Island tourism development on the pulau segayang, riau, indonesia

My research chronicles the impacts and changes that are taking place on a particular tropical island – Pulau Segayang, Riau, Indonesia, which is currently undergoing tourism development

ISLAND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT ON

PULAU SEGAYANG, RIAU, INDONESIA

2007

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Returning to study after a period of being away has been difficult but challenging This endeavour has been a pleasant and rewarding journey due to the support of many people and I would like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to:

My supervisor, Associate Professor Wong Poh Poh, for his guidance and advice throughout my candidature, without whom I would be struggling to achieve a focus in

Sarah for teaching me how to draw my own maps;

Chih Yuan, Songguang, Harng Luh, Monica, Daryl & Desmond not only for their immense help in my adjustment as a student but also for the endless laughter and fun that we’ve shared;

My family, for understanding my pursuit of being a life-long student;

And finally to Germaine, for your support, thank you

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS i

TABLE OF CONTENTS ii

SUMMARY vi

LIST OF TABLES vii

LIST OF FIGURES viii

LIST OF PLATES ix

LIST OF BOXES x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background 1

1.1.1 Island Tourism Development in Indonesia 3

1.1.2 Island Tourism Development in Riau, Indonesia 5

1.1.3 Island Tourism Development on Pulau Segayang, Riau, Indonesia 9

1.2 Aim & Objectives 12

1.3 Overview of Chapters 13

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW & CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 16

2.1 Introduction 16

2.1.1 Overview of Chapter Two 16

2.2 Islands 17

2.2.1 Island Geography 17

2.2.2 The Lure of Islands 20

2.3 Island Tourism Development 22

2.3.1 Island Resorts – Tourism Development at the Pleasure Periphery 25

2.3.2 Sustainable Island Tourism Development 28

2.3.3 Nature-Based Tourism & Ecotourism 31

2.4 Voices That Care 34

2.4.1 Island Tourists 35

2.4.2 Local Communities 37

2.4.3 Entrepreneurs & Tour Operators 40

2.4.4 Governmental Interests 42

2.4.5 Environmental Concerns 44

2.5 Conceptual Framework 48

2.6 Chapter Summary 51

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 53

3.1 Introduction 53

3.2 Research Methods 54

3.2.1 Interviews 58

3.2.2 Quantitative Survey 61

3.2.3 Group Discussions & Contributions from CJC Students 63

3.2.4 Field Observations 64

3.2.5 Descriptive Analysis of Physical Changes & Impacts 65

3.3 Personal Reflections 67

3.4 Chapter Summary 70

CHAPTER FOUR: ENTREPRENEURIAL ROLE & VISION 72

4.1 Introduction 72

4.2 Entrepreneurship & Management 72

4.2.1 Personal Philosophy & Operational Visions 72

4.2.2 Development Model of Coral Cove Resort 76

4.3 Resort Staff 78

4.3.1 Staff Profile 78

4.3.2 Duties & Operational Responsibilities 80

4.3.3 Staff-Guests Interactions 81

4.4 Resort Infrastructure 82

4.4.1 Accommodation – Rooms on Land & Sea Village 82

4.4.2 Kitchen & Common Dining Area 90

4.4.3 Kelong & Jetty 92

4.4.4 Power Generation – Electricity 95

4.4.5 Freshwater Wells 95

4.4.6 Waste Management – Septic Tanks & Landfills 97

4.5 Impact on Island Environment 100

4.6 Lesson Learnt for Resort Management 104

4.6.1 Waste Management 104

4.6.2 Managing Financial Expenditure 105

4.7 Chapter Summary 107

CHAPTER FIVE: ISLAND NEIGHBOURS & GUESTS 108

5.1 Introduction 108

5.2 Island Neighbours 108

5.2.1 Pulau Petong 110

5.2.2 Involvement of Local Communities 113

5.2.3 Peripheral Isolation 118

5.3 Island Tourists 120

5.3.1 Profile of Guests to Pulau Segayang 120

5.3.2 The Lure of Pulau Segayang 123

5.3.3 Marketing & Promotion 126

5.3.4 Environmental Education 129

5.4 Chapter Summary 133

CHAPTER SIX: EXTERNAL INFLUENCES 135

6.1 Introduction 135

6.2 Governmental Influences 136

6.2.1 Island Tourism in Indonesia 136

6.2.2 Relevant Government Agencies 140

6.2.3 Foreign Ownership & Legal Issues 143

6.3 Dive/Fishing & Tour Operators 147

6.4 Chapter Summary 151

CHAPTER SEVEN: CONCLUSION 152

7.1 Island Tourism Development on Pulau Segayang 152

7.1.1 Recommendations 157

7.2 Concluding Words 159

REFERENCES 161

Appendix I: Questionnaire for Guests of Coral Cove Resort 180

SUMMARY

Tropical islands are the epitome symbol of paradise and carefree relaxation, and at the same time are repositories for fragile ecosystems The combination of the tourism industry plus the physical systems on an island brings with it a host of issues and problems in the management and operation of tourism, and its reconciliation with the natural environment Unfortunately, we still have little understanding of these issues and problems My research chronicles the impacts and changes that are taking place

on a particular tropical island – Pulau Segayang, Riau, Indonesia, which is currently undergoing tourism development by way of an island resort, Coral Cove Resort- to develop a better understanding of these interrelated changes The aims of this research are to examine in-depth the development of island tourism on one of Riau’s smaller islands; uncover the significant issues that impact upon the physical, cultural, political and economic spheres that interact through the development of island tourism on Pulau Segayang; and highlight the lessons learnt that may be applicable in developing

a nature-based island tourism development model for the Riau islands

Keywords: Riau, island tourism development, nature-based tourism

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1-1: Visitor Arrivals to Indonesia 2000 - 2006 5

