GEOG 451/551 Geography of Tourism

Test 3 Notes

Two Tales of Privatization and Tourism: Prague and Walt Disney World

1. Prague: Tourist and Convention City of Eastern Europe

I) Prague Rediscovered.

Prague was rediscovered by Western tourists after the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and has since become the tourist and convention city of Eastern Europe. Its popularity has been driven by: (1) political and economic stability, (2) proximity to Western Europe, and (3) heritage landscapes that have been uniquely preserved in Prague.

Message: Heritage landscapes more valuable over time than modern redevelopment.

II) Prague Preserved.

1) No World War II Damage

2) Strong tradition in Planning. Centrally Planned Economy under the Communists after World War II.

a) Potentially Bad: Strongly centralized pro-planning government and the rise of modernism could have been disastrous, such as resulted in the Urban Renewal Movement in the United States, and especially Soviet style housing in USSR and throughout Eastern Europe.

b) Fortunately Good: Although Prague experienced Communist-era modern development, most projects were on the fringes of Prague not in the central city.

3) Tradition of Preservation. Club for Old Prague founded in the late-19^th century and has been instrumental in historic preservation, particularly during early 20^th century period of reconstruction.

            Prague central city core was legally protected as historic in 1971.

III) Tourism in Prague.

1) Soviet Convention City. In the 1970s and 1980s, Prague became a major center for Soviet tourism, conventions, and trade fairs. Tourist infrastructure constructed, and renovation of historic buildings.

            Communist Era Tourism:

Pre-1970: 2-4 million foreign visitors

1978:   19.4 million foreign visitors

1985:   16.5 million foreign visitors   

            Post-Communist Tourism:

1995:   100 million foreign visitors

2) Post-Communist Tourism

1) Western Tourism. Prague joins the ranks of top 20 conference sites worldwide; and becomes the preferred headquarters city for western corporations interested in doing business in Eastern Europe . Foreign investment in hotels, restaurants and other tourist infrastructure increases.

2) Re-privatization Reinforces and Threatens Tourism. Individual entrepreneurs establish many private shops, food, and lodging places, increasing wages, land values, but also congestion, noise and crime; increased competition from foreign run hotel and restaurant chains.

            Anti-planning sentiments abound as planning is associated with the old centrally-planned Communist regime. Anti-planning sentiment couple with privatization may put Prague heritage and cultural resources at risk. 1996 contemporary Myslbek retail and office development criticized by the Club for Old Prague and unsuitable for Old Town.

3) Gentrification. Gentrification in Old Town and Josefov, the Jewish Quarter, has caused a shift away from affordable housing toward tourist-oriented services.

4) Globalization and Mass Tourism. By 1993, Prague was experiencing the mass tourism that has made it a major destination, and also threatens Prague with cultural homogenization, and the prevailing sameness mass tourism tends to encourage.

 2. Walt Disney World: Privatization of Place

Walt Disney World represents an extreme form of privatization where in exchange for massive amounts of investment dollars, the local and state officials agreed to give a private company an extraordinary level of control over the governance of a place designed to produce a profit.

Message: Although an efficient means for accomplishing tasks, monopolistic and dictatorial control of a major tourist destination can create conflicts between the private interests of the company and the public welfare.

I) Disney Comes to Florida.

1. Disneyland East. In 1963, Disney associates secretly purchase 43 square miles (twice the size of Manhattan) of central Florida swampland for their mysterious Project X, the creation of Disneyland East (Disneyland opened in Anaheim, CA in 1955).

2. Why Orlando, Florida?

            1) Warm weather climate for year-round operation (Niagara Falls, New Jersey, and other locations in Northeast rejected because of winter weather.).

            2) Avoidance of coast to enable large undeveloped land purchases for future growth, disassociate this project from tawdry, Boardwalk type seashore amusement resorts.

            3) Good road network at the junction of Interstate 4 and the Florida Turnpike (built through the influence of local pro-growth politicians), with Interstate links to the Northeast (I-95) and Midwest (I-75).

            4) Compliant, pro-growth government willing to give concessions for Disney’s investment of $500 million (Which had grown to $1.7 billion by 1983 –Epcot Center, 1982- and an additional $2.3 billion by 2000 –MGM Studios partnership, 1988, Animal Kingdom, 1990, 7 more hotels, and other attractions.)

Why Privatization of Government?

