How Urban Tourism Has Benefited Dalston - Essay Example

Urban tourism Exploration of how urban tourism benefits deprived neighbourhoods in reference to Dalston Introduction Urban tourism has been a consistent theme in the development of tourism exploration since the 1990s. Urban tourism is described as the set of tourist activities or resources located in cities and towns but offered to visitors from without the city or town. Urban tourism remains an indispensable element in economic and social regeneration of the neighbourhoods such as Dalston. Dalston is a ward in the London Borough of Hackney, north-east London (Jones & Woodward, 2010). Identified as one of coolest areas in London, Dalston is located close to the Hackney museum and the cultural heritage resources museum that acts as important tourist destination sites. The paper shall candidly and comprehensively elucidate how urban tourism in Hackney has affected the neighbourhood of Dalston by exploring how it has led to economic and social regeneration as well as worsening of the region. Urban tourism, along with finance and other commercial services are among the fastest developing components of individual service sectors. According to Swarbrooke, “in recent years, rapid social and economic change has transformed the economies of many cities in the developed world” (1999, p. 173). These changes resulted in the reduction of traditional industries in which these towns relied on. As a result, the government has been made to seek for new sources of employment opportunities to boost economy (Hayllar, Giffin and Edwards, 2010). Dalston’s is currently filled with discotheques, restaurants, and walking in the ward, full of life, is now an exciting experience (Roberts & Eldridge, 2009). Statistics connotes that the ward’s population escalation is due to increase in such businesses that presented investment opportunities. Apparently, 65%+ of the residents are currently accessing better state-sponsored social services that were unheard of several years ago and this is wholly attributable to the need to improve the structure in the region owing to the region’s increasing economic importance (Jones & Woodward, 2010). Moreover, affordability of residential houses has increased as many investors have invested in real estates in an effort to provide accommodation to the increasing number of tourists, with only a few individuals having to pay rent of more than 62.50 pounds. Moreover,“Urban tourism contributes to the neighbourhood’s integration into the mainstream economy and society” (Hunning & Novy, 2006, p. 11). Many tourism analysts have studied the different impacts of urban tourism and dubbed it as a multiplier effect, but depending on the tourism context, the economic impacts vary and while this effect has been felt in Dalston due to the sporting activity and other urban tourism activities, the inflation and deflation consequences of tourism remain largely neglected (Lash & Urry, 1999, p. 182). Additionally, urban tourism has catalysed the improvement and development of infrastructure, specifically roads and power supply, and policies that bolster environmental conservation in Dalston. The town management had to adopt effective strategies that would stimulate quick infrastructural development to signal transport and access in the region as well as advertising Dalston to urban tourists. Moreover, environmental policies were restructured to ensure that the policies implemented encourage the development of an ample and sustainable environment that bolsters urban tourism. Such infrastructural developments benefited the residents of Dalston as overall approachability of the region improved. Additionally, the sustainable environment created is beneficial to the residents as it provides basic survival to the residents by guaranteeing that there is fresh air and clean water. Consequently, the adversities of environmental degradation were significantly encumbered. The increase in number of divorced individuals and low number of stable marriages in Dalston indicate the negative effect of urban tourism on the society. Nevertheless, the current level of the above social demographics is currently low as compared to its level several years ago when urban tourism in Hackey was underdeveloped. Moreover, while the employment levels might be perceived as having increased due to jobs created in the region, Dalston’s population escalated and the comparative level of employment declined. Unemployment continues being a disparaging factor that is impeding the welfare of the region. However, as urban tourism grows, research indicates that many youths are obtaining jobs in the tourism sector, hence the level of unemployment are plummeting. In 2013, for instance, Dalston’s unemployment rate stood at 7.6% as compared to the London-wide regular rate of 3.5% (Maitland & Newman, 2009). This rate is significantly low as compared to an unemployment rate of 11.2% recorded in Dalston in 2010. In Dalston, urban tourism has been identified as an important element in economic development. The developments in Dalston have been pivotal especially now with the development of centres of renewal and the developments of waterfronts (Judd & Fainstein, 1999). There are also upgrades of housing and schools, where more children in the large city of Hackney and Dalston attained 5 or more GCSE’s in subjects including mathematics and English so as to take advantage of emerging