Table 2-1: Assessing Island Tourism Development 24

Table 2-2: Research Approaches on Island Resorts 27

Table 2-3: Examples of Sustainable Island Tourism Development Strategies 30

Table 2-4: Local Communities & Island Tourism 38

Table 3-1: Summary of Research Trips & Objectives 55

Table 3-2: Research Methods Employed 57

Table 3-3: List of Interviewees 60

Table 3-4: Presence-Absence Test of Coliform Bacteria in Pulau Segayang’s Freshwater Sources 67

Table 4-1: Staff Duties 80

Table 4-2: Rooms & Occupancy Potential of Coral Cove Resort 83

Table 4-3: Impacts from the Development of Coral Cove Resort on Pulau Segayang .100

Table 4-4: Utilising Sustainable Tourism Development Indicators 102

Table 4-5: Developing Pulau Segayang’s Waste Management System 105

Table 5-1: Profile of Guests to Coral Cove Resort who were Surveyed 121

Table 5-2: Factors in Choosing Pulau Segayang as an Island Holiday Destination 124

Table 5-3: Different Ways Guests are Introduced to Coral Cove Resort 127

Table 5-4: Price Structure for Guests to Coral Cove Resort 128

Table 5-5: Students’ Responses to their Experience on the Island 133

Table 6-1: Comparison of Four Indonesian Island Tourism Development Models 138

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1-1: Map of Indonesia 4

Figure 1-2: Context Map Showing Riau Islands, Indonesia and Singapore 6

Figure 1-3: Map of Riau Islands 7

Figure 1-4: Island Sketch of Pulau Segayang 10

Figure 2-1: Situating Island Tourism within Lawton & Weaver’s (2000) Tourism Continuum 32

Figure 2-2: Symbiotic Relationships in Ecotourism 34

Figure 2-3: Pulau Segayang’s Island Tourism Development Framework 49

Figure 4-1: Mr Ng’s Indonesia & Singapore Linkages 75

Figure 4-2: Layout of Rooms 84

Figure 4-3: Layout Plan of Beach Room 86

Figure 5-1: Map Depicting Pulau Petong’s Three Villages 111

Figure 7-1: Timeline of Development Changes on Pulau Segayang 154

LIST OF PLATES

Plate 3-1: LaMotte Coliform Test Kit – Unused Test Tubes 66

Plate 3-2: Positive Coliform Test Result 67

Plate 4-1: Overview of Beach Rooms on Land Facing South 85

Plate 4-2: Beach Rooms 86

Plate 4-3: Jetty Rooms 88

Plate 4-4: Toilet Facilities with Decorative Coral Shells 89

Plate 4-5: Construction of the Longhouse 90

Plate 4-6: Completed Longhouse 90

Plate 4-7: Common Dining Area 92

Plate 4-8: Outdoor Veranda Attached to the Dining Area 92

Plate 4-9: Pulau Segayang’s Second Kelong 93

Plate 4-10: Wooden Poles Utilised in the Construction of the Kelong and Jetty 94

Plate 4-11: Raising the Kelong Net 94

Plate 4-12: Two Freshwater Wells 96

Plate 4-13: Septic Drum Under Jetty Room 98

Plate 4-14: Disposal of Solid Waste on Pulau Segayang 99

Plate 5-1: Housing Conditions in Pulau Petong 111

Plate 5-2: Petong Timur 112

Plate 5-3: Sekolar Dasar Galang 113

Plate 5-4: CJC Students Interacting with the Children of Pulau Petong 116

Plate 5-5: Preparing Clothes for Donation 116

LIST OF BOXES

Box 2-1: Definitions of Islands 18

Box 2-2: Unique Characteristics of Islands 19

Box 2-3: Factors that Enhance the Appeal of Islands as a Tourist Destination 20

Box 2-4: Definitions of Ecotourism 33

Box 2-5: Characteristics of Island Tourists 36

Box 2-6: Tour Operators’ Areas of Concern 41

Box 2-7: Environmental Impacts of Tourism Development 45

Box 3-1: LaMotte Coliform Indicator Test Kit 66

Box 5-1: Background to the NYAA Programme 131

1CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Tropical islands are the epitome symbol of paradise and carefree relaxation, and at the

same time are repositories for fragile ecosystems With defined physical boundaries

and clear-cut separation between land and water, an island presents a spatial boundary

that is often perceived as different, unique and with a hint of mystery and adventure

(King 1993, Lockhart 1997) This fascination of islands - built upon the image of

islands as paradise havens, compounded not only by advertising media, but also

through popular literature, artistic expressions and academic studies – has contributed

to the ever-increasing popularity of island destinations within the tourism industry

(Baum 1997, Gössling 2003b, King 1997) This popularity is especially so in tropical

islands which ‘embodies the central holiday aspirations of western consumers’ (King

1997, p.2)

The importance of tourism to island destinations and the people living on islands thus

cannot be understated A few quick figures will suffice to highlight the economic

importance of tourism to island destinations For example, the Caribbean islands

received over 16 million tourists in 2001, which is more than the tourists received in

