ABSTRACT
More sophisticated survey techniques, public attitude surveys, stated preference techniques and contingent valuation methods all suffer the disadvantage of being conducted, administered, promoted and publicised by persons outside the local community affected by a tourism development. They are tools used by professionals administering the surveys on local communities, who by definition do not therefore enjoy control over it. Both inputs and results are often open to dispute. In terms of Pretty’s typology such techniques may help to improve the level of participation, but they are unlikely to attain a high level unless they focus on the degree of decision-making devolved to the local community as well as its active involvement in the operation of the scheme. There is little doubt, however, that with their systemic and structured learning processes they can increase the likelihood of sustained success of schemes. A number of the examples given in this chapter illustrate this.