opportunities that required academic certificates (Smith, 2006. Moreover, more novices attained advanced education as revenues collected from urban tourism was reinvested. Apart from the revenue and publicity to the community, urban tourism has shaped Dalston’s reputation and shaped awareness of the public and other influential actors within the town. Urban tourism is accredited for the transformation of the communal culture and historical resources. However, many observers have raised eyebrows on this state of development. They have raised concerns and questions about the exploitation of Dalston’s local recognition, and another worry is the damage caused on the neighbourhood’s integrity (Law, 2002). Dalston carries a narrative of a successful tourist attraction city, there is another hidden side which comprises of severe challenges. Brabazon points out that “Dalston has one of the worst deprivation and poverty rates in Europe” (2013, p.18). It experiences high rates of poor health and diseases, the life expectancy is low and the rate of crime is high. All these occur at the expense of a high budget targeted at promoting the portrait of Dalston as a tourist attraction city. Many parts of Dalston need immediate attention. It contains most of impoverished neighbourhoods, experiences decay and escalating ill health. In a city like Dalston that has so much being deprived, there are assumptions of irresponsible brand campaigns that are arguably dangerous. According to Richards, the benefits due to urban tourism may be difficult to compute because tourists in urban areas are difficult to measure (2001). This is also caused by the multiplier effects of visitors to the locality (Richards, 2001). The benefits of tourism range from the fact that they cause visitor expenditure hence tourism income, creation of job opportunities, renaissance of buildings and localities, improvement in environmental excellence, creation of positive image for the society and improvement of quality life of the community (Montgomery, 2003). The contribution of urban tourism to a local economy is very pervasive. In the United Kingdom, urban tourism is used as a tool to alleviate the socio-economic issues of the UK’s industrialised cities. The urban tourism definition places urban tourism in a strategic framework whereby culture is either a motivational factor, or a basis for attracting tourists (Mckercher and Cros, 2012). However, a critical analysis of Dalston’s demographics indicates a contrary trend. The social status has deteriorated significantly as compared to the whole of Hackney and London. Urban tourism activities, as a matter of fact, have stigmatized the neighbourhood in recent years, due to the increased interest of tourists. Within a shortest range of time, Hackney has evolved into an internationally recognized tourist’s destination and this significantly affected Dalston, one of its most densely populated but deprived ward (Richards & Wilson, 2007). It has attracted people from different social and cultural backgrounds with its historical sites and its neighbourhood slums. Initially, Dalston had limited and underwhelming number of visitors (Heeley, 2011). This is especially due to the fact that it has all the elements necessary to support successful tourism. The image of Dalston can be compared to that of Harlem. Harlem’s improved image is associated with a greater appreciation and valorisation of the neighbourhood’s culture and history. However, cultural disintegration has become a reality in Dalston with more than 68% of the population having adapted different cultures and norms (Montgomery, 2003). The result is a fragmented society where morality and ethics are ignored as though they never existed. Consequently, Dalston records a 6% increase in crime rate every year, a demoralizing trend that threatens the harmonious lifestyle desired by Dalston residents (Montgomery, 2003). Moreover, even though the effects of deindustrialization had been managed and alleviated in other industrialized areas, Dalston has lost a significant number of work opportunities. According to Varey and Piuson, the traditional industries declined as the stable and well-paid work opportunities fell (2013). The decline could not even be offset by other growing employment services (Varey and Piuson, 2013).Together with the shift in economic situation, there have been waves of regeneration policies aiming at addressing growing inequalities and catered towards physical improvements. The assumption is that economic growth geared through physical regeneration creates employment opportunities. With all the decades of investments, inhabitants of Dalston still languish in poverty; “recent statistics indicated that the percentage of people living in relative poverty is 17%, while income inequality has increased since 2004/2005” (Varey and Piuson, 2013, p. 86). Dalston has been developed into a city of consumption; it is comprised of several consumption outlets that greatly compel people to consume. From an economic perspective, increase in consumption leads to economic growth but this has not been the case in Dalston where people spend more than the meagre incomes that they earn. During the re-branding of a city, the service is extended to the neighbourhood. Their local culture is re-branded only if it fits the brand, otherwise they are simply removed from the imagery and promotion, and this is exactly what has been witnessed