South America and Central America combined (Croes 2006) In monetary terms,

tourists to the Caribbean islands spent a total of US$19.2 billion, while tourists to the

Oceania island nations (which includes Fiji and the Kiribati islands) spent US$22.3

billion in 2004 (World Tourism Organization 2005) Indonesia, an archipelago nation,

welcomed in 2004 over five million visitors to its numerous island destinations

(Ministry of Culture and Tourism 2006), while the island nation of Singapore played

host to eight million visitors in 2005 (Singapore Department of Statistics 2006)

High monetary contributions and a large influx of visitors are dynamic factors that affect local communities and natural environments The combination of the tourism industry plus the ecological and physical systems on an enclosed island environment brings with it a host of issues and problems in the management and operation of tourism, and its reconciliation with the natural environment Unfortunately, we still have little understanding of many of these issues and problems This lack of understanding then opens the path for research that seeks to understand these dynamic interactions and relationships that occur through the development of island tourism Small island tourism, in particular, presents a site specific and highly dynamic area of focus to better understand the entire tourism development process, and to subsequently utilise the information gathered for future planning and management (McElroy 2006, Tisdell 1993) Studies on small-scale island tourism in Southeast Asia (for example Bras and Dahles 1999, Cohen 1996 Chapter 7 & 8, Long and Wall

1995, Long and Wall 1996, Wall 1996) have introduced the multitude of issues that surround the island tourism industry; yet there have been few studies (for example Kenji and Siegel 1990, Wrangham 1999) that describe in detail the development processes that takes place on isolated, peripheral small islands that have seen tourism developments through the vision of a single entrepreneur

This research will address the above gap by detailing the island tourism development process of a small Indonesian island, Pulau Segayang, in the Riau province – specifically the island’s resort, Coral Cove Resort, which was initiated and managed mostly through the vision of a private entrepreneur (in this case a foreign,

Singaporean entrepreneur) Coral Cove Resort and its development experience was chosen as a research focus as the resort begun operations almost at the same time as I started out my Master’s program and thus allowed for the exploration of its evolution roughly from its inception (a few months before guests start visiting the island resort) Additionally, after the initial site inspection trip, the important role of the private entrepreneur – Mr Ng - was discerned as I noticed how involved he was in every aspect of the resort’s operation and management I felt that the evolutionary and development experiences of this small-scale private resort might provide an interesting and unique field site to study in detail the evolutionary changes that have taken place through the forces of entrepreneurship and tourism development

1.1.1 Island Tourism Development in Indonesia

Indonesia is a country that stretches from Aceh in the west to Irian Jaya in the east (Figure 1-1) It is made up of over 17,000 islands, covers an area that is nearly two million km² and is divided up into 30 provinces Over 200 million people live in Indonesia (Statistics Indonesia 2006a), who are unevenly distributed across the nation, concentrating in Javanese cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya and Semarang, leaving other areas in the outer islands to be unpopulated or sparsely populated in comparison, and subsequently, undeveloped (Tan and Lim 1992)

Figure 1-1: Map of Indonesia (source: adapted from WorldAtlas.com 2007)

There is immense potential for Indonesia to develop its tourism base to cater to a diverse group of holiday-makers, supporting a wide range of experiences This

potential was identified in Repelita V (the fifth Five Year National Development Plan) and Repelita VI which stated the importance of tourism in bringing about national

economic development (Sofield 1995) Tourism figures are encouraging though the fluctuations on arrivals and expenditure could signify the need for additional promotion to attract more tourists and to redefine the nation’s diverse tourism products (Table 1-1) The upcoming ‘Visit Indonesia Year 2008’ campaign is expected to boost visitor arrivals up to 6 million, and is hopeful that there will be a simultaneous increase in development and infrastructural projects that will benefit both tourists and residents (The Jakarta Post 13/06/07)

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Table 1-1: Visitor Arrivals to Indonesia 2000 - 2006

AVERAGE EXPENDITURE/PERSON

(US $)

YEAR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS

PER VISIT PER DAY

AVG

STAY IN DAY(S)

FOREIGN EXCHANGE INCOME (Million US$)

(source: Ministry of Culture and Tourism 2006)

Recently, the Indonesian government has expressed interests in leasing islands to boost tourism as they recognise the potential of tropical islands as a favoured destination spot for holiday-makers (Osman 2006a) The tourist appeal of Indonesia’s numerous islands range from natural attractions such as volcanoes, white, sandy beaches, and unique endemic creatures (for example the kodomo dragon); to socio-

cultural attractions such as distinctive dances, martial arts performances (silat) and puppet shows (wayang kulit); to historical sites such as World Heritage areas at

Borobudur (Wall 1996)

