1. Australian Centre on Quality of Life
The influence of tourism on the subjective wellbeing of host communities
Robert A. Cummins
Australian Centre on Quality of Life
Deakin University

2. BEST EN champion of sustainable tourism
“Tourism is a well-known tool to facilitate regeneration and economic development
and enhance the quality of life
of visitors and host communities.”

3. and enhance the quality of life
BEST EN
Tourism is a well-known tool to facilitate regeneration and economic development
and enhance the quality of life
of visitors and host communities.

4. Questions What is life quality?
2. Does economic development = improved life quality?
3. How does life quality relate to the natural environment?

5. One way is through social indicators
How do we measure
‘life quality’?
One way is through social indicators

6. What is a ‘social indicator’?
a statistic of direct normative interest which facilitates --- judgments about the condition of -- a society.
(U.S. Department of Health, Education, Welfare, 1969)

7. The major traditional social indicators ≈ money
That is-----
The major traditional social indicators ≈ money
or at least the products and services that money can buy.
So, around the world, prior to 1970’s
Quality of Life = GDP.

8. Following the Second World War, many countries experienced strong economic growth50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1970
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1987
Year
GDP held
as a percent
of its
1958 value
Deflated GDP/capita

9. Western Australia's primary energy usage by fuel type (2005)
Depletion of natural resources
Western Australia's primary energy usage by fuel type (2005)
98% of WA's primary energy needs are supplied from fossil fuels

10. Pollution

11. People are working longer hours each week
Globalization, BlackBerries,
corporate expectations
and Type A personalities.
2005
1983

12. Tourism enhances economic development. It also raises the need for
infrastructure and energy consumption
Does this kind of development confer a net benefit on the host population ?
Are people becoming happier as a result of economic development?

13. Since the 1950s, surveys in many countries have included the question:
Life satisfaction
Since the 1950s, surveys in many countries have included the question:
‘Considering your life as a whole, how satisfied are you with your life?’

14. Economic growth and Subjective Wellbeing in Japan50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
550
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1970
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1987
Year
GDP is held
as a percent
of its
1958 value
Deflated GDP/capita
Life Satisfaction
(Diener & Biswas-Diener, 2002)
Life satisfaction
is the actual
value for
each year

15. In Australia GDP per capita 8000 9000 10000 11000 12000 13000 Sep 01
Mar 02
Sep 02
Mar 03
Sep 03
Mar 04
Sep 04
Mar 05
Sep 05
Mar 06
Sep 06
GDP per capita ($)
GDP per capita
In Australia

16. In Australia Personal Wellbeing Index GDP per capita 8000 9000 10000
11000
12000
13000
Sep 01
Mar 02
Sep 02
Mar 03
Sep 03
Mar 04
Sep 04
Mar 05
Sep 05
Mar 06
Sep 06
GDP per capita ($) 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
100
Wellbeing (0-100)
GDP per capita
Personal Wellbeing Index
In Australia

17. ? Quality of Life Objective QOL Subjective Wellbeing [happiness]
Objective Conditions
e.g. Physical health
Subjective Perceptions
e.g. Satisfaction with health ?

18. A positive state of mind that involves the whole life experience
Subjective Wellbeing
A positive state of mind that involves the whole life experience
How do we measure it?

19. ( Personal Wellbeing Index )
Standard of living
Health
Achieving in life
Relationships
Safety
Community connectedness
Future security
Spirituality/Religion
How satisfied are you with your-----?
How satisfied are you with your life as a whole?
The first-level deconstruction is---

20. “How satisfied are you with your life as a whole?”
Domains: all must contribute unique variance
Standard of living
Health
Achieving in life
Relationships
Safety
Community connectedness
Future security
Spirituality/Religion β β β
“How satisfied are you with your life as a whole?” β β β β β

21. How satisfied are you with your ----?
[Jones and Thurstone ,1955]
11-point, end-defined scale
How satisfied are you with your ----?
Completely
Dissatisfied
Completely
Satisfied 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10

22. Personal Wellbeing Index
Standard of living
Health
Achieving in life
Relationships
Safety
Community connectedness
Future security
Spirituality/Religion
How satisfied are you with your-----?

23. We code all data to lie on a range from
Complete
dissatisfaction
Complete
satisfaction
100

24. Why is subjective wellbeing important
Why is subjective wellbeing important? Positive emotions build a range of personal resources as:
Physical resources (health, longevity)
Social resources (friendliness, social capital)
Intellectual resources (intellectual curiosity, expert knowledge,)
Psychological resources (resilience, optimism, creativity)

25. As an alternative to the traditional economic indicators such as GDP
In 2000 we linked with our industry partner, Australian Unity
Purpose: to create a quarterly index of subjective wellbeing for the Australian population.
As an alternative to the traditional economic indicators such as GDP

26. Our data are drawn from the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index Surveys
Geographically representative sample
N = 2,000
Telephone interview
#1: April 2001
#19: April 2008

