ABSTRACT
In this chapter we want to discuss how, through a government orientation towards so-called ‘quality’ tourism, which leads to drastic regulations and the involvement of outside investors, local participation in tourism is put under pressure. The concept of local participation is an important issue in the debate on tourism development in Third World countries and is usually discussed in relation to the growth of mass tourism and its negative impacts on local communities. In Third World countries the growth of tourism is not often accompanied by the creation of local linkages to spread the benefits of growth in social, sectoral and regional terms (Brohman 1996; Murphy 1985, 1994; Simmons 1994; Harrison 1992; Shaw and Williams 1994). Brohman gives an outline of the shortcomings that are commonly associated with the Third World tourism industry. He states that normally the three most lucrative elements of Third World tourism-marketing and the procurement of customers, international transportation and food and lodging-are dominated by vertically integrated global networks. The technical, economic and commercial characteristics of mass tourism sectors tend to favour the development of large-scale, integrated, multinational enterprises (Brohman 1996:54). Foreign capital profits from local natural resources, but because of the high rate of foreign ownership the profits made in tourism are not locally distributed. The relatively isolated position of tourism in the local economy reduces linkages with other economic sectors. The consequences are low multiplier and minor spread effects outside the tourism enclaves.