1.1.2 Island Tourism Development in Riau, Indonesia

The Riau Islands Province, Kepulauan Riau (Kepri), was recently created in 2004 and

consists of the group of Riau islands that are separated from Sumatra (Figure 1-2) The province is made up of over 3,000 islands in varying degrees of development and settlement (Statistics Indonesia 2006b), and includes the larger islands of Bintan, Batam, Karimun, Lingga and Natuna Regency, plus numerous small islands Tourism development was a key feature in the economic development plans for the Riau Islands many years back (Mahendra et al 1997, Wiluan 1991) and it is similarly on

the agenda with the current Governor’s office (Bujang 1998, Hudoyo 2006, Rabin 2005) and with Batam Industrial Development Authority (BIDA 2003, BIDA 2006) However, the ubiquitous presence and financial gains of economic development can hardly be seen beyond the controlled settings of the integrated resorts on Bintan or the industrial landscape of Batam This is despite the fact that the Riau Islands hold potential growth possibilities for tourism development based on the natural and unique landscape of numerous isolated plus uninhabited tropical islands that are characterised by well-developed beaches, vast coral reefs, rugged hills and abundant tropical rainforests A further advantage that the Riau Islands hold is its close proximity to a number of large cities (especially Singapore), and its accessibility from Batam due to the Trans-Barelang Road, which links the larger islands of Batam, Rempang and Galang through a series of six architectural bridges that also serve as a tourist attraction (Figure 1-3) Instead, what is available along the Trans-Barelang Road is a handful of seafood restaurants, a small museum at the former Vietnamese Refugee Camp, and numerous temporary stalls selling drinks, snacks and barbequed corn congregated along the main bridges of the Trans-Barelang Road

Figure 1-2: Context Map Showing Riau Islands, Indonesia and Singapore (source: adapted from

Periplus 2002)

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Figure 1-3: Map of Riau Islands (source: adapted from Periplus 2002)

The Riau Islands and Singapore have a co-dependent history that go back to the 1700s, based on trade, immigration and nationalist evolutions within the region (Wee 2002) Today, Singapore and Riau are still linked closely together economically though the progress of Singapore’s economy has far surpassed the Riau experience (Ford and Lyonst 2006) Riau is also a third of the Johor-Singapore-Riau Growth Triangle that was established in 1990 to form a dynamic region that could capitalise

on each other’s comparative advantage to boost individual economic development (Kumar 1994) Riau’s comparative advantage consists of a ready supply of cheap and abundant labour, alongside vast and affordable land (Mahendra et al 1997), and would thus benefit from the in-pouring of Singaporean investment capital and business acumen The rationale behind the growth triangle led to the establishment of industrial and tourism projects in Riau’s Batam and Bintan islands (Grundy-Warr and Perry 2001, Kumar 1994)

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From 2001, regional autonomy in Indonesia was legitimised and thus paved the way for increased decision-making power and self-governance in areas outside of Java, or specifically, away from the central power of Jakarta (Sulistiyanto and Erb 2005) Thus, in Batam, the agency that is responsible for promoting and developing the islands in the Barelang region is Batam Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) The Barelang region is linked by the Trans-Barelang Road, and is derived from abbreviating the names of the larger islands that are linked through the highway – namely Batam, Rempang and Galang (BIDA 2006) BIDA has recognised the importance of tourism by its significant contribution in related investments and thus has been keen to promote not only Batam but the other islands such as Rempang and Galang for tourism investment prospects (BIDA 2003)

The changing political landscape of increased regional autonomy alongside development plans of increased tourism for the Riau Islands is the background and foundation to what should be a vibrant and engaging tourism landscape across the Barelang region Despite the fact that Batam is the second busiest area for tourists, after Bali, as seen by 2002 visitor figures whereby Batam welcomed 1.10 million visitors (BIDA 2003), tourism development is rarely seen beyond the island of Batam, and is seldom associated with the natural attractions that the region holds, instead focusing on tourism based on the sex industry (Grundy-Warr and Perry 2001, p.74) This is an unfortunate situation as the other islands such as Rempang, Galang, Karimun and Lingga, plus numerous smaller islands, all hold potential for nature-based island tourism due to its well-developed beaches, dramatic rainforests and vibrant coral reefs

However, there is recognition that the Riau Islands hold tourism potential that has yet

to be tapped into (BIDA 2003, Hudoyo 2006, Osman 2006b, Rabin 2005) The path now is to illuminate examples and examine lessons to be learnt from the creation of financially successful business enterprises, which will bring about benefits not only to the local population, but also ensure environmental conservation is achieved This path is what this project proposes to achieve – to ascertain the tourism potential of the Riau Islands through the experience of one particular small island - Pulau Segayang Studies on the Riau Islands have tended to focus on the larger islands of Batam and Bintan, and have neglected the smaller, outer islands which are vastly different and worthy of focused studies as well This is especially so in tourism development studies (for example Henderson 2001, Inskeep and Kallenberger 1992, Litvin and Ng 2001), but is also prevalent in other research areas (for example Mack 2004, Pangestu

1991, Royle 1997) This research will thus focus on a geographical area that has previously been ignored

1.1.3 Island Tourism Development on Pulau Segayang, Riau, Indonesia

Pulau Segayang is situated south-west off from Pulau Galang, the second last of the five islands chain that link Batam to the southern islands via the Trans-Barelang Road (Figure 1-3) The island spreads over 25 acres (0.1km²) and has an adjacent island (Pulau Segayang Bakau) that is about 10 acres (0.04km²) large, with a channel separating the two islands (Figure 1-4) Coral reefs and mangroves surround both islands, whilst tropical rainforest dominate nearly half of Pulau Segayang The island

is also home to a number of resident bird species – including the blue-breasted kingfisher and the Brahmin Kite A third of the island’s coastline is covered with mangrove trees, broken intermittently by four small isolated beaches The southern

portion of the island (where the resort’s infrastructure is mainly located) has a developed white-sand beach that extends out like a sand pit and coral reefs and seagrass beds that stretch out 300 meters from the shoreline At low tide, the corals are exposed, revealing reefs that are made up mostly of dead coral rocks but still support a number of small reef fish and other small marine species

well-Figure 1-4: Island Sketch of Pulau Segayang (source: adapted from Mr Ng, 2005)