in Dalston (Montgomery, 2003). Debates surrounding the true employment of the local people points out that they are disadvantaged because they are unlikely to meet the qualification and skill criteria. The remaining job opportunities are mostly poorly remunerated and lack both stability and security hence hard to lift people out of poverty. According to Brabazon “with emerging and development projects focused on outsiders, current patterns of city inequality are aggravated.” (2013, p. 25). Urban tourism, if well planned, developed and managed provides lot of benefits not only to the urban societies, but also to the state. The developments through such tourism can be used to develop new cultural and commercial facilities; this benefits both the residents and the tourists (Richards & Wilson, 2007). The finances acquired through urban tourism can be used for the preservation of natural, archaeological and historical monuments (Popescu and Corbos, n.d.). The concept of urban tourism is one of the reasons for the improvement of the economies in Europe. Other associated advantages are creation of new work places, new investment opportunities, increase in income and improvement of life standards. In conclusion, urban tourism in Dalston had mixed advantages and disadvantages depending on the magnitude of the impact. Although people had been deprived due to relocation for the sake of the city’s expansion, the revenue collected was in the long run beneficial to them. However, in terms of employment, the community could not compete with those in the city due to the unbalanced education and qualification levels. The benefits of urban tourism are physically and economically visible. Noteworthy, despite the trivial negative impacts that urban tourism has had on Dalston, it has significantly benefited the ward by reducing unemployment, accelerating economic growth, improving the ward’s infrastructure and environment, improving educational levels and facilities and increased revenues to Dalston’s authorities (Richards & Wilson, 2007). This revenue has been reinvested and has significantly improved the regions reputation and attractiveness. Given the developmental plan put in place for the growth of Dalston, the community will have better and justified share of what has been taken from them. Considering the many benefits that urban tourism has had on the deprived Dalston, this research, therefore, reccomends that the local authorities in Dalston continue embracing urban tourism as it will help in encumbering the high poverty levels that are thretening to engrave the region; there is a positive correlation between urban tourism and growth of cities. Evidently, cities need tourists and urban tourism must be upheld through effective management and restructuring of cities, government support and subsidies to stimulate the growth and development of urban tourism. References Brabazon, T., 2013. City Imaging: Regeneration, Renewal and Decay. London: Springer Science & Business Media. Caves, R. W., 2005. Encyclopedia of the City. Milton Park: Taylor & Francis. Hayllar, B., Griffin, T. and Edwards, D., 2008. City Spaces-Tourist Places. Burlington: Routledge. Heeley, J., 2011. Inside City Tourism. Bristol: Channel View Publications. Huning, S. and Novy, J., 2006. Tourism as an Engine of Neighbourhood Regeneration? Some Remarks Towards a Better Understanding of Urban Tourism Beyond the ‘Beaten Path’. [pdf] Berlin: Center for Metropolitan Studies. Available at: [Accessed 10 October 2014]. Jones, E., & Woodward, C. (2010). A guide to the architecture of London. London: Seven Dials. Judd, D. and Fainstein. S.,1999. The Tourist City London: Yale University Press. Lash, S. and Urry, J., 1999. Economies of Signs and Space London: Sage. Law, C. M., 2002. Urban Tourism. Ontario: Continuum Publishers. Maitland, R. and Newman, P., 2009. World Tourism Cities: Developing Tourism off the Beaten Track London: Routledge. Manley, D. et al., 2013. Neighbourhood Effects or Neighbourhood Based Problems? New York: Springer Science & Business Media. Mckercker, B. and Cros, H. D., 2012. Cultural Tourism. Oxon: Routledge. Montgomery, J.2003. Cultural Quarters as Mechanisms for Urban Regeneration. Part 1. Conceptualising Cultural Quarters Planning Practice and Research 18:4 293-306. Patel, K. K., 2013. The Cultural Politics of Europe. London: Routledge. Popescu R. I. and Corbos, R A., n.d. The Role of Urban Tourism in the Strategic Development of Brasov Area. [pdf] Available at: [Accessed 10 October 2014]. Richards G and Wilson J [ed.] 2007. Tourism, Creativity and Development London: Routledge. Richards, G., 2001. Cultural Attractions and European Tourism. Oxfordshire: CABI. Ritchie, B. W. and Adair, D., 2004. Sport Tourism: Interrelationships, Impacts and Issues. Clevedon: Channel View Publications. Roberts, M. and Eldridge, A., 2009. Planning the Night-time City London: Routledge. Rogerson, C. M. and Visser, G., 2007. Urban Tourism in the Developing World. Cape Town: Transaction Publishers. Roy, K. C., and Tisdell, C. A., 1998. Tourism in India’s Economic Development. New York: Nova Publishers. Sharpley, R. and Telfer, D. J., 2002. Tourism and Development. Bristol: Channel View Publications. Smith, M. K., 2006. Tourism, Culture and Regeneration Wallingford; Cambridge, MA Swarbrooke, J., 1999. Sustainable Tourism Management. Oxfordshire: CABI. Tallon, A., 2010. Urban Regeneration in the UK London: Routledge. Read More