ABSTRACT
It is easy to imagine resorts only in terms of tourism. Due to the industry’s prominence, resorts are often perceived as merely ‘destinations’ – places that one goes to, temporarily – and not ‘real’ or ‘serious’ cities where everyday lives, routines and non-touristic commercial and cultural endeavours take place. On the contrary, resorts have been localities, neighbourhoods, hometowns for as long they have been destinations, and much longer for those indigenous to the areas. This chapter aims to provide a more holistic understanding of resorts by shifting the focus to their residents, and to their multiple, often marginalised, narratives of local identity. Drawing on interviews conducted with locals in various resorts, the impacts of tourism on these people and places, and what residents like and dislike about where they live, are discussed. In particular, the chapter explores locals’ fondness for the resort lifestyle, as well as how tourism influences their everyday socio-spatial practices.