Pulau Segayang has recently undergone transformation from a previously uninhabited island to one that is embracing tourism based on scuba diving, fishing, snorkelling and other nature-based activities through the development of a resort – Coral Cove Resort This private enterprise has brought anglers and scuba divers to the Riau Islands and has provided a rustic resort for guests to get away from city life in an isolated and naturalistic setting The resort presents an opportunity for guests to

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engage in nature-based activities and to bring home memories of participating in new and challenging endeavours In addition, the resort has a close relationship with Pulau Petong’s fishing village; a neighbouring island located a short 20 minute boat ride away Guests are encouraged to bring clothing and toys for donation drives in return for a visit to a traditional island fishing village Additionally, there have been a number of Singapore schools that visit Pulau Petong as part of the package trip to Pulau Segayang, and undertake community projects for the villagers (for example, painting houses, conducting surveys, donating gifts etc)

The island and the changes that are currently taking place present an excellent opportunity to follow the progress of island tourism development on one of Riau’s uninhabited islands Many authors have acknowledged that the impacts island tourism development might have on local social and ecological systems are not fully understood, and thus advocated strongly the need for further research (for example Butler 1993, Dolman 1985, Sasidharan and Thapa 2002) Hence, a better understanding of the phenomenon of island tourism, its related impacts, the political support (or lack of) and the motivations behind island tourists leads towards ensuring the continual healthy functioning of island ecosystems and socio-economic communities, whilst simultaneously ensuring that island tourists enjoy a high quality recreational and leisure experience

This research process will hopefully illuminate the viability of tourism based on natural areas, especially on fragile island environments In addition, the difference in the model of tourism development that is taking place on Pulau Segayang as opposed

to mass tourism models that developed in Bintan, Batam and Bali (Knight et al 1997,

Mahendra et al 1997, Wong 2003a) will be compared and examined I hope that this examination of tourism development – one that is focused on providing a quality, natural experience to guests and one that may positively impact upon local communities will be embraced and perpetuated in the larger Riau region Therefore this research will add to a slowly growing pool of research endeavours that seeks to advance our understanding on the dynamics that take place between the tourism industry and natural island environments (Gössling 2002, Hall and Page 2002a) The ever invasive phenomenon of tourism will continue to spread into undeveloped peripheral areas and we need to better understand the possible changes that will occur both to manage the physical and social systems in a more sustainable way and to ensure that we stop despoiling natural areas for our sole economic benefit

1.2 Aim & Objectives

The overarching aim of this research is to understand the tourism processes that take place by studying the island’s tourism evolution in detail This aim is achieved through chronicling the changes that are taking place/have taken place to present an entire picture of the tourism development process and its subsequent impacts and changes experienced on a small island Both the successes and failures will be examined to highlight the lessons learnt and the experiences gained Pulau Segayang’s island tourism development is interesting in its structure (the important role of the private, foreign entrepreneur) and in the relationships that it has developed through the course of time with numerous parties – such as the neighbouring island communities of Pulau Petong This island resort presents an opportunity to identify a particular approach to island tourism that may be replicated in other potential island settings By means of articulating and identifying the interconnected relationships and

• To consequently synthesize these individual processes into a coherent whole;

• To evaluate the physical and socio-economic impacts of island tourism development; and

• To highlight lessons learnt in Pulau Segayang’s experience that may be adopted for future island tourism ventures

1.3 Overview of Chapters

Chapter 2: Literature Review & Conceptual Framework will introduce some of the

past works that have been undertaken with regards to island tourism development, and will highlight some of the issues and problems that have been recognised in past island tourism development endeavours plus the ensuring solutions and adoptions undertaken to resolve such conflicts Through this identification process (of the problems and proposed resolutions from past experiences), my conceptual framework was developed The conceptual framework helped to identify the various components

in Pulau Segayang’s tourism evolution and also played a significant role in guiding

my research process by providing an overarching framework by which to approach

and understand the relationships and connections of Pulau Segayang’s island tourism industry

Chapter 3 – Methodology will both describe and analyse the research process itself

The descriptive role of this chapter will list out the steps taken, from planning to execution to reflection, throughout this research endeavour and is an important feature

of a well-defined and rigorous piece of research The analytical part of this chapter examines the validity and reliability of the research methods utilised plus the data collected and examined

The next three chapters examine the different components of Pulau Segayang’s island

tourism model as identified in the conceptual framework Chapter 4 –

Entrepreneurial Role & Vision describes the development model of the resort and

highlights the importance that the entrepreneurial figure, Mr Ng, has played in this particular tourism development Mr Ng’s role in envisioning the development of a resort that promotes nature-based activities and community projects plus his past experiences in the resort’s development influence how Coral Cove Resort developed its identity and character This influence is showcased in the infrastructural developments that have taken place on the island The physical impacts brought about due to the infrastructural developments will also be examined in this chapter

