Tourism for Marginal Groups: Tourism as a Livelihood Strategy in an Indigenous Community in Taiwan Tourism’s Advancement of Tourists’ & Residents’ Quality of Life Tourism for Marginal Groups: Tourism as a Livelihood Strategy in an Indigenous Community in Taiwan Teresa C.-H. Tao Ph.D. University of Hong Kong Think Tank VIII, Izmir University of Economics, Turkey June 25th, 2008

Tourism as a Livelihood Strategy in an Indigenous Community in Taiwan I. Empirical & Theoretical context II. Research question III. Research approach IV. Study area V. Main findings VI. Questions and comments

Indigenous Peoples in Taiwan  Inferior situation: poverty reduction, cultural survival, self-determination, justice and equity.  Colonial periods: 400 years with 6 colonial regimes  Population: 458,000 (2.1% of Taiwan pop’n 23 million)  Household incomes: < 40% of national average & high unemployment rate  Taiwanese government encourages tourism development in response to the problems.

Tourism – a development option  Income generation Economic independence Self-determination & Cultural pride  Move away from a focus primarily on the disadvantages of tourism development sustainable tourism (e.g., ecotourism)

Sustainable Development  Weaknesses Ambiguity - What is to be sustained? - What is development? Focus on the demand of economic activities on physical environment Overlook tourism and culture and social components

What is Sustainable Tourism ?  Multiple definitions of sustainable tourism exist … three main types of interpretation

A Continuum of Interpretations of Sustainable Tourism Type 1 – how to maintain tourism-recreation industry businesses over a long time frame  A narrow, business-centric view  Places great emphasis on promotional programs to ensure the number of visitors continues to increase Type 2 – a kinder, gentler form of tourism that is generally smaller in scale, sensitive to cultural and environmental impacts and respects the involvement of local people in policy decisions  Recognizes finite biophysical and social limits to tourism development  Interpretation is close to that of Ecotourism … small scale, designed to benefit local community, protect resources that tourism is based on Type 3 – tourism in support of sustainable development  Sees tourism as a tool for development and not end in itself  Acknowledges that tourism may not be necessary for sustainable development and that a goal may be to reduce tourism McCool and Moisey 2000

Type 2 - Sustainable Tourism  ‘Tourism-centric’, single-sector perspective that advocates ensuring the viability of the tourism industry for an indefinite period of time  WTO, most governments and many others adopt this interpretation Type 3 - Tourism to Support Sustainable Development  Asks – ‘Whether and in what form tourism might contribute to sustainable development’ of a community-region  Wall and Butler support this interpretation  Multi-sector perspective: Linkages between tourism and other sectors of the economy ‘Sustainable Tourism’ or Tourism Supporting ‘Sustainable Development’ ?

Approach – – Sustainable Livelihoods Livelihood Diversification  Tourism A new activity for local people. Risky A change, an additional, not a substitute Be incorporated into local people ’ s livelihoods Livelihood Diversification May or may not fit well into local people ’ s livelihoods How does it fit? How can it be integrated?

Research Question  What is the role that tourism is playing in indigenous communities’ livelihood strategies using the sustainable livelihood framework?

Source: Adapted from DFID (2001) and Scoones (1998)

Research Approach  Qualitative methods Direct & participant observation In-depth interviews (n = 131) with key village informants, village residents, government officials, academics and NGO staff Document analysis  Site selection Shanmei (Cou tribe), Taiwan

Tourism Development in Shanmei Village  6 years protection of the Danayigu River using traditional knowledge  Gu fish in Danayigu Ecological Park as main attraction.  Revenue from the park topped to $TWD 30 million ($USD 988,000) in 2002  Earning opportunities

Sources of Tourism Income - Shanmei

Mixed Livelihood Activities and Strategies in Shanmei

How does Tourism Fit  Delivers consumers to the products. Small markets increase cash earning. Meet villagers’ increasing needs for cash  Linkage with other economic sector – Agriculture  Tourism activities provide farm and off-farm diversification, maintain farming and harvesting  Tourism products build on and help to preserve natural and culture resources, assets that aboriginal people have  Tourism activities suit current live style and situation: Casual labour Male: migration; females: domestic work, office jobs, and casual labour Shanmei: positions generated from the park close to home are beneficial to mothers and single parent with young children, the disabled, unemployed, elders and women Younger generation (under age 35): office jobs, dancing, running caf é s Women with young kids: homestays and eatery businesses

Conclusion  A understanding of the consequences of tourism through local livelihoods Set into the cultural context of indigenous place Its interaction with other sectors Sustainable livelihood framework is holistic Careful planning and design enhance positive & reduce negative consequences

Questions & Comments

Contact Information Teresa C.H. Tao Ph.D. Department of Geography University of Hong Kong