            1) Lessons of Anaheim. Walt Disney hated the uncontrolled sprawl that surrounded Disneyland and prevented him from expanding. Disney Resort in California is 500 acres consisting of Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney shopping center. He was also interested in creating a futuristic model city of 20,000 that would have only renters (no landowners), and no slums, or unemployed people. Although never realized, elements were reinterpreted as Epcot and Celebration. His EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) Center is now Epcot, a World’s Fair like theme park fusing latest technology and international exhibits. The first phase of Disney’s New Urbanist Celebration opened in 1996, and deannexed from RCID.

            2) Land and Government Deal. 1967 deal with Disney was based on Florida Code permitting the creation of privately controlled drainage districts managed by the landowner rather than the residents for the purpose of “land reclamation,” draining and developing swamp land. Disney created the Reedy Creek Improvement District that included two Orange County municipalities, Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista. Residents elected municipal government, which ceded all planning and development concerns to RCID. The residents of both communities are Disney employees. Bay Lake (which includes the Magic Kingdom) population: 23. Lake Buena Vista population: 16.

            RCID Privileges:

1. Regulate land use

2. Provide police and fire

3. Build infrastructure (roads, sewers, water treatment facilities, airport, nuclear power plant)

4. Issue tax-free bonds

5. Construct projects without approval or coordination with local or state authorities.

II) Tourism and Growth in Central Florida.

Central Florida experienced spectacular growth as a result of the WDW investment.

1. Walt Disney World magic Kingdom opens, 1971

2. EPCOT Center opens, 1982

3. Disney-MGM Studios opens, 1988

4. Animal Kingdom opens, 1990

5. Celebration opens, 1996

Tourists to Central Florida:

1969: 3.5 million

1971: 10 million

1994: 33.2 million      

Magic Kingdom Visitors:

1980:   14 million, including 10% of all foreign visitors to the USA (15% by 1993).

1982:   22.7 million

Orange County Population

1970: 344,311

1990: 670,000

1994 Orlando is nation’s fastest growing metro area.

Orlando Area Hotel Rooms:

1965: 8,000

1996: 85,000

Only Las Vegas has more hotel rooms

III) Maximizing Profits; Externalizing Costs

While maximizing profits, WDW has externalized many of its costs to the public sector.

1. Roads. Area highways built by public, including interchanges serving WDW properties. Only recently has WDW contributed to road construction.

2. Affordable Housing. WDW contributes to the rising cost of land value and housing, but does not provide affordable housing. Its low-wage employees cannot afford to live near the WDW property and commute 25 miles from Seminole County. WDW refuses to provide housing in its two municipalities to limit who can vote. When Celebration opened (now with almost 10,000 people) it was deannexed from Bay Lake to protect RCID control. No affordable housing in Celebration, but under pressure WDW invested $13 million in two affordable housing developments not on WDW property.

3. Competition. The arrival of WDW provided opportunity for other entrepreneurs and tourist service providers. WDW has increasingly encroached on these markets, providing more hotel, entertainment and attraction venues, including a convention center that competes with the publicly owned Orange County Convention Center.

4. Impediment to Planning. WDW has huge impact on the region, but does not have to discuss, seek approval or coordinate the development of RCID projects making planning initiatives difficult. Large scale projects normally need “development of regional impact” plans to be submitted and approved. WDW does not.

Estimated median household income in 2007: $93,885 (it was $74,231 in 2000)

Estimated per capita income in 2007: $50,872

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $977,067 (it was $384,100 in 2000)

Holy Tourism: Conferred Authenticity

I) Defining Authentic, Inauthentic, and Conferred Authenticity

1) Sacred Destinations is a web guide to more than 1,250 sacred sites, holy places, pilgrimage destinations, religious architecture and sacred art in over 60 countries.

2) Religious Tourism:

Mecca: 2 million pilgrims during the month of the Hajj. No non-Muslims allowed.

Jerusalem: 3 million tourists in 2005.