Chapter 5 – Island Neighbours & Guests will firstly examine the interactions of the

resort with its island neighbour Pulau Petong Whilst Pulau Segayang was previously

an uninhabited island, Pulau Petong houses three different village communities These communities have through the resort’s development interacted with the resort’s

management and staff plus guests in a variety of ways These interactions and their subsequent impacts will be explored in this chapter This chapter also touches on the profile of tourists who visit Pulau Segayang – in particular their expectations, motivations and perceptions of the island This section on island tourists will also introduce the educational value of bringing in school groups and examine the role school groups may play in developing the ecotourism product of the resort

Chapter 6 – External Influences will touch on the regional components of Pulau

Segayang’s island tourism development framework – such as the influence of governmental rule; the role of security forces in legitimising the resort’s operation; plus the cooperative pattern between external tour operators (such as travel agents, dive and fishing operators) and the resort These components will be examined both individually and as a vital element of the resort’s tourism development framework

Finally Chapter 7 – Conclusion will round up the thesis by means of a recap of the

important points and issues covered thus far The individual components examined will then be presented as a holistic island tourism development framework and analysed as a complex whole This chapter will not only reiterate the lessons learnt from Pulau Segayang’s island tourism development experience but will also highlight

a number of recommendations to aid the resort in achieving their stated aims of being

an ecotourism venture This will provide a logical conclusion for the entire research process in terms of a vision for the future based on past experiences This thread of past experiences will now be picked up in the next chapter as a Literature Review of island tourism development

2CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW &

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 Introduction

The advantages and importance of conducting a literature review before embarking upon a novel research initiative are numerous (Veal 1997) A rigorous and well-explored literature review is fundamental towards developing familiarity and expertise between the researcher and the research topic, and to identify missing gaps

of knowledge that require further exploration (Pizam 1994) Therefore, a researched and critically analysed literature review aids me in situating my own research within the academic arena plus highlights the significance of my research Thus, this literature review on island tourism development and the various stakeholders the industry touches upon will entail the conceptual framework and theoretical background which my research will draw from

well-2.1.1 Overview of Chapter Two

Section 2.2 - Islands, will firstly examine the geography of islands that have

contributed to its popularity as a tourist destination I will then draw the link between

these physical attributes and the perceived fascination of islands Section 2.3 Island

Tourism Development describes the various perspectives of island tourism

development with specific focus on island resorts and the paradigm of sustainable

island tourism development Section 2.3 - Voices That Care will introduce the wide

range of stakeholders that are connected to and affected by tourism changes that take place on an island The section title depicts the multitude of ‘voices’ (stakeholders)

that are concerned with island tourism development This multiple stakeholder perspective signifies the dynamism of the tourism industry and highlights the importance of being aware of and sensitive to the different viewpoints involved Perspectives from tour operators to tourists to indigenous communities and the physical environment will be presented Following the complexity of the tourism industry it must be acknowledged that this section is by no means exhaustive though it does try to include as wide and as diverse as possible a range of perspectives to mirror

my holistic attempt at researching island tourism development This chapter will end with a discussion of the conceptual framework devised to help guide this research process

2.2 Islands

2.2.1 Island Geography

Defining islands is neither simple nor straightforward Thresholds at either end of a spectrum based on size, population, political governance and economic capability is often open to debate; additionally time can influence the presence or absence of certain small islands through sea level fluctuations or other physical forces (Doumenge 1985, Royle 2001) Spatial and temporal arguments result in a fluidity of agreement on which isolated landmass may be labelled an island (Box 2-1) This problem of definition is reminiscent of the natural and physical sciences where clear-cut boundaries are often not demarcated and rigid classifications questioned

Box 2-1: Definitions of Islands

“… a piece of land emerging above the surface of the sea at the highest tide surrounded by water on all sides and whose dimensions are smaller than those of a continent” (Doumenge 1985, p.70 )

“An island is a naturally formed area of land, surrounded by water, which is above water at high tide” (United Nations 2001)

“… landmasses surrounded by water which do not possess the geotectonic characteristics of a continent; which exist, have existed or are likely to exist within the ocean basins …” (Nuun 1994, p.3)

“The Scottish Census of 1861 declared that an island was an area of land surrounded

by water inhabited by man where at least one sheep could graze” (King 1993, p.16)

“… many islands can be defined by their small size and isolation in relation to the mainland, thus justifying a special and differential treatment to small island countries” (Wong et al 2005, p.665)

There may or may not be merit in dwelling upon this argument on definition - suffice

it to say, for the purpose of my research, this literature review will examine islands that has a high economic dependence on tourism, and which has experienced resulting changes on the island’s physical, social and economic dynamics Thus, it is an inclusion of islands only not defined by geographic delimitations, but also based on the social and economic linkages of tourism that is important for my analysis However, understanding the geography of island environments is still a significant task to achieve, as the geographical differences of islands versus continental landmasses play an important role in the interrelationships of tourism with the natural and social settings It is the very geographical uniqueness of islands, especially small tropical islands, (Box 2-2) that adds to its tourism appeal and which needs to be acknowledged and recognised Such geographical characteristics, however, are seldom a driving force for urbanised islands, such as Singapore or Hong Kong, which have other factors as points of appeal

Box 2-2: Unique Characteristics of Islands

• Remote in terms of location

• Peripheral to central regions

• Isolation and spatial separation through the medium of water

• Physically small

• Restricted area and definite boundaries

• May be defined as both open and closed physical systems

• Usually associated with white beaches, warm waters, colourful reefs and dramatic landforms, especially tropical islands

• Range of climatic zones within a single island mountain

• Fragile ecological and physical systems

• Vulnerable to sea level changes, erosional and depositional forces, plus natural disasters such as hurricanes, typhoons or cyclones

