phd thesis presentation, 1

7/30/2019 PhD Thesis Presentation, 1

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Evangeline Singh

Primary supervior: Professor Simon MilneSecondary supervisor: Dr John Hull

Auckland University ofTechnology

In cooperation with

The New Zealand Tourism Research Institute

NZTRI I Private Bag 92006 I Auckland 1142 I New Zealand I Ph (+64 0) 21 109 8884 I [email protected] I www.nztri.org

ENHANCINGTHELINKAGESBETWEENTOURISMAND

AGRICULTUREINSOUTHPACIFICSIDS: THECASEOFNIUE

PhD thesis presentation


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Outline of Presentation

Rationale critical issues in Pacific SIDS Literature review development frameworks in Pacific SIDS

Research Methodology and case study

Aim and Objectives

Research Paradigm and methods

Findings

Current status of agriculture and tourism

Current links between agriculture and tourism

Increasing the links between tourism and agriculture

Study contributions and conclusions

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Rationale - Critical issues in Pacific SIDS

Immediate problem - employment creation, income generation &sustain livelihood, culture & identity

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Pacific context

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Remote SIDS.


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Pacific context

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vulnerable to climate change, cyclones


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Tourisms potential to boost agriculture

For many Pacific SIDS - agriculture & tourism are significantcontributors to GDP

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Niue

Samoa

Fiji Vanuatu

Solomon Is

Cook Is

PNG

Kiribati

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50AgricultureGDPContribution(%)

in2005

Tourism GDP Contribution (%) in 2003


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Continuum of tourism & agriculture links in SIDS

Current links between tourism & agriculture in Pacific SIDS

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Literature review

Frameworks for understanding tourism and economic development in

Pacific SIDS

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Critique Rostovian, Modernisation & Neo-liberal

theories

Rostovian, modernisation & neoliberalism approaches ignored links

between tourism, agriculture & informal sector not seen to playdominant role in modern economy

Apply to developed world mode of development not to thedependent small island economic setting

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Critique Dependency theory

Reinforces main stream-mass-tourism

Fails to acknowledge tourisms role in stimulating local culture,

environmental conservation & workable strategies to escape

dependent development

Cannot explain the changing consumer demand new forms of

alternative tourism

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Critique Regulation theory

Shows an opportunity for Pacific SIDS to escape the vicious cycle

outlined by dependency theory SME success, sustainablecommunity tourism etc

Most relevance to the region

BUT

Mass tourism cannot be completely ignored need policies for value-added tourism

How well does this approach really grapple with the unique context ofPacific SIDS? Especially the MIRAB structures that are so vital to the

regions survival

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Critique - MIRAB model

Considers agriculture mainly for subsistence purpose for survival

not major contributor to economic development

Ignores tourisms contribution and its linkage with agriculture for

sustainable development

Despite strong focus by Pacific SIDS governments & international

donors on tourisms role in development, it rarely features in the

model

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Benefits of tourism & agriculture linkages

Enhancing the links.

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Research methodology & case study

Understanding the critical issues in enhancing the links between

tourism & agriculture in Pacific SIDS

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Case study Niue

Due to variation & complexity of Pacific SIDS (population size, land

area, geography, culture & resources) - research focuses on a case

study of only one island nation: Niue

Support offered by Niuean government as part of MOU signed in 2007

with NZTRI for assistance in tourism research

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Map of the South Pacific

Location of Niue

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Niue

Population - 5200 in 1966 to an estimated 1492 in 2007 (approx.

22,476 Niueans currently live in New Zealand)

Landmass - 259 sq. km.

The GDP per capita for Niue in 2003 was approximately US$5800 witha growth rate of 6.2%

The Niuean economy is highly dependent on NZ aid, which constitutes

40% of GDP and overseas remittances

GDP agriculture: 34%, Tourism: 13%

Tourist numbers are limited

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Niue

To relieve the dependence on foreign aid and build an economic base

- tourism has become the focal point for the government (recognised

importance of niche small-scale ecotourism)

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0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

4,500

5,000

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

2,7062,550

2,7933,008

3,463

4,748

N

o.

ofTourists

Year


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Aim

To gain a deeper understanding of the potential that exists in Niue for

the creation of linkages between tourism and agriculture

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Objectives

What are the characteristics of the agriculture and tourism sectors?

What are the existing linkages between tourism and agriculture?

Potential for building closer links between tourism & agriculture?

Role of key stakeholders in enhancing links between tourism and

agriculture: tourists, SMTEs, growers, government officials and policy-

makers, and community members including village councils?