Varanasi, India: 4 million in 2008

Temple Square, Salt Lake City: 5 million in 2008

3) World Religious Sites and Conferred Authenticity:

1. Bodhi Gaya

2. Varanasi

3. Our Lady of Lourdes

4. Our Lady of Fatima

II) Conferred Authenticity in Jerusalem

1. Holy Sites of the Three Major Monotheistic Religions:

            a) Judaism: Oldest monotheistic religion going back at least 3,000 years.

            b) Christianity

            c) Islam

Jerusalem Religious Sites:

1. Temple Mount. Plateau in Jerusalem that includes the Dome of the Rock, the Al Aqsa Mosque, and the Western Wall.

2. Western Wall to the Second Jewish Temple rebuilt by King Herod in 20 BC, and destroyed by Romans in 68 AD, just before the Jewish Diaspora. The Temple was known to Jesus and the one he chased the moneychangers from.

3. Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque. In 620 Mohammad is said to have made a miraculous “Night Journey and Ascension;” a night time ride on a winged horse provided to him by the Angel Gabriel from Mecca to Jerusalem where he was lifted into Heaven from the Temple Mount, met with profits and messengers and given the tenet of five daily prayers before being returned to Jerusalem and then Mecca. The Dome of the Rock is a shrine built in 691 over the Sacred Rock from which Mohammad ascended to Heaven. Al Aqsa Mosque (Farthest Mosque) constructed in 720; 3^rd most holy in Islam after the Holy Mosque in Mecca, and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina (built on the house and tomb of Mohammad).

4. Chapel of the Ascension. Site where Jesus ascended to Heaven after 40 days on Earth after being resurrected, leaving behind his right footprint. The original church built over the site in 390 was destroyed by invading Persians, rebuilt by Crusaders c.1150, converted into a Mosque.

5. Church of the Holy Sepulchre: Helena, wife of Christian convert, Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem in the 4^th century and build a church over Golgotha, the site of Jesus crucifixion, and the nearby tomb where he was resurrected. Church has been significantly altered over time is shared by Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Armenian Apostolic churches.

6. Garden Tomb: Located outside the city walls, is thought by some to be the tomb of Jesus. Discovered in 1883 by British Major General Charles George Gordon, a Protestant unsatisfied with the Catholic acceptance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre site. Although rejected by archeologists, many Protestants still accept this as the true tomb of Jesus.

III) Conflicted Meaning, Religion, and Nationalism

1. Interrelated Monotheistic Religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Even though meanings differ, the inter-related nature of these religions, especially the later ones, causes sites to have shared sacred significance. Christians recognize the significance of the Second Jewish Temple as a place integral to the stories of Jesus. Muslims accept Jesus as a profit although they believe Judas was crucified in his place and Jesus was taken to Heaven.

3. Religion and Nationalism:

a) Israeli sites associated with nation-building.

b) Taliban Rule in Afghanistan

IV) Religious Narrative and Holy Tourism in the New World: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

1. Mormon Revelation Story: 1820-23, Joseph Smith in West Central New York

2. Lamanites, Nephites and a Pre-Columbian New World Armageddon

3. Church-Sanctioned Conferred Authenticity to Holy Sites in New York:             a) Smith Farm, b) Sacred Grove, c) Hill Comorah

Nature Tourism, National Parks, and the Use of Scenery to Create an American Identity

Rather than long histories, pilgrimage sites, legends, and stunning architectural achievements of Europe, the United States came to appreciate its natural landscapes as a national identifier. Americans came to appreciate their natural environments using a European landscape aesthetic that relied on contemplation, and a deep appreciation for the role of the Creator in making these landscapes. This aesthetic changed over time, as the immutable wilderness came to be conquered by technology, specifically railroads, farms, and extractive industries. The most unique natural environments were saved from exploitation in national parks, accepting that conservation and tourism was the best economic use for otherwise unproductive land containing scenic wonders. Mass auto-oriented tourism expanded the interpretation of nature as tourist attraction to smaller roadside destinations like show caves, waterfalls, and rocky wonders. Parasitic diversions were attracted to the largest of these national parks and attractions, competing for tourist dollars and resulting in incompatible land uses. The parks have also had to adapt to the touring public’s desire for recreation and use as well as peace and contemplation.

1. America’s national identity is tied to its expansive western wilderness

2. English landscape aesthetic applied to American landscapes

3. America’s “wilderness cathedral” is conquered by the industrial technology

4. Scenic wonders are set aside as national parks, accepting tourism as the best economic use for these wilderness regions

5. Auto-oriented mass tourism opens many smaller natural attractions

6. Contrived diversion is attracted to natural attractions, which have to accommodate increased demand for recreational uses.

