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library ofCanada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies ofthis thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership ofthe L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts from it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may he printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son pemusslon. autorisation. 0-612-29907-4 Canadri Abstract ( It is commonly assumed that the development of tourist attractions, the formulation of tourism policies and the marketing of destination areas are dictated by the needs and interests of foreign visitors. What is ignored is the role that local factors and agencies bring to bear upon the process. This thesis is devoted to exploring the ways that local and non-local factors are responsible for shaping the form and function of tourism development. Drawing upon the case of Singapore, the thesis examines the country's heritage tourism phenomena as the outcome of 'local' and 'global' forces. This argument is elaborated along four lines of enquiry. They include a study of government policies on tourism, a look at entrepreneurs involved in heritage projects, an exploration of marketing and promotional strategies, and the examination ofa particular urban landscape - the Little India Historic District. To conceptualise the global-local nexus, the thesis adopts two bodies of theory. They are the 'locality concept' advanced by industrial geographers in the 1980s and writings on 'globalism-localism' by culturaUeconomic geographers in the 1990s. Bath theoretical discussions reinforce the argument that place uniqueness is not necessarily sacrificed as a result of globalisation. They also provide a way of viewing tourism geographies as the product of global and local forces. Résumé Il est généralement présumé que le développement d'attractions touristiques, la commercialisation de destinations et la fonnulation de politiques touristiques sont imposés par les besoins et intérêts de touristes étrangers. L'on ignore toutefois le rôle joué au niveau local par des facteurs et organismes locaux sur le développement de ces processus. Cette thèse vise à explorer les façons dont les facteurs locaux et non­ locaux influencent le mode et la fonction du développement touristique. Se basant sur une étude de cas de Singapore, cette thèse examine les phénomènes liés au tourisme patrimonial dans ce pays comme résultant des interactions entre des forces locales et globales. Cet argument est élaboré sous quatre angles différents. Ceux-ci incluent une étude des politiques gouvernementales en matière de tourisme, un regard sur les entrepreneurs impliqués dans des projets patrimoniaux, une exploration des stratégies de commercialisation. et l'examen d'un paysage urbain en particulier, le Little India Historie District. Afin de conceptualiser le phénomène de superposition des facteurs locaux et globaux. la thèse adopte deux corps théoriques. L'un est le concept de "localité" proposé par les géographes industriels des années 1980, et l'autre, basé sur les travaux de géographes culturels et économiques des années 1990, porte sur le concept de "globalité-localité". Ces théories s'appuient sur l'argument que l'unicité d'un lieu n'est pas nécessairement annhilée par des phénomènes globalisants. Elles permettent également de concevoir les lieux touristiques comme résultant de l'intéraction de forces globales et locales. ( Acknowledgements ( Over the past four years of research and thesis writing, there have been so many people who have helped me tremendously, and who have made my rime in Montreal a reaI pleasure and an intellectually enriching experience. 1 am truly grateful to all of you: e Professor Jan O. Lundgren who gallantly took me on in 1992, and who has since provided so much encouragement, support and wonderful hot meals in cold wintry Montreal. Thank you too for tolerating my unpredictable twists and toms aIong the path of thesis writing, and a happy retirement in Sweden! 'i" The other members of my committee, Professoes Simon Milne and Jeanne Wolfe (of Urban Planning). Simon, 1 am amazed by your enthusiasm, meticulous attention to detail and devotion to YOUf work. You are indeed an inspiration to me. And Jeanne, thanks for being the pillar of strength and source of wisdom to which 1 could always tum to. 'i" 1 am aIso indebted to Professors Brian Ray and Theo Hills. Brian, for being a cornfort and a guide in the early stages of research, and Theo for rendering YOUf service and time during the last days of the writing. If only rd approached you earlier Theo. e My colleagues and friends back in Singapore have also been wonderful. 1 appreciate the efforts of Kum Fai, Fathi, Bruce and Kelvin in helping in the questionnaire surveys at the airport, and also Lily, Peggy, Brenda and Shirlena of the NUS for providing ideas, relevant articles and upbeat e-mail messages from halfway across the globe. e My 'new l friends in McGill have also provided a supportive environment in which to work. Especially dear Beverley - thanks for your computer wizardry and the many hours of discussion (and gossip) which provided moments of lightness and cheer to an otherwise arduous and isolating process of writing. Merci Pascale for so willingly and skillfully translating my abstract at the drop of the hat. 1 aIso fondIy remember John, Roz and Roopa for our many stimulating conversations in and out of the office. 1 shall miss you aIl! e Thanks too to the various named and unnamed respondents in my questionnaire surveys and interviews for sharing with me your views and opinions. 1 ooly hope this thesis does full credit to the 'stories' YOll all had to tell me. e My family for always being there, and for the many silent prayers uttered. e And finaIly, a ward of appreciation to the National University of Singapore for providing me financiaI support over the past four years. 1 wouldn't he here in the fust place without such generosity. T.C. Chang, Montreal, Christmas 1996 ( li ( Table of Contents Abstract Ci) Acknowledgements (ii) Table of Contents Cili) List of Tables (viii) List of Figures (x) List of Plates (xii) Common AbbreviatioDS Used (xiv) Chapter One - Introduction to the Thesis pages 1 - 29 1.1 Thesis Argument and Objectives 1 1.2 DefInition of Key Terms 7 1.3 Introducing Singapore: A Local Setting 10 for Global Flows 1.4 Approaches to the Study of Heritage Tourism: 16 A Literature Overview 1.4.1 TouriSJD in the Global Village: 16 The Top Oown' Approach 1.4.2 Tourism and Local Uniqueness: 22 The 'Bettem Up' Approach 1.4.3 Local Uniqueness in the Global Village: 24 The Global-Local Nexus 1.5 Thesis Organisation 28 ( ili Chapter Two - Exploring the Global-Local Nexus ( in Heritage Tourism: A Conceptual Framework pages 30 - 64 2.1 Introduction 30 2.2 Reclaiming the Local: A Theoretical Background 31 2.2.1 The Locality Concept:Geography Matters 31 2.2.2 Globalism-Localism: Exploring