27. Personal Wellbeing Index 2001 - 2007h g f e d c b a
Survey
Date
Major events
preceding survey
>S11
>S2, S4, S5
Scores above this line are
significantly higher than S1 72 73 74 75 76 77
S1 Apr 2001
S2 Sept 2001
S3 Mar 2002
S4 Aug 2002
S5 Nov 2002
S6 Mar 2003
S7 Jun 2003
S8 Aug 2003
S9 Nov 2003
S10 Feb 2004
S11 May 2004
S12 Aug 2004
S13 May 2005
S14 Oct 2005
S15 May 2006
S16 Oct 2006
S17 Apr 2007
S18 Oct 2007
Strength of
satisfaction
Key: a = September b = Bali Bombing c = Pre-Iraq War
d = Hussein Deposed e = Athens Olympic f = Asian Tsunami
g = Second Bali Bombing h = New Industrial Relations Laws

28. Personal Wellbeing Index 2001 - 2007h g f e d c b a
Survey
Date
Major events
preceding survey
>S11
>S2, S4, S5
Scores above this line are
significantly higher than S1 72 73 74 75 76 77
S1 Apr 2001
S2 Sept 2001
S3 Mar 2002
S4 Aug 2002
S5 Nov 2002
S6 Mar 2003
S7 Jun 2003
S8 Aug 2003
S9 Nov 2003
S10 Feb 2004
S11 May 2004
S12 Aug 2004
S13 May 2005
S14 Oct 2005
S15 May 2006
S16 Oct 2006
S17 Apr 2007
S18 Oct 2007
Strength of
satisfaction
This represents a 3.0 percentage point variation
xxxxx
Key: a = September b = Bali Bombing c = Pre-Iraq War
d = Hussein Deposed e = Athens Olympic f = Asian Tsunami
g = Second Bali Bombing h = New Industrial Relations Laws

29. Why is happiness held so steady?
Homeostasis
Just like we hold body temperature steady
Subjective wellbeing homeostasis

30. Homeostasis is maintained by using resources for defence
Bad
stuff
Subjective
wellbeing X
Major external
protective resources
(Money, Relationships)
Internal resources
(eg. Finding meaning
for the bad event)
Protective resources allow people
to defend homeostasis and their happiness

31. The result of subjective wellbeing loss is depression
Homeostasis can fail
Overwhelming
Negative
Challenges
Subjective
wellbeing
The result of subjective wellbeing loss is depression

32. What are the major risk factors for homeostatic defeat?
General principles
Resilience (the power to defend wellbeing against sources of threat) is a balance between resources and stress
2. Both resources and threats concern the person’s whole life, not just in some life compartment (eg work).

33. Income is an external resource that enhances resilience81
Total N ≈ 30,000 80 *
79.2 79
78.3
78.0 * 78 77
76.5
Subjective
wellbeing * 76
76.3 *
74.9 75
73.9
Normal Range 74
73.0 73
71.7 72 71
<$15
$15-30
$31-60
$61-90
$91-120 $
$150+
Median
Household Income ($'000)

34. Relationship support may or may not enhance resilience84
Subjective Wellbeing Normative range
76.3
73.3
76.2
71.4
70.1
67.4
69.2
80.4
73.8
70.2
62.8 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 83 82 81 80
Partner
SWB
Never married
72.0
Live alone
70.6 10 9 8 7 6 5
(4 + 3)
(2 + 1)
Level of support from partner

35. The benefit of a relationship is dependent on:84
Choice
Investment
Subjective Wellbeing Normative range
76.3
73.3
76.2
71.4
70.1
67.4
69.2
80.4
73.8
70.2
62.8 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 83 82 81 80
SWB
Never married
72.0
Live alone
70.6
80%
(51%) (15%) (14%) 10 9 8 7 6 5
(4 + 3)
(2 + 1)
Level of support from partner

36. Worry at interest rates (February 2008)
Not all opinions or feelings are relevant to wellbeing
Worry at interest rates (February 2008)
76.4
Normal range
73.4 N
74.3
74.8
74.1
75.2
76.0
73.7
76.8
77.1
79.0 70 72 74 76 78 80
115
0/1 58 2 49 3 47 4
153 5 82 6
126 7
133 8 69 9
119 10
Level of worry
PWI
If the target is non-self, gradually changing, and beyond personal control, people
can separate their worry from their personal self

37. If the target is personal, then worry can affect wellbeing
Income security
February 2009 N 47 64 29
201
Normative range
76.5
108 58
161
222
442
73.4 60 62 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 10 9 8 7 6 5 4
2-3
0-1
PWI
18.6%
Degree of certainty about income security, 0-10 scale

38. BEST EN
“Sustainable tourism is - finding the right balance between the welfare of tourists, host communities and
the environment, reducing conflict, recognising mutual dependency, and enhancing quality of life.”

39. National Wellbeing Index
“How satisfied are you with ”
1. the economic situation in Australia?
2. the state of the natural environment in Australia?
3. the social conditions in Australia?
4. Government in Australia?
5. business in Australia?
6. national security in Australia?

