Joseph Lema, Ph.D. & A. Philip Handel, Ph.D.
BIODATA
Joseph Lema, Ph.D.
Dr. Lema is Assistant Professor of hospitality management and tourism at Drexel University. He has published in the area of sustainable tourism development and attended national and international hospitality and tourism conferences. Dr. Lema serves on three hospitality and tourism journal editorial review boards. He teaches courses in hospitality management and tourism.
A Philip Handel, Ph.D.
Dr. Handel is Associate Professor of food science and Program Director of the Programs in Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts and Food Science at Drexel University. He has an abiding interest in Montserrat having visited there several times and is a member of the Montserrat online community.
ABSTRACT
As tourism expands globally competition also increases. Tourists seeking experiences in exotic places eventually will visit remote communities to learn about the “ways of life” there. While being secluded in the internet age is nearly impossible, the internet is also an opportunity for tourism destinations to make themselves known.
Developing a cultural tourism destination is more sustainable when the community is consulted first (the bottom-up approach) and is not imposed upon by outsiders (the top-down approach). In the bottom-up approach the local population is actively involved in the decision making process and planning of tourism facilities and activities that provides a sense of ownership over their future and they become engaged with tourists and tourism activities.
Proponents point out that the bottom-up approach diversifies the economic base of a region and provides incentives to preserve the special characteristics of a region and its people. With the demand for cultural and sustainable tourism increasing decision makers become attentive to issues of environmental quality and cultural opportunities, seeing them as economic resources rather than impediments to development.
This presentation will demonstrate how the bottom-up approach to sustainable tourism development might be applied in Montserrat. This approach has been successful in Sappada, Italy and Northeast Brazil. We will demonstrate how this approach can be implemented and how it can produce practical strategic initiatives to support an effective and sustainable tourism management system.
© Joseph Lema & A. Philip Handel, 2008. Page last revised November 3, 2008.
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