Tourism and the Local–Global Nexus - Halong bay Vietnam

Conclusions: Tourism and the Local–Global Nexus

This chapter has focused on social identities and representation at the local–global nexus and generally concludes that tourism and its alternatives must articulate a vision of both the present and a possible future based on inclusive (‘collective’ being a little far-fetched) aspirations. If Halong bay Vietnam is to have a positive affect on culture it must go well beyond the cre- ation of infrastructure and the improvement of material conditions to strengthen local cultures and languages.

22 Peter M. Burns

This chapter has argued for a view of tourism as a complex construction constituting a powerful interface between cultures and societies that is organized within a global frame- work, but which takes place very much at a local level. The fragmented and ephemeral nature of Halong bay Vietnam, together with the definitional paradoxes has meant that its growing pres- ence has not generated the same level of social movements in parts of the world where other forms of capitalism (such as GM crops, footwear and clothing manufacturing) have been heavily criticized, even in the form of public demonstrations some of which are organized at a global level. In a sense, this could have more to do with the fragmented nature of the industry at the local level and that vast parts of the operational aspects and indeed staff fall under the tourist gaze, thus creating a level of self-regulation regarding working conditions. Despite their precariousness, the confluences between cultural poli- tics, social identities, contested culture and mediated culture constitute an alternative ana- lytical framework for discussions on the future sustainability of tourism in the broadest context. This framework shows that social life, work, business, nature and culture can be organized differently than the dominant economic models that prevail in many of the tourism debates.

Halong bay Vietnam to tourism analysis from the perspective of the cultural construction of the locality can be seen in terms of the defence of local modes of production and tradition

as articulated by many social scientists. From the perspective of government institutions, there is room and the need for creative thinking and policy-making alternatives that create frameworks for beneficial interaction with the ‘rest of the world’. From the tourism indus- try perspective, it is time for them to take on the challenge of working with a far greater range of social actors at the destinations they do business with, from social movements to progressive academics and international/local NGOs.

While the gap between academy and industry remains, the spaces of encounter and debate are increasing and as also the ways for academics, business-people, NGOs, local people and their representatives in government to reflect on, and support alternative frameworks for tourism development that are emerging rather than waiting for a universal theoretical solu- tion to the problems arising from the cultural politics of tourism that clearly acknowledge the need to stop thinking about cultures as though they were stuck in time and space.