What role can ICT, including web content, play in increasing

collaboration between the above key stakeholders?

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Objectives

develop a mixed-methods approach to understanding the complex

inter-connectedness between tourism and agriculture

contribute to the literature on tourism, agriculture and the economic

development of SIDS

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Research paradigm

Post-positivism key assumptions of this research that coincide with

the paradigm

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Research methods mixed methods approach

Pre-field work phase - a secondary literature review & discussion with

key stakeholder in order to design the research tools

Field work - collecting email addresses of tourists to Niue to

participate in the online visitor survey. A total of 284 responses were

received from the 681 emails sent out

Field work - semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29

growers, 34 SMTE operators, 12 government officials, and discussions

were held with 10 elders in Niue and 3 village councils

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Semi-structured interviews growers

Researcher used pen and paper to note important points during the

interviews and afterwards typed up the notes

The researcher, with assistance from tourism and agriculture industry

officials, identified growers and organised interviews with them (29

identified, all were interviewed)

Conducted on a one-on-one basis and lasted approximately 3060

minutes

An interview guide was used to ensure that all the main themes were

covered

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Semi-structured interviews government officials

With both the tourism and agriculture industry officials (10 men, 2

women) on a one-on-one basis, lasted 60 minutes

12 key government officials were identified and all were interviewed

Interview guide was used to cover key themes

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Semi-structured interviews SMTE operators

The researcher, with assistance from the tourism industry officials,

prepared an inventory of 34 SMTE owners, all of whom were

interviewed

The 34 business owners operate a total of 62 SMTEs

SMTE included - tourist accommodation operators, restaurants and

tour operators

Interview guide was used to cover key themes

Interview lasted 30-60 minutes

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Discussions with village councils & senior villagers

Hakupu, Mutalau and Lakepa villages - planning to offer agriculture

and culture-based experiences for tourists in the near future

Discussions for - types of tourism experiences they want to offer,

lasted about 60 minutes

Brief discussions held with 10 senior village members involved in

planning and policy-making

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Online visitor survey

Flyer containing information about the online survey was delivered to

SMTEs & Niue Tourism Office for distribution to tourists

Visitors departing Niue were invited to provide their email address

Email addresses were collected at the International Airport, and thosetravelling by yacht were also included wherever possible. Visitors

willingly provided their email addresses when approached

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Current status - Agriculture sector

Mainly at subsistence level

Exports limited (taro and coconuts to NZ on ad hoc basis)

Each grower usually has a few bush gardens, ranging in size from

0.125 to 0.25 acres

Mainly root crops and local greens

Pigs kept for cultural feasts

Local chickens - free range or have become wild

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Agriculture sector

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Agriculture sector

Handicrafts - usually displayed on village show days

Currently few handicraft shops exit on the island with only a very

small range of crafts available for tourists to buy

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Agriculture sector

More than three-quarters of the growers who sell surplus produce,

either at the market or from home, are over 50 years old and are

usually either ex-government officials or returning Niueans

Young generation show little interest in traditional agriculture

activities and handicraft-making they are attracted to government

jobs or migrate to NZ for waged work

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Agriculture sector

Local marketplace

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Current status - Tourism sector

The tourism sector is described by most stakeholders as small

The industry is dominated by donor-assisted government investment

in the islands only resort hotel and a few small-scale operations run

by locals

The government and private sector are faced with a challenging task

to increase tourist accommodation and develop sustainable tourism

products

The governments goal is to attract a sufficient number of tourists(5,000 10,000 tourists) throughout the year, especially during the

peak tourism season, in order to ensure a viable industry on the

island that will provide incentives for local investment

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Tourism sector

Breakdown of SMTEs in Niue

1hydroponic vegetable production, fishing, purchasing organic vanilla, ebony carvings and tourism

marketing2cars, vans, motor bikes, scooters, pushbikes, trucks, four-wheel drive and mini bus

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Breakdown of SMTEs interviewed nPercentage of all

SMTEs interviewed

tourist accommodation 19 100

tours and activities 14 100

Shops 10 80

restaurants and cafs 8 100

other1

5 100

vehicle rentals2

4 100

travel agencies 2 100

Total 62 100


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Tourism sector tourists

NZers - 72% of total arrivals to Niue. Visitors from outside New

Zealand are mostly from Australia and other Pacific Islands

About 13.1% of visitors are of Niuean background

Most of the visitors spend a week in Niue and the main purpose oftheir visit is for a holiday

Majority of visitors are on their first visit to Niue and the most

common age group of visitors is 4049 years old, followed by 3039

and 5059 years

Over two-thirds of the visitors have a tertiary qualification

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Almost a quarter of the tourists have an annual household income of

$80,000100,000 and many of the visitors are either salaried or

waged workers

A significant number of returning Niueans prefer to stay with their

families in the village and spend a longer holiday on the island than do

non-Niueans

Nearly 55% of the visitors surveyed travel either with their partner or

spouse or on their own.

