Collaboration gaps and regional tourism networks in rural coastal communities

Abstract

Tapping into and creating broad networks is integral to connecting communities and destinations to wider flows of tourists and ensuring local benefits from tourism development. However, little research has probed how communities build these connections. This article examines how tourism stakeholders perceive and practice the work of network-building and assess the challenges they face in pursuing this work in regional tourism development. Drawing on survey and focus group data from Atlantic Canada, we identify “collaboration gaps” between the perceived value of network-building and related social practices. Social practice theory is used to analyse tourism network-building and explain why collaboration gaps exist and persist. Our analysis found three gaps: between meaning and practice; vertical collaboration gaps related to the scale of network-building; and horizontal collaboration gaps related to the range of actors involved in tourism networks. These collaboration gaps can be addressed through a focus on meaning, competencies, and materials as means to foster successful collaborations and overcome gaps.

Keywords:

• Regional development
• tourism networks
• rural tourism
• collaboration
• Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the assistance of our community partners: Trevor Bungay (Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador), Joanie Cranston (Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital Heritage Corporation), Mark Lamswood (Go Western Newfoundland), Randy Letto (Destination Labrador), Anne Marceau, Jamie Pye (Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador), and Joan Simmonds (Great Northern Peninsula Heritage Network). We also thank Kristie Smith for additional research assistance on this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 While two participants for the Labrador Straits group falls below the normal range for focus groups, it is important to emphasize that findings were not based on the focus groups in isolation but were based on both survey results and focus groups. While the low number of Labrador Straits focus group participants is a limitation, it is offset by a 36% survey response rate for this region. Furthermore, given the remoteness and travel costs associated with carrying out fieldwork in this region, it was not feasible for the research team to return for additional focus groups.

2 Throughout the project, the definition of “collaboration” was “individuals and organizations working together on tourism development projects in your region.”

3 One possible interpretation for the lack of engagement in social networking among tourism businesses actors is that a perceived need to be competitive leads to disconnection from other businesses in the region. However, this interpretation is not explicitly supported in our data, where there is widespread agreement that network-building is important for regional tourism development. This poses a useful question for further research.

4 The lack of collaboration with environmental groups may reflect social or political divides between more conservation-oriented environmental groups and more development-oriented business actors. However, our data do not offer any insight into whether this speculative interpretation is valid. This also poses a useful question for further research.

5 An important distinction is that while funding is often available for specific projects, core funding for tourism development organizations is generally not available.

Additional information

Funding

Financial support for this research was provided by the Harris Centre Applied Research Fund at Memorial University.

Notes on contributors

Mark C. J. Stoddart

Prof. Mark CJ Stoddart is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at Memorial University. His research focuses on tourism and social-ecological sustainability, social movements and political sociology, and communications and culture.

Gary Catano

Mr. Gary Catano is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Sociology at Memorial University. His research focuses on environmental sociology and the sociology of work, with a focus on parks and protected areas.

Howard Ramos

Prof. Howard Ramos is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at Dalhousie University. His research focuses on political sociology and social movements, and perceptions of social-environmental change.

Kelly Vodden

Prof. Kelly Vodden is Professor in the Environmental Policy Institute at Memorial University Grenfell Campus. Her research focuses on rural community resilience and sustainability.

Brennan Lowery

Brennan Lowery is an interdisciplinary PhD student at Memorial University. His research focuses on rural community resilience and sustainability.

Leanna Butters

Leanna Butters is an MA graduate at the Environmental Policy Institute at Memorial University Grenfell Campus. Her research focuses on labour mobility and rural community sustainability.