I) English Landscape Aesthetic and the Hudson River School

A methodology for appreciating landscapes developed in 18^th century Great Britain that subdivided landscapes in three types: 1) Beautiful, 2) Picturesque, 3) Sublime. A simultaneous interest in landscape painting followed the same divisions that became popular in early 19^th century American painters based in New York City who searched out and painted these landscapes in the Hudson Valley. This Hudson River School of landscape painting spread into New England, the Appalachians, out West, South America and beyond throughout the 19^th century setting a template for how Americans came to view, appreciate and interpret their scenic landscapes.

1. Beautiful landscapes are open and contain soft, rounded features, such as hills and sweeping vistas of fields and trees, and bucolic, pastoral scenes associated that came to be associated with agriculture. Beautiful landscapes are meant to evoke a sense of peaceful tranquility as would be equated with a bountiful garden setting on a warm, pleasant day.

2. Picturesque landscapes tend to be contained, or framed as if in a picture, and include more rugged landscapes of craggy rocks, blasted trees, waterfalls and steep-sided glens. Aspects of human culture is represented by romantic ruins, or rustic structures. Scenes frequently include a “contemplative viewer” inserted for scale, and as a contrasting element to nature. Picturesque landscapes are meant to evoke a sense of mystery, intrigue and timelessness such as a land of long histories and storied legends.

3. Sublime landscapes are grand and awesome, even terrifying in their spectacular scope, including rocky mountains, and dramatic weather. Sublime landscapes represent immutable wilderness and are meant to evoke a sense of overwhelming power and to be perceived as the raw works of the Creator as frequently represented by a brilliant light source.

II) Urban Parks and Rural Cemeteries

Once established as the way to interpret nature, the landscape aesthetic was applied by Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux to actual landscapes in their design of Central Park (1857-73). The Olmstead firm applied the landscape aesthetic to numerous urban parks, which not only became the standard template for park design, but also for large rural cemeteries. The landscapes architects created landscapes learned from the landscape painters who crafted their images from landscapes sought out in nature:

Natural Landscape à Painting à Orchestrated Landscape

III) National Parks

The landscape aesthetic was also applied on a grand scale to the layout and design of national parks, especially roads, overlooks, orchestrated vistas, picnic grounds, and structures. This was a re-orchestration of nature using applied landscape architecture inspired by landscape painters who were trying to copy the sense of nature:

Natural Landscape à Painting à Orchestrated Landscape à National Parks

IV) Man Conquers Nature

Capitalist driven industrial technology subdues the wilderness cathedral, and is celebrated as part of the national identity; the United States as an ingenious nation with unlimited capacity to conquer the immutable wilderness. Starting in 1871 with Yellowstone, the United States sets aside unique scenic wonders to be preserved for posterity as remnant bits of conquered wilderness, and in recognizing that tourism is the best economic use for the land. Railroads build lines and pleasure palace resorts in the tamed wilderness parks.

V) Mass Tourism and the Roadside Show

The automobile inserted itself in the national parks as a recreational vehicle, and followed the circuit of circuitous carriageways previously laid out to provide ever-changing vistas of beautiful, picturesque, and sublime landscapes. When parkways were designed for the automobile, exemplified by the Blue Ridge Parkway, they were aligned in a similar fashion, tied to overlooks and short hiking trails terminating at an aesthetic view.

The automobile, and the rise of middle class mass tourism also opened many natural attractions, such as show caves, waterfall parks, and rock cities. The interpretation of these attractions shifts from being decidedly romantic, and in keeping with the landscape aesthetic before World War II, to becoming kid friendly and entertaining in the baby-booming era of the family vacation after World War II.

VI) Nature, Recreation, and Diversion

There were two competing images of rest and relaxation in the 19^th century; the quiet, contemplative communion with nature represented by Olmsted’s Central Park, and the boisterous thrill of diversion represented by Coney Island. These two competing leisure time activities, with their implied social high-brow and low-brow associations, have always been around, forcing ball fields into Central Park, and opening the National Parks to more vigorous activities like rock climbing, skiing and snowmobiling.

            Parasitic parks of contrived amusement have attached themselves to all major natural attractions.

GEOG 451/551 Geography of Tourism Test 3 Text Outline

Kevin Patrick, Fall 2009

I) The Tourist City

A guide to organizing the key concepts in each essay.

Culture Meets Commerce: Tourism in Postcommunist Prague

1) Preservation of Prague, 179-181.