The largest group of visitors stayed in motels, followed by the resort

hotel.

The expenditure per visitor per night averages $92.01

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Important elements influencing visitors travelling to Niue

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Influential Factors Mean

natural scenery 4.9

nature-based or marine-related activities 4.7

people 4.6

climate 4.5

local culture 4.1

sampling local food and cuisine 3.9value for money 3.9

travel time 3.1


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The elements of the trip providing the greatest/least satisfaction

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Most attractive/appealing n

friendly people/interaction with locals 104

marine-related activities, e.g. whale watching, snorkelling, diving, dolphins, swimming 101

environment/unspoilt scenery 83

relaxing/quiet/laid-back/island lifestyle and culture 45

uncrowded/uncommercialised/easy to get around 33

climate 32

land-based activities, e.g. caving, cycling, village show day, biking, bush tracks 28

Least attractive/appealing n

lack of environmental awareness, e.g. rubbish lying around, burning, asbestos, old wrecked

cars, bins falling and scattering rubbish29

food and groceries too expensive; lack variety, quality and hygiene 28

flight time inconvenient, check-in too early 20

lack of clean, reasonably priced island-style accommodation; unable to book directly online 20

lack of activities/tours, cultural experiences and interaction with locals 19

lack of restaurants/bars/shops for food choice and shopping for essentials 18

handicrafts too expensive and lack variety 18

abandoned houses an eyesore 17

lack of fresh local produce and seafood 16

poor infrastructure, i.e. roads, sea tracks, walkways 14

pests, e.g. stray dogs, cats, rats, roosters, centipedes, sea snakes 11

lack of accurate information and customer service skills 11


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Current agriculture and tourism links

Tourists are least satisfied with the range of, and ability to access,

cultural activities, local food and handicrafts

Just over half of the visitors brought food with them to Niue

Nearly all the meals offered at cafs and restaurants are made fromimported produce and largely consist of western-style fast-food dishes

such as burgers, fish and chips, paninis and wraps

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Agriculture and tourism links

Imported fruits and cereals at breakfast hotel

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Canned pear slices Canned mixed fruits Local pawpaw rarely available

Canned pineapple slices Canned peaches Imported cereals


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Supply and demand of local food at hotel

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Freshly caught fish being cleaned before delivery There are frequent shortages of fish at cafs and

to cafs and restaurants restaurants


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91.5% of the visitors who had the opportunity to taste Niuean food

stated that they enjoyed eating local cuisine and would have liked to

eat more of it

Visitors showed a strong interest in participating in the following

activities, if they were available: village feasts, seeing handicrafts

being made, local food preparation, and farm visits

Only 1 opportunity to experience local food - weekly island buffet

night provided by one caf and restaurant operator

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l d l k


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Local dishes made from mostly local ingredients

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Ota Takihi Uga Pawpaw in coconut cream

Taro in coconut cream Kumara Shellfish Plantain in coconut cream

Spiced raw fish Spiced local chicken Local greens in coconut cream Spiced fish

Yam in coconut cream Boiled taro Green salad Taro chips Pork in local greens

Plantain chips Drinking coconut Boiledkalahimu Umu pig

i l d i li k


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Local dishes made from mostly imported ingredients

Beef withpolo Coconut bread Corned beef in noodles Corned beef salad

Boiled plantain with corned beef Corned beef in spaghetti Local spiced bun

Spiced prawns Fruits in coconut water Local greens and beef in coconut

A i l d i li k


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Cultural tours and activities are very rare. Only 1 operator provides a

bush walking tour

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Tourist learning to hold an uga Bush-walk trail Husking a coconut

Coral formations in the bush Checking depth of soil in the bush Ginger growing wild in the bush

A i lt d t i li k


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Currently all the roadside fruit and vegetable stalls are empty and

there are no planned village-related tours and activities for tourists

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Empty stalls with no fruits, vegetables or food for sale.

A i lt d t i li k


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Stakeholders view on current links between agriculture and tourism

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

none very weak weak medium strong

20.6

44.1

17.614.7

2.9

29.6

55.6

3.7

11.1

00

66.7

0

25

8.3

Percent(%)

SMTE Grower & Handicraft makers Govt/Policy makers

A i lt d t i li k


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Due to limited supply of local produce sold at the market - all sold by

9 a.m. when tourists are usually just arriving.

