Theory of Stephen Britton on Tourism - Essay Example

? Affiliation This essay will mainly focus on the theory of Stephen Britton on tourism and the development undergoing in the underdeveloped countries. The paper will also analyze the meaning of dependency in developing countries and what is meant by the term underdevelopment. It will also underline the effects of colonization of various countries. In Britton’ journal the political Economy of Tourism in the Third World, Britton spotlights how underdeveloped countries struggle within the tourism market. Underdevelopment is the state of an organizations or a country to that has not reached its maturity. On the other hand, developed countries are defined as ‘technologically and ecologically advanced, enjoy relatively high standards of living and have modern social and political institutions and structures’ (Huybers, 2007, p. 28). Britton expresses his own view on underdeveloped countries by quoting ‘third word countries are seen to suffer from a series of common structural distortions in their economic and social organization. Britton makes emphasizes that third world countries are characterized by forms of dependent development. Britton claims that dependency is conceptualized as the process of historical conditioning that alters the internal functioning of social and economic sub-system within an underdeveloped country. He further outlines that foreign parties have a legacy of political, ideological and economic transformation in the third world countries (Britton, 1982, p. 333). He elaborates that dependency entails the subordination of the national economic independence, which has to meet the requirements of foreign individuals and upper class society as a substitute of political priorities. According to his analysis, Britton believes that structural alterations include lack of fundamental infrastructure like air space, roads and proper knowledge of the tourism industry are the main cause of the underdevelopment. Telfer and Sharpley also attributes this underdevelopment to gender issues like lack of human safety, rights and security (Sharpley & Telfer, 2008, p.4). Britton through his journal draws the fact that colonialism is a major key in how much development takes place in a certain country. Colonization is defined as the invasion and control of other people’s resources and land. During colonization, the original population is kicked out of large plots of land and settlers from another country occupying their land (Mowforth & Munt, 2003, p. 73). Britton also argues that, colonial and imperial domination has largely contributed to the downfall of many underdeveloped countries especially during the post-colonial period. Many post-colonized countries have close ties with the government of the countries that colonized them. However, according to Britton, this benefits the underdeveloped countries and offers them a chance to flourish due to these benefits since members of the ruling class bear the power required in dealing with the foreign government representatives and officials of the industry itself. According to Britton, many underdeveloped nations use tourism in generating foreign exchange as well as increasing employment opportunities that attract development capital. Therefore, these underdeveloped countries mainly target tourists from these developed countries since they are seen as higher valued in terms of tourism (Kunkel, 2008, p. 37). In order for the underdeveloped nations, to develop a strong tourist economy they have to be rely on the developed nations since capital from foreign tourism is necessary and beneficial to any developing nation. Therefore, post-colonial countries always seek overseas investments in order to aid them in developing tourism plans. Due to this, many underdeveloped nations have developed business ties with developed countries that are their major tourists since they largely assist them in raising revenue (Lea, 1988, p. 27). Additionally, Briton states the fact that third world countries do not have a choice but to accept the high degree of foreign possession, and retention of tourist guidelines in their own tourism sectors. This is due to a leakage of foreign exchange earnings; this means that profit earned by these companies in the underdeveloped countries go back to the country of origin of all those companies’ owners (Theobald, 2004, p. 40). It is also stated Broham also concurs with Britton stating that high rates of foreign ownership contribute to the loss of control over the local resources. Britton formulated models, which depict tourists’ patterns in the developing countries. An example of these models is the enclave model, shows that the flow of tourists is controlled by the metropolitan corporations that result in spending majority of money and time within the corporate organizations and just a small segment of tourists venture in the subsequent sectors where lower class individuals who run their tourism business. The model excellently suggests why developing countries are doing well in the tourism sector. It also indicates that wealth does not benefit the government, but large organizations their own businesses. Britton’s models are excellent in understanding the reasons why underdeveloped countries are straining with the tourism sector. The model largely focuses on the implications of high amount of the foreign ownership and his models do not consider other factors. For instance, Broham insists additional factors, which can fluctuate earnings include seasonality, increase in crime rate, environmental damages, loss of non-renewable resources and global recession (Broham, 1996, p. 53). When these points are put in to consideration, the model becomes too basic go hand in hand with a variety of the developmental problem and does not address major issues that are associated with many underdeveloped nations when dealing with the tourism sector. The third world has not been able to break the Britton’s theory since the underdeveloped countries rely on the developed countries for foreign exchange through tourism. They have not been able to break ties with their colonials since they benefit from them. Britton’s theory is applicable today since, in the underdeveloped countries, big organizations have established businesses whereby they collect most revenue and not the government (Sofield, 2003, p. 37). Therefore, the major commercial earnings cater for the interests foreign and local elites. Majority of locals only participate in tourism in their own countries through small petty retail, artisan enterprises and wage labor employment. Therefore, their generation of income is limited since the large corporations pick up the best jobs. Additionally, there exists other mechanisms that govern the incorporation of the third world countries in the international travel trade, which has been a historical experience of countries. If a third world nation has been dominated by foreign capital previously there is a greater probability of attaining a successful tourism industry (Raina & Agarwal, 2004, p. 69). International tourism is a product of urban affluence and enterprise. In determining the characteristics and organization of tourism in underdeveloped nations, metropolitan tourism capital is important. In conclusion, Britton’s theory is essential in explaining a number of developmental problems that are attributed to undeveloped countries and the tourism industry in that country. However, in most instances the approaches of Britton are used in almost all underdeveloped countries. Through his journal, Britton has outlined what he feels about the development of a country and what it requires in order to establish them in the tourism market globally. References Britton, S. (1982) the Political Economy of Tourism in the Third World. 9 (3), PP 331-358, SCIENCEDIRECT [Online]. Retrieved on 4th November 2013 from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0160738382900184 Broham, H. (1996) New Direction in Tourism for Third World Development. 23 (1), PP 48-70, SCIENCEDIRECT [Online]. Retrieved on 4th November 2013 from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0160738395000437 Huybers, T. (2007). Tourism in developing countries. Cheltenham [etc.: Elgar. Kunkel, L. M. (2008). International tourism policy and the role of governments in tourism in the context of sustainability: [essay]. Mu?nchen: Grin Verlag. Lea, J. P. (1988). Tourism and development in the Third World. London: Routledge. Mowforth , M., & Munt, I. (2003). Tourism and sustainability: development and new tourism in the Third World. New York, NY, Routledge. Raina, A. K., & Agarwal, S. K. (2004). The essence of tourism development: Dynamics, philosophy and strategies. New Delhi: Sarup. Sharpley, R., & Telfer, D. J. (2008). Tourism and development in the developing world. London: Routledge. Sofield, T. H. B. (2003). Empowerment for sustainable tourism development. Amsterdam: Pergamon. Theobald, W. F. (2004). Global tourism. Maryland Heights, MO: Butterworth-Heinemann. Read More