• Restricted range of species (smaller genetic resource base) plus a high level of endemism, which results in a high susceptibility to invasion from alien species

• Biodiversity hotspots

• Scarcity of fresh water

(Doumenge 1985, Fabbri 1990, Nuun 1994, Royle 2001, Wong 1998b, Wong et al 2005)

The coastal zone - an inherent feature of islands - is a physical attraction in its own right, depicted by the popularity of marine and coastal tourism, and with recreating in the sun, sand and sea (Fabbri 1990, Miller 1993) Additionally the physical separation and remoteness of islands through the medium of the sea translates into an adventure

in the journey itself (Baum 1997) Endemic creatures such as the Tasmanian Devil in Tasmania or the Kiwi in New Zealand also serve as a distinctive tourism product or attraction (Royle 2001) These characteristics enhance the desirability and uniqueness

of islands, and present a different tourism product that is attractive and sought-after

2.2.2 The Lure of Islands

Travel to coastal areas for leisure and recreation existed throughout history (Fabbri

1990, Orams 1999) and is still occurring with much zeal and enthusiasm today (Aguilo et al 2005) The marine environment has established a reputation for successful rest and relaxation, and a host of favoured recreational activities (Fabbri

1990, Miller 1993) As a site for coastal and marine tourism and as a destination draw, islands have also received significant attention from the travel and tourism industry, especially small tropical islands (Baldacchino 2006, Gössling 2003a, World Tourism Organization 2002) Some of the factors attributed to the appeal of recreating on islands are presented in Box 2-3

Box 2-3: Factors that Enhance the Appeal of Islands as a Tourist Destination

• are perceived to possess high environmental quality (Fabbri 1990);

• allow one a chance to experience nature in close proximity (de Albuquerque and McElroy 1995);

• encompass varied landscapes within a single setting (Doumenge 1985);

• are places of ‘rare beauty’ and provide romantic settings that are vividly different from urban and temperate locations (Kenchington 1991, p.63);

• provide ready access to the coastal zone and to the many activities based on the coast and/or the sea; and

• are imagined as unique locations, separated from the mainland and to be inhabited

by exotic cultures and people (Baum 1997, Kim and Uysal 2002)

From Box 2-2 and Box 2-3, we may discern that the unifying characteristic draws of island destinations are the availability to experience natural settings; the associated activities of engaging with the natural environment; and the isolation of island destinations In other words, part of the lure of island destinations is the natural environment and the positive benefits that may be gained from recreating in such surroundings Additionally, the very insularity of islands further develops its romantic appeal of remoteness and the spatial scale of islands allow for the conceptual grasping

of islands as a single definable entity (Butler 1993, King 1993) This perception has been preyed upon and expounded within the marketing and literary circles (Buckley and Araujo 1997, Butler 1993, Royle 2001, Van Duzer 2006), continually reinforcing the appealing qualities of naturalness, isolation and physical separation

Islands thus epitomise the definition of isolated, peripheral areas and are frequently sites whereby nature-based tourism takes place Unfortunately, we not only have limited knowledge on the range of physical and socio-economic impacts that such tourism have on islands, but we also are not fully aware of the intricate relationships that peripheral islands have with their continental and regional developmental strategies, and seldom even acknowledge the fact that many islands are characterised

by their peripheral nature (Blomgren and Sørensen 1998, Hall and Boyd 2005) Peripheral areas are defined by their geographic isolation from mass markets; their weak internal economic linkages; and a high sense of aesthetic value based on the fact that peripheral regions are mostly underdeveloped and are supposedly in a pristine natural state (Garrod and Wilson 2004, Hall and Boyd 2005) The remoteness and peripheral nature of island destinations present a range of transportation, economic and social links with central regions that deserve attention There is value to examine

these centre-periphery relationships, not only individually but also in relation to each other and to other dynamic factors, such as the level of integration of imported social capital with local communities to better understand tourism developments that occur

on island environments, and produce an integrated and critical analysis of island tourism development

2.3 Island Tourism Development

The tourism industry is complex and definitions are an intricate process, particularly

as a multitude of stakeholders are involved, directly and indirectly The omnipresence and indistinctiveness of the tourism industry is compounded by its links to leisure and recreation, and by its provision of goods and services to tourist and non-tourists alike (Miller 1993) This ambiguity is replicated in the island tourism industry, with a diverse array of businesses – from one-person operations such as scuba diving instructors, to island resorts, to large cruise ship companies - that can be included in the assessment Apart from the provision of direct recreational services, the industry also encompasses the hospitality sector, transportation linkages, and infrastructure development These major components – along with the ecological environment – interact with each other over space and time The resulting changes that occurs through tourism development thus needs to be explored and understood in greater detail to achieve development in harmony with the numerous stakeholders and their competing agendas alongside conservation measures for the natural environment