Agricultural produce is highly seasonal and the supply is irregular

throughout the year

No formal arrangement exists between the growers and SMTEs for

the sale or purchase of local produce

The purchase of imported food by caf and restaurant operators

represents more than 90% of their total food costs

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A i lt d t i li k


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Predominance of imported food sold at shops

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Recently initiatives have been made by villages to offer culture-based

experiences for tourists, including village-based accommodation

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Two self-contained units nearly completed

Renovation of an old school building



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Villagers have made initiatives to work towards providing village-

based experiences for tourists, e.g. forest conservation area, maintainsea and bush tracks, coconut oil production, sports and recreational

activities

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Building an entertainment Constructing tracks to the sea A parking and toilet facility

and caf facility



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One village has a website that is used to communicate and share

information with Niueans living overseas (http://www.lakepa.nu) -upgrade the site to promote their village-based activities in future

e.g. local food experiences on show days

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E.g. Local produce and handicraft exhibitions on show days

Bundles of local rootcrops Local bananas Local vegetables

Float of local produce Local weavings Local carvings

Finely woven baskets Interactions with growers Show-day atmosphere: people, food



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E.g. exhibitions local performances on show days

Sitting to watch performaces Children performing Young people performing

Playing local golf A traditional stick-throwing game Catching the slippery pig

Local races Weaving competitions Coconut-husking competitions



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E.g. traditional fishing exhibitions on show days

Tourists listening to the opening Traditional fishing from poles Canoes for the fishing competition

speech at a village show day



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While new and existing products can offer the opportunity to

strengthen linkages between tourism and agriculture, suchdevelopments cannot occur without effective dissemination of

information to visitors

Sources of information for trip planning:

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Sources of Information Mean

The internet 4.6

Word of mouth 3.8

Prior personal knowledge 3.7

Travel books and guides 3.5

Travel agent 2.6

Television 2.1

Auckland's Pasifika Festival 1.7



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Major websites that promote tourism in Niue (www.niueisland.com,

www.gov.nu and www.spto.org/spto/cms/destinations/niue/)



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Lack of information on local activities and experiences on the major

tourism websites that promote Niue means that key information isnot imparted to the visitor prior to their arrival

Tourism products are most commonly promoted to visitors after their

arrival on the island by word of mouth

Weekly newsletter by SMTE operators - still has potential to present

more information of local food and cultural activities

Returning Niuean visitors benefit from the social networks betweenlocal residents and Niueans living overseas. These village and church-

focused networks are alive with information about cultural events and

activities, which are often tied to family

Increasing tourism and agriculture linkages


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Creating backward linkages to agriculture by increasing the amount of

local food used in the tourism industry will increase the benefitsderived from tourism and boost agricultural production

Failure of the agricultural sector to consistently supply the tourism

industry results in minimal multiplier effects and greater leakages

A regular airline service

Develop new tourist experiences that can be carefully developed and

managed, such as village-based, cultural and agriculture-relatedactivities, can potentially lay the foundation of a sustainable industry

Coordinated approach by villagers e.g. Mon umu night, Tue bush

garden activity

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Ear-piercing and hair-cutting events potential tourism products

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Majority of visitors would recommend Niue to others, return holiday

Government - at forefront of developing a strategy and policy

framework for sustainable development of the industry, focus on

enhancing its linkages to agriculture

Government - critical role in marketing its nation to sustainably

increase the number of tourists so that tourism enterprises and

agriculture-related operations can be sustained

www.niueisland.com - upgraded to contain a comprehensive range ofinformation about cultural and village experiences. Online newsletter

for current happenings on the island and be linked to websites of

other stakeholders in the tourism and agriculture sectors

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Signage and brochures on island - orient visitors and assists them in

creating their own tourism experiences

Greater involvement of locals provide cultural and agriculture-

related experiences, government to encourage and assist growers

Small entrepreneurial activities - backyard gardens are important in

supplying local produce to cafs and restaurants in an island nation

with a small tourism industry

Future growth of tourism & demand for agriculture-relatedexperiences will boost the sector, encourage preservation of culture

skills

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Locals working towards an organic farm tour in future

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Old vanilla trees grown in plots Young vanilla vines Sow

Local piglets raised in a pen Locally made fruit jams Eggplant and tomato plots

Passionfruit climbing on banana trees Banana plots Jam tasting



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Villagers can provide entertainment evenings and incorporate other

local activities - story-telling & locally prepared cuisine for tourists foran evening in the village