2) Prague Socialist Tourism, and Western Tourism After 1989, 181-184.

3) Postcommunist Foreign Investment and Expansion of Tourist Services, 184-185.

4) Changes in Tourist Prague: Old Town, Josefov, Lesser Town, and Hradcany, 190-193.

5) Tourism Planning and the Effects of Mass Tourism, 193-197.

Walt Disney World and Orlando: Deregulation as a Strategy for Tourism

1) Disney’s Attraction to Central Florida, 89-93.

2) Disney Governance and Organization in Central Florida, 93-94.

3) Impact of Disney in Central Florida, 95-102.

4) Evaluating Choices Made for Central Florida, 102-106.

Tourism in Jerusalem: A Place to Pray

1) Jerusalem: A Holy City for Three Religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, 198-199.

2) Conferred Authenticity and the Rise of Tourism in Jerusalem, 199-201.

3) Tourist Space Segmentation, 201-211.

4) Tourism and the Building of a National Identity, 204-208

II) Managing Sustainable Tourism: A Legacy for the Future

A guide to the important points of the book.

Chapter 1: Tourism Today and Tomorrow

Defining Sustainable Tourism, 1, 6.

The Rise of Sustainable Tourism, 3-4.

   1) 1970s; Economic Impact of Tourism

   2) 1980s; Environmental Impact of Tourism

   3) 1990s; Social Impact and Community Development through Tourism

   4) 2000; Multiple approach Sustainable Tourism

The Rise of Global Tourism, 4-5.

Chapter 2: A Philosophical Approach to Sustainable Tourism

Defining Sustainable Tourism (again), 15.

Component Parts of Sustainable Tourism, 18-24.

Protect, maintain, and enhance environmental, cultural and historic resources to the benefit of local communities.

   1) Ecological Sustainability: Environmental protection, and enhancement

   2) Cultural Sustainability: Enhance quality of life, and strengthen community identity

   3) Economic Sustainability: Maintenance of resource productivity and profitability

   4) Local Sustainability: Community improvement and business prosperity.

Galapagos Islands: Finding a Balance Between Tourist Demand, Economic Development, and Resource Sustainability, 24-27.

Chapter 3: Is Sustainable Tourism Economically Viable?

Well-Managed Sustainable Tourism Increases Visitation and Economic Development, 29-31.

Coopetition and the Marketing of Sustainable Tourism, 34-37.

Chapter 4: Nature-Based Tourism

Defining Ecotourism, 41-43.

   1) Appreciating nature and local traditional cultures

   2) Emphasis on education and interpretation

   3) Small tour groups, and local businesses

   4) Minimize impact on natural and socio-cultural environment

   5) Protect natural areas by 1. improving local economies, 2. providing employment and economic opportunities, 3. advocating conservation

Ten Commandments of Ecotourism, 50-51.

The Embera, and Sustainable tourism in Panama’s Chagres National Park, 52-56.

Chapter 5: What is Our Heritage?

Heritage Tourism Past and Present, and at the State and International Scale, 57-59.

National Heritage Areas, 60-61.

Defining Heritage Tourism: Authenticity and Balancing Resource Protection and Community Development, 61-62.

Vandalia, Illinois: Interagency Cooperation and Public-Private Partnerships, 65-67.

Chapter 6: Culturally, Tourism is Important

Defining Cultural Tourism: Art, Humanities, and Heritage, 69-71.

The Curse of the Golden Hordes and the Benefit of Cultural Tourism, 72-75.

Priorities of Cultural Tourism, 75-77.

   1) Creating Partnerships

   2) Preserving Cultural Integrity and Authenticity

   3) Community Involvement

   4) Researching Cultural and Economic Impact of Tourism

Chapter 7: Tourism Goes Country

Assessing Rural Tourism, 87-89.

Roanoke River: Water Trails and Rural Tourism, 90-92.

Chapter 8: Strategies for Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable Tourism Management Guidelines, 93-96.

   1) Inventory and assess resources.

   2) Preserve unique natural and built environments.

   3) Promote community involvement.

   4) Measure and evaluate the positive and negative impacts of tourism

   5) Establish partnerships for coopetive marketing.

