– This paper aims to look at the relationship between film tourism and ecotourism and questions whether the two are compatible or mutually exclusive.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to look at the relationship between film tourism and ecotourism and questions whether the two are compatible or mutually exclusive.
Design/methodology/approach
Entertainment films are making a deep impact on international tourism development, with popular movies playing an increasingly influential role in tourists’ choice of holiday destination. Areas with high natural value are frequently used as film locations, their image as a nature-loving escape paradise emerges and is coincided with a growth of film-induced visitors, willing to participate in nature-based activities. Tourism has always been a fundamental component of the areas of high natural value concept, and with this unparalled growth of the film tourism and ecotourism, it was inevitable that one day they will meet and interact in natural areas. This paper provides case studies where filmic intervention shapes tourist nature-loving imaginings, triggers ecotourism activities but also raises environmental concern of locals, and films like The Beach (2000) and Deliverance (1972) and the TV series Pride and Prejudice (1996) are subject to discussion.
Findings
In many cases, the natural areas have not the carrying capacity to cope with large increases in film-induced visitors, and this results in a number of possible undesirable consequences, from the loss of privacy to the destruction of the natural environment. This paper suggests that film tourism and ecotourism are compatible if tourism policy planners follow strategies, such as environmental education initiatives, that engage film tourism stakeholders and the film industry in creating solutions to environmental challenges.
Originality/value
Film tourism planning hasn’t yet focused on the tools for environmentally sound management of a destination. This paper argues that film tourism literature needs to develop marketing and policy perspectives to inform appropriate environmental management of film tourism planning and enhance environmental sustainability of a destination.
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Keywords
Maria Laura Ruiu, Massimo Ragnedda and Gabriele Ruiu
This paper investigates both similarities and differences between two global threats represented by climate change (CC) and Covid-19 (CV). This will help understand the reasons…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper investigates both similarities and differences between two global threats represented by climate change (CC) and Covid-19 (CV). This will help understand the reasons behind the recognition of the CV as a pandemic that requires global efforts, whereas efforts to tackle climate change still lack such urgency. This paper aims to answer to the following questions: What are the elements that make CV restrictions acceptable by both the public and policymakers? and What are the elements that make CC restrictions not acceptable?
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyses the situation reports released by the World Health Organisation between the 11th of March (declaration of pandemic) and the 22nd of April, and their associated documents such as the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (WHO), the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Action Plan (WHO) and its updated version (WHO) and the Handbook for public health capacity-building (WHO). The analysis ends one week after President Trump’s announcement to suspend US funding to WHO (Fedor and Manson, 2020) and his support to public demonstrations against restrictions.
Findings
The application of the second stage of the “Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication” model identifies five lessons that can be learned from this comparison. These relate to the necessity to simultaneously warn (about the severity of a threat) and reassure (by suggesting specific courses of action) the public; the need for multilevel collaboration that integrates collective and individual actions; the capacity to present cohesive messages to the public; the risk of politicisation and commodification of the issue that might undermine global efforts to tackle the threat; and the capacity to trigger individual responses through the promotion of self-efficacy.
Originality/value
This paper identifies both similarities and differences between CC and CV managements to understand why the two threats are perceived and tackled in different ways. The analysis of official documents released by both the World Health Organisation and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate CV outbreak as a crisis, whereas climate change is still anchored to the status of a future-oriented risk.
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Ulla‐Kaisa Koivisto Hursti, Maria K. Magnusson and Anne Algers
A total of 316 consumers participated in an interview study on their opinions on genetic modification (GM). Most participants were negative to use of GM in general. About 20…
Abstract
A total of 316 consumers participated in an interview study on their opinions on genetic modification (GM). Most participants were negative to use of GM in general. About 20 percent of the respondents were willing to accept GM foods for marketing in Sweden and were also willing to buy such products. Almost all respondents stated that GM products should be labelled. The respondents were most positive to applications “GM of bacteria for medical purposes (e.g. insulin producing bacteria)” and “Genetic approaches to fighting hereditary diseases”. Males were generally more positive to GM, so were the younger respondents. No significant differences in consumer attitudes were found with respect to level of education or place of residence. The results indicate that Swedish consumers in general are negative towards GM. However, the motives underlying the consumers’ opinions are far from clear. Consumer concerns are very complex and difficult to study. Therefore, individual and group interview strategies could prove to be valuable in attempts to further understand consumer attitudes to this new technology.