Growers would like to diversify their production, especially into

growing fruits and vegetables best suited to tourists tastes

Growers anticipate that the government will provide incentives and

opportunities for the young people so that they can earn a living from

agricultural

Government to avoid nepotism & corruption improve private sector

investment & involvement of all stakeholders in planning & decision-

making

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SMTEs anticipate that in the future they will expand their business

and add value to their products and services

SMTEs want to work closely with growers and villages in order to

enhance the linkages between them and agriculture

Future expansion of SMTE operation could be constrained by natural

disasters, unreliable airline service and population decline

The lack of promotion of locally available activities and experiences

also constraints growth in the tourism sector

Government - training, opportunities for investment, incentives and

accessibility to finance to increase entrepreneurial activity and allow

the agriculture sector to meet tourisms demand for local products

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Contributions of the Study


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Contributions of the Study

Adoption of post-positivist paradigm to gain a holistic insight

Value of mixed methods approach & multiple stakeholders

Feasibility and value of a web-based survey in Pacific SIDS

Tourist web survey - critical information for Niue in terms of tourists

sources of information prior to travel, their expenditure on the island,

and their satisfaction with existing elements of their stay

Importance of reviewing online content that provides information totourists prior to travel

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Contributions of the study


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y

Supports Niue Governments approach in The Tourism Sustainable

Development Strategy 2010 - developing village-based tours andactivities for tourists in order to help create linkages between the

industry and the local economy

Theoretical contributions - understand links between tourism and

small and microstate development

Frameworks adopted since the 1950s - no one body of theory could

adequately explain the processes that have been observed. MIRAB

and elements of regulation theory can be applied to the Niuean

setting but only with limited success

Uncertain about the frameworks grappling with the unique context of

Pacific SIDS, especially MIRAB, so vital to the survival of Niue and

other SIDS

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y

Reliance on donor funding & public sector employment has

diminished interests in tourism - past donor policies have favoureddevelopment of larger resorts rather than smaller community-focused

products

Tourism is more than just an economic bonus - critical component of

the economy & must be incorporated into MIRAB dimensions

Recognition of tourisms role in economic growth & its connection to

agriculture will assist in the sustainable development of communities

Regulation theory struggles - small size, isolation and unusual

structure of Pacific SIDS economies. Demand for niche tourism

experiences & internet-based marketing - opportunities for SIDS to

tap into tourism

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y

Strategic marketing approach - ICT & regularly updated information

on local activities and experiences on the websites of localentrepreneurs will enable Niue to target potential visitors internets

potential to link tourism to local economic development isnt realised

Importance of local control & participation of communities in the

development of their own economies (engaging in agricultural &tourism related entrepreneurial activities) instead of relying solely on

foreign capital and investment and overseas imports

Opportunities to break away from Brittons (1987, p. 130) prediction

that tourism development in Pacific SIDS can only be achieved at theexpense of environmental degradation and loss of culture

Development of niche tourism products is demand visitors are very

keen to experience local activities

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Concluding


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g

Tourists - positive & unique experience in Niue. Is highly educated,

relatively wealthy and very much interested in getting a real sense ofplace. An ideal visitor - build a yield-based sustainable tourism

Strategy, challenge is to ensure that the experiences on offer meet

tourists thirst for something unique and local

Tourism sector is constrained by current marketing focus and content:

niche products related to cultural, village-based and agriculture-

related experiences are virtually non-existent, especially on major

websites such as the Niue Tourism site

Critical issues for government - local food, handicraft, village life

experiences are limited. Poor community understanding of tourism

and limited mechanisms to engage local people in the tourism

development process can lead to conflict at a later date

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Concluding


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g

Agriculture should be seen as being more than simply a source of

foodcreate a sense of place as tourists gaze upon the traditionallandscape and farming methods

Good & responsible tourists worried about environment, modern

agriculture can choose to engage with local food & economically,

socially sustainable behaviour

Tourism development plans need to be drawn up based on the

assumption that the economic benefits of tourism will stimulate other

sectors of the economy, in particular agriculture

High costs of food imports & available cargo space on Air NZ Niue

consider increasing agriculture production. Small-scale growers are

often willing to handle smaller and irregular orders from an SMTE

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Concluding


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g

Government & donors have placed a strategic focus on the

development of more sustainable forms of tourism - emphasis oneconomic benefits for locals & sustainability of environment and

culture

Timely and robust research is essential if Niue is to truly measure and

enhance tourisms ability to achieve the strategic objectives set for it

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Thank you


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Thanks my NZTRI family

phd thesis presentation, 1

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