Determining Suitability for Rural Tourism (OECD, 1994):

   1) Availability of natural and scenic assets

   2) Availability of wildlife assets

   3) Availability of cultural and historic assets

   4) Potential for outdoor sports and recreation

   5) Proximity and access to large populations

   6) Personnel with marketing and management skills

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve: A Model for Public/Private Partnerships

Chapter 9: Managing Sustainable Tourism

The Shift toward Sustainable Tourism (Chapter 1 Summary), 103-105.

Recognizing the Limits to Sustainable Tourism, 105-106.

   1) Environmental degradation

   2) Crowds, congestion, noise

   3) Overcrowded facilities and infrastructure

   4) Increased social problems

   5) Tension between tourists and locals

   6) Damage to resources

Management Strategies for Carrying Capacity, 106-109.

Chapter 10: More to say about the Future

A Code of Ethics for Sustainable Tourism, 115-117.

   1) Help protect natural and cultural heritage

   2) Assist in conserving resources

   3) Respect local traditions, customs and regulations

   4) Avoid activities that damage the environment

   5) Select tourist goods and services that encourage environmental sensitivity

Agenda 21 for the Travel and Tourism Industry: Toward Environmentally Sustainable Development, 1995, 117-121.

III) Seeing the Scenic Upland South: Mother Nature and the Morphology of Tourist Landscapes (Looking Beyond the Highway: Dixie Roads and Culture)

Sectional summaries.

1) Two Paths Diverging in a Yellow Wood: Understanding the contrast in tourist landscape morphology in the Upland South.

2) Nature as Wilderness Cathedral: Teaching a landscape aesthetic to a young America through literature and art, and applying that interpretation to the country’s scenic attractions.

3) Nature Under Control: Celebrating the conquest of the expansive American wilderness that allowed the extension of tourism to even the remotest of locations.

4) Nature as Road Sideshow: The rise of auto-oriented mass tourism, and the creation of many roadside scenic attractions that mixed nature and contrived amusement.

5) Nature as Recreation and Diversion: Incorporating recreation into the contemplative foundations of nature tourism, and the creation of competing diversions.

IV) Shadowed Ground: America’s Landscapes of Violence and Tragedy

Chapter 8: Stigmata of National Identity

1) Changing Meaning of the Boston Massacre

2) Symbolic Meaning of John Brown’s Fort

3) USS Arizona and Memorializing Pearl Harbor

4) Shadowed Pasts and the Selective Process of Patriotic Nation-building

5) Hierarchical Monument Building

Chapter 9: Invisible and Shadowed Pasts

Unresolved Meaning: Ambiguity in Memorializing a) American Labor Movement, b) Japanese Internment Camps, the Andersonville Civil War Prison Camp, and the Kent State Shootings.

Conflicting Meanings: Representing Slavery, Civil Rights Movement, and American Indian Experience in the Landscape.

Afterward: Recent Traumas, Changing Memories, Continued Tensions

The Lessons of Recent Traumas: Columbine, Oklahoma City, and the World Trade Center

GEOG 451/551 Geography of Tourism

Test 2 Outline

Wednesday November 18, 2009

I) Assigned Reading

Multiple choice questions will be asked from the following chapters, especially where they overlapped class lectures:

1) The Tourist City

1. Cancun Bliss

Test questions will relate to how Cancun compares to seashore resort morphology as discussed in class.

2. Las Vegas: Casino Gambling and Local Culture

3. Riverboat Gambling, Tourism, and Economic Development

Test questions will cover the historical development of gambling in America, and especially its influence on the geography of Las Vegas.

4. Constructing the Tourist Bubble

5. Tourism and Sports: The Serious Competition for Play

Test questions will emphasize those aspects of the tourist bubble and sports stadiums that were both discussed in class and in the book.

6. The New Boston Discovers the Old: Tourism and the Struggle for a Livable City

Test questions will apply the characteristics of the tourist bubble to Boston examples discussed in this chapter.

Chapters 7 and 8 are postponed until Test 3:

7. Culture Meets Commerce: Tourism in Postcommunist Prague

8. Tourism in Jerusalem: A Place to Pray

2) Shadowed Ground: America’s Landscapes of Violence and Tragedy

Test questions will emphasize how each of the examples of violence and tragedy provided in the chapters were memorialized, commemorated or ignored in the landscape.

