Tourism involvement-conformance theory: a grounded theory concerning the latent consequences of sustainable tourism policy shifts

Abstract

This study uses a grounded theory method to investigate the proposed tourism policy directions of three Pacific Island countries and to develop a set of theoretical insights referred to as tourism involvement-conformance theory (TICT). TICT underscores the potential latent consequences that can occur as tourism develops due to policy shifts which emphasize sustainability. More specifically, TICT suggests a number of conceptual linkages regarding how policy makers and development strategists envisage the internal and external forces of control as tourism develops, how these perceptions influence the specific positioning or policy mechanisms, and how these processes when they are couched in a sustainability framework can instrumentalize local people/culture. For those interested in the challenges associated with sustainable tourism policy and planning, the findings represent a step towards a more nuanced understanding of the potential consequences of development decisions and policy rhetoric. They also offer an advancement in understanding regarding culture, involvement, power, and conformity in tourism research. For practitioners, the findings highlight the need for careful consideration of the implicit power relationships and ideologies that can be reinforced through policies designed around increased local involvement as a means to sustainability.

旅游包容–确认理论：一个考虑可持续性旅游政策转变的潜在后果的根理论

这个研究通过根理论研究方法来探索三个太平洋岛国推荐的旅游政策指导以及发展一套关于旅游业包含与整合理论（TICT）的理论见解。TICI所强调是由于政策向更加重视可持续性转移，由此促使旅游业发展的可能出现的潜在结果。更具体来件，TICT表明了一些概念上的联系，比如政策制定者和发展策略如何正视随着旅游业发展内在和外在的控制；这些方面如何影响具体定位或者政策机制；以及当它们在可持续的框架下，如何运行从而有利于当地的人民和文化。对于这些对可持续旅游政策和计划存在的挑战有兴趣的人，这些发现进一步展现了对发展决定和政策言论的潜在后果更加细微的差别。同时，也提供了在旅游业研究中关于文化、包含性、权利以及整合更高级的理解。对于实践者而言，这些发现强调了对仔细考虑隐含的权力关系和意识形态作为一种实现可持续的方法的需要。

Keywords:

• grounded theory method
• Pacific Islands
• tourism policy
• tourism involvement-conformance theory

关键词:

• 根理论研究法
• 太平洋岛
• 旅游政策
• 旅游包含于整合理论

Additional information

Notes on contributors

T.S. Stumpf

T.S. Stumpf is a PhD candidate at Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. His research interests include sustainable tourism development and hotel management in Pacific Island countries.

Nancy Swanger

Nancy Swanger is the W. Terry Umbreit distinguished professor in the School of Hospitality Business Management, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. Her research interests include risk environments in hospitality operations, and hospitality curriculum.