40. Can Subjective Social Indicators be used--- to monitor environmental degradation?
Australia is suffering the worst drought in recorded history.
May 2008 was the driest May on record
It has been continuously worsening during the whole time of our surveys

41. Intense media coverage On-going and developing drought
How satisfied are you with the State of the Natural Environment in Australia?
Key: a = September b = Bali Bombing c = Pre-Iraq War
d = Hussein Deposed e = Athens Olympic f = Asian Tsunami
g = Second Bali Bombing h = New Industrial Relations Laws
Intense media coverage
of ‘global warming’
>S5
>S1 h g f e d c b a
Survey
Date
Major events
preceding survey 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
S1 Apr 2001
S2 Sept 2001
S3 Mar 2002
S4 Aug 2002
S5 Nov 2002
S6 Mar 2003
S7 Jun 2003
S8 Aug 2003
S9 Nov 2003
S10 Feb 2004
S11 May 2004
S12 Aug 2004
S13 May 2005
S14 Oct 2005
S15 May 2006
S16 Oct 2006
S17 Apr 2007
S18 Oct 2007
Strength of
satisfaction
On-going and developing drought

42. Satisfaction with the State of the Natural Environment in Australia
Key: a = September b = Bali Bombing c = Pre-Iraq War
d = Hussein Deposed e = Athens Olympic f = Asian Tsunami
g = Second Bali Bombing h = New Industrial Relations Laws
Intense media coverage
of ‘global warming’
>S5
>S1 h g f e d c b a
Survey
Date
Major events
preceding survey
Scores below this line are lower
than S1 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
S1 Apr 2001
S2 Sept 2001
S3 Mar 2002
S4 Aug 2002
S5 Nov 2002
S6 Mar 2003
S7 Jun 2003
S8 Aug 2003
S9 Nov 2003
S10 Feb 2004
S11 May 2004
S12 Aug 2004
S13 May 2005
S14 Oct 2005
S15 May 2006
S16 Oct 2006
S17 Apr 2007
S18 Oct 2007
Strength of
satisfaction
An Inconvenient Truth

43. Satisfaction with the State of the Natural Environment in Australia
Key: a = September b = Bali Bombing c = Pre-Iraq War
d = Hussein Deposed e = Athens Olympic f = Asian Tsunami
g = Second Bali Bombing h = New Industrial Relations Laws
Intense media coverage
of ‘global warming’
>S5
>S1 h g f e d c b a
Survey
Date
Major events
preceding survey
Scores below this line are lower
than S1 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
S1 Apr 2001
S2 Sept 2001
S3 Mar 2002
S4 Aug 2002
S5 Nov 2002
S6 Mar 2003
S7 Jun 2003
S8 Aug 2003
S9 Nov 2003
S10 Feb 2004
S11 May 2004
S12 Aug 2004
S13 May 2005
S14 Oct 2005
S15 May 2006
S16 Oct 2006
S17 Apr 2007
S18 Oct 2007
Strength of
satisfaction

44. Satisfaction with the State of the Natural Environment in Australia
Key: a = September b = Bali Bombing c = Pre-Iraq War
d = Hussein Deposed e = Athens Olympic f = Asian Tsunami
g = Second Bali Bombing h = New Industrial Relations Laws
Intense media coverage
of ‘global warming’
>S5
>S1 h g f e d c b a
Survey
Date
Major events
preceding survey
Scores below this line are lower
than S1 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
S1 Apr 2001
S2 Sept 2001
S3 Mar 2002
S4 Aug 2002
S5 Nov 2002
S6 Mar 2003
S7 Jun 2003
S8 Aug 2003
S9 Nov 2003
S10 Feb 2004
S11 May 2004
S12 Aug 2004
S13 May 2005
S14 Oct 2005
S15 May 2006
S16 Oct 2006
S17 Apr 2007
S18 Oct 2007
Strength of
satisfaction

45. Satisfaction with the State of the Natural Environment in Australiag f e d c b a
Survey
Date
Major events
preceding survey i
Scores below this line are lower
than S1 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
S1 Apr 2001
S2 Sept 2001
S3 Mar 2002
S4 Aug 2002
S5 Nov 2002
S6 Mar 2003
S7 Jun 2003
S8 Aug 2003
S9 Nov 2003
S10 Feb 2004
S11 May 2004
S12 Aug 2004
S13 May 2005
S14 Oct 2005
S15 May 2006
S16 Oct 2006
S17 Apr 2007
S18 Oct 2007
S19 Apri 2008
Strength of
satisfaction
Maximum = 60.9
Current = 59.1
Minimum = 55.8
People adapt to slow change
and only react to new perceptions
of threat and danger

46. So, as environmental and social conditions
The Citarum river near the Indonesian capital of Jakarta
So, as environmental and social conditions
gradually deteriorate through global warming,
do not expect the population to easily react

47. Subjective Indicators
Summary To measure the effects of tourism on life quality, we need both objective and subjective indicators.
Quality of life
Objective Indicators
Economic development
Subjective Indicators
Subjective Wellbeing