Chapter 5: Innocent Places

Chapter 6: The Mark of Shame

Chapter 7: The Land-Shape of Memory and Tradition

Managing Sustainable Tourism Chapters postponed until Test 3:

3) Managing Sustainable Tourism: A Legacy for the Future

Chapter 1: Tourism for Today and Tomorrow

Chapter 2: A Philosophic Approach to Sustainable Tourism

Chapter 5: What is Our Heritage?

Chapter 6: Culturally, Tourism is Important

II) Lecture Topics

Multiple choice questions will be asked covering the following four topics discussed in class:

1) Gambling as an Economic Panacea

2) Las Vegas: Tourist Mecca

3) Urban Tourist Bubble

4) Professional Sports Stadiums and the City

Geography of Tourism Fall 2009 Test 1 Outline
Part I: What am I Supposed to Get Out of the Readings?

 

Geography of Tourism Fall 2009 Test 1 Outline

Part II: What am I Supposed to Get Out of the Lecture Notes?

I) Test 1 Reminders

1) Multiple choice Scan-tron test. Bring a pencil.

2) You can use hand-written notes for the multiple choice test.

3) The two 10-point exercises we have completed count as the first 20 points of this test.

            Exercise 1: The Narrative of the 9-11 Memorial

            Exercise 2: Cemetery Symbolism

II) Introduction to Geography and Tourism

1) The Nature of Geography

            a) Spatial Patterns

            b) Map Scale and Scale Dependency

2) Topics in Travel and Tourism

            a) Tourism Supply and Demand

            b) Tourist Management

            c) Restaurant, Hotel and Resort Management

            d) Tourism Labor Structure

            e) Tourism Marketing

3) Dr. Patrick’s Geography of Tourism Class

            a) Constructing Tourist Landscapes

            b) Understanding the Meaning of Tourist Places

III) Geography and the Tourist: Spatial Social Behavior

1) Defining the Tourist: Business or Pleasure?

2) Tourist Time Segments:

1. Daytrip

2. Overnight (World Tourism Organization definition)

3. Multiple nights

4. Week-10 days

5. 2-weeks

6. Longer

3) Tourist Places:

1. Defined by the setting: The Beach, The Mountains, The Lake

2. Defined by the activity: Hiking, biking, white water rafting, caving, gambling

3. Defined by the place: Specific place to go touring

4) Vacation Location relative to place of origin?

1. Proximate: Nearest beach, or mountain resort area

2. Traditional: Second vacation home, or traditional vacation spot

3. New: A place specifically because it has never been experienced.

IV) Memorialization and Place Meaning

1) Developing a Narrative for Tourist Places

            1. Kenneth Foote’s Classification for Violence and Tragedy on the Landscape:

Sanctification, Designation, Rectification, Obliteration

            2. The Need for a Tourist Destination Narratives: “Contemplative places” like historic sites, have more need for a narrative than “Spectator places” like theaters, sports arenas, and “Activity places” like amusement parks, the beach, or ski resorts.

2) 9-11 Narrative and Memorial Service: Sanctification. Military presence and highest authorities define meaning, rather than debate meaning.

            1. Personal Testimony

            2. Links to Common Goals and Traditions (i.e. Freedom, Liberty, Democracy)      

            3. Memorial Tribute to Locals Lost

            4. Sanctification of Monument

            5. Veneration of Flight 93 Passengers as Heroes and Martyrs, not Victims

V) Cemetery Symbolism and the Memorialization of Place

1) Cemeteries as Tourist Attractions: Historical Geography

            1. Renaissance Cathedrals and Churches

            2. Church Graveyards

            3. Secular “Rural” Cemeteries at the Edge of Cities

               a) Urban Parks Movement and Olmstedian Landscape Ideals

               b) Post-Civil War Trauma and Cemetery Visitation

               c) Romantic Symbolism of the Victorian Era: Judeo-Christian Traditions in Western Civilization

4.Mid-20^th Century Memorial Parks in the Suburbs

               a) Rise of Functionalist Modernism

               b) Increase in Cremation and Personal rather than Cultural Narratives

2) Cemetery Symbolism Representing Place Narratives: Meant to positively define the decease relative to a cultural matrix, and presenting lessons to the living while evoking emotion.

            1. Symbolism of Flora and Fauna (ivy, tree stump, oak leaves, rose, lily, morning glory, broken flower, laurel wreath, dove, lamb, lion, eagle, etc.)

            2. Religious Symbolism (cross, Crucifix, Star of David, Jesus, Virgin Mary, angels, cherubs, etc.)

            3. Symbolism of Human Artifacts (obelisk, urn, veil, open book, anchor, torch, fraternal organization and military insignia, etc.)

            4. Meaning of Human Forms and Figures (Seven Virtues, Heavenward pointing hands, clasped hands, skeletons, death heads, Father Time, mournful woman, etc.)

            5. Other Cemetery Items (white bronze monuments, mausoleums, tumuli, grave goods, laser etchings, etc.)

VI) Tourist Place Meaning Defined by State Nicknames, Logos and Slogans

1) The Meaning Behind State Nicknames: Place designations.

2) The Meaning Behind State Tourist Slogans and Logos: Place sensations meant to evoke a positive emotion while presenting a sense of place.

VII) Tourist Resort Morphology

1) Atlantic City as Monopoly Board

            1. Tourist and Social Geography of 1933 Monopoly Atlantic City

            a) Deep Purple Streets; b) Light Blue Streets; c) Purple Streets; d) Orange Streets; e) Red Streets; f) Yellow Streets; g) Green Streets; e) Royal Blue Streets

            2. Impact of Casino Gambling on the Tourist/Social Geography of Atlantic City

2) Eastern Shore Resort Morphology

            1. Physical Geography of Barrier Islands and the Separation of Tourist Space

            2. Infrastructure of Barrier Islands and the creation of mainland shore roads, access roads, back bay bridges, and a street grid oriented to the beach

            3. Pedestrian-Oriented Tourist Town: a) Railroads/railroad depots; b) Downtown business district and hierarchical retailing; c) boarding house district; d) older, upscale hotel district; e) Boardwalk/Promenade and conspicuous consumption; f) Amusement pier and contrived parasitic attractions; g) fishing pier

            4. Auto-Oriented Tourist Town: a) Tourist service street; b) Beach front, near-beach motel strip; c) Cheap motel strip; d) New resort hotels; e) Downbeach luxury condos; f) Auto-oriented tourist strip; g) Upscale residential street; h) Mainland shopping centers

3) Gambling as an Economic Panacea

            1. Historical Geography of Gambling in America

               a) Frontier/Social Fringe: Masculine landscape apart from civilization/society

               b) Elimination of gambling with spread of civilization and feminine landscapes of domesticity

               c) Nevada and the Age of Modern Gambling as an Economic Panacea

                        c.1. Nevada as the last state to outlaw gambling, 1911

                        c.2. Re-Legalization of Gambling in Nevada, 1931.

                        c.3. Reno-centered Gambling

                        c.4. Las Vegas-Centered Gambling. Shift in 1930s with public works projects; expansion in 1940s with military bases and defense industries; dominance by the 1950s with auto and air travel.

                        c.5. Pedestrian-oriented, mob-run gambling on Downtown Fremont Street

                        c.6. Postwar Auto-oriented, mob-run gambling on The Strip

                        c.7. Corporate Casinos with the 1966 arrival of Howard Hughes

                        c.8. Postmodern themed mega-resort casinos

               d) Atlantic City, New Jersey

d.1. Casino gambling legalized, 1976

d.2. Resorts International opens as first casino, 1978

d.3. New Jersey state percentage used for senior citizen programs

               e) Indian Casinos

                        e.1. Act legalizing Seminole bingo parlors, 1979, leads to an expansion of bingo to other Indian Reservations

                        e.2. Indian Gaming Regulation Act 1988, allows Native American Indians to circumvent state law, legalizing gambling through the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.

                        e.3. 27 states now have Indian casinos

               f) Riverboat Gambling

                        f.1. Iowa legalizes limited riverboat gambling to stimulate growth in riverboat tourist trade, 1989

                        f.2. Illinois legalizes riverboat gambling with higher stakes

                        f.3. 6 states legalize riverboat gambling by 1997, some requiring boats to be in the river, some allowing dockside casinos. Riverboat gambling: IA, IL, IN, MS, MO, LA

               g) Slot Parlors and Pennsylvania

                        g.1. Located at horse race tracks to reinvigorate horse racing industry.

                        g.2. Stand-alone slot parlors in regulated markets areas around the state

            2. Gambling as an Economic Panacea

               a) First Casinos: Basic economic activity as money is being brought into the regional economy from outside.

               b) Intermediate Casinos: As casinos spread they become more Non-Basic, circulating more local money already in the region, and less money from outside the region.