There have been many works that described in detail the tourism development processes that have taken place on island destinations (for example Butler 1993, Wing 1995, Wong 2003a), and a number of perspectives may be adopted when

elucidating the process of island tourism development (Table 2-1) Butler’s (1980) Tourist Area Cycle and Smith’s (1991) Beach Resort Model describe and predict evolutionary changes that take place over space and time Using these two models, it

is possible to situate specific experiences along the developmental curve and to subsequently prepare and manage for future changes and impacts In contrast, the other two examples provide a more conceptual guideline by which island tourism development may be analysed (for example Briguglio et al 1996, Harris 2002) These various perspectives highlight the need to take into account both the ecological and social milieu to illuminate the complexity and dynamism of the development process There is thus a need to incorporate numerous stakeholders and perspectives

in the examination of island tourism’s development issues (McElroy and de Albuquerque 2002, van den Bergh 2000), which is the path that my research will undertake The development process may differ for different destinations and it is important to consider which perspective would duly suit the objectives of specific studies For example, Pulau Segayang would not have gone through the exploration

or involvement stages of Butler’s Tourist Area Cycle as it is located on a previously uninhabited island and is not accessible to the general public; additionally the Beach Resort Model is also not applicable as Coral Cove Resort is a single resort on a private island and the island would not see additional developments from external parties Instead, adopting a political ecology perspective to understand conflicts over natural resource use or the use of sustainable island tourism development to encourage management and operational initiative may be more applicable

Table 2-1: Assessing Island Tourism Development

Development Perspectives Main Characteristics

Morphological & Landscape

Development - Beach Resort Model

(Smith 1991, Wong 1998a)

• 8 stages – pre-tourism datum, second homes, first hotel, resort established, business district established, inland hotels, transformation, city resort

• allow for better understanding of the complex processes of beach

dynamics for future planning and management

Butler’s Tourist Area Cycle of Evolution

(Butler 1980, Butler 1993)

• 5 stage process (exploration, involvement, development, consolidation & stagnation)

• focus on the changes to the physical infrastructure

• identifies possible social & economic impacts

Stakeholder Perspectives:

(political ecology - Gössling 2003a)

(comunity involvement - Louw and

Smart 1998, White and Rosales 2003)

• interaction of international, national, regional and local stakeholders due to the environmental, economic and political implications of tourism

• allow for better understanding of conflicts that arise through differing environmental resource use

Sustainable Tourism Development

(Briguglio et al 1996, Lim and McAleer

2005, Mowforth and Munt 1998)

• changing demands for more pristine, natural and authentic cultural experiences

• associated with careful and comprehensive planning

• positive contribution of environmental education

• participation of local communities

2.3.1 Island Resorts – Tourism Development at the Pleasure Periphery

Resorts are defined as ‘geographic areas offering a variety of facilities, services and activities which are oriented towards seaside recreation for the accommodation, use and enjoyment of visitors’ (Smith 1991, p.189) The enterprising development of island resorts accordingly caters to the demand of recreating by the sea and on an island Island resorts support the attraction of sun, sand and sea holidays with the apparent exclusivity of an island, and thus allows for tourists to recreate on and consume island environments Specifically, island resorts exemplify both the island experience and the arena for island tourism to occur by playing upon these factors of separation and isolation on the pleasure periphery as a marketing strategy Research based on island resorts has sought to illuminate the relationship between resorts and destinations, and how this contributes to the economic growth of many places, especially less developed countries (for example Domroes 1993, King 2001, Pattullo 1996) This was achieved through a variety of approaches – from plotting resort development and evolution, to examining the notion of the self-contained entity of resorts and also to the social impacts of converting previous public land into private domains (King 1997, Lundtorp and Wanhill 2001, Pattullo 1996) Additionally, there has been a number of works in mapping resort development with reference to Butler’s tourist area lifecycle model (Butler 1980) Other different approaches to resort development are depicted in Table 2-2

Models such as the Resort Development Spectrum (Prideaux 2004) or the focused evolutionary model (Papatheodorou 2004) include the role of market demand and supply plus spatial dynamics in determining a resort’s evolutionary changes, thereby providing a more complex and dynamic conceptual framework to better

economic-understand resort progression and evolution Whilst these progression models are theoretically advantageous to predict a resort’s evolutionary path, they fail to take into consideration deviations that may occur based on the dynamic and volatile nature of the tourism industry in conjunction with the natural environment or with regional influences This is especially so for island environments, where the interplay of isolation and external linkages require a far more complex and dynamic approach to understand the developments that are taking place Additionally, the models do not apply to islands that have been set aside specifically for spontaneous tourism development and thus do not require any subsequent development of the region – Pulau Segayang’s experience being a particular case in point (also see Domroes 2001) In other words, evolutionary models are less applicable for small-scale developments or for areas that aside from the sole resort developed may not see additional tourism developments, such as in Pulau Segayang, whereby without the development of Coral Cove Resort would not entertain any visiting tourists

A common thread that may be discerned from past works on island resorts is thus the necessity and importance of prior planning that entails a clear vision and strategy for the development and operational process The most obvious impact of island resort development would be the observable landscape changes (Andriotis 2006, Pattullo

1996, pp.104-113, Smith 1991, Wall 1996), with particular focus on the negative impacts experienced that are associated with poor planning and opportunistic developments It should be realised that poorly conceived plans, development that deviates from stated objectives, or the lack of political will and support are significant factors that may affect a resort’s evolutionary path to decline

Table 2-2: Research Approaches on Island Resorts

Resort Evolution

• Development and evolution of resorts (Ayala 1991, Butler 1980, Domroes 2001, King 1997, King 2001)

• Rejuvenation following declining demand (redevelopment strategies) (Helber 1995, Morgan 1994)

Application of Butler’s Resort Lifecycle Model (Butler 1980)

• Theoretical debates (Butler 2000, Johnston 2001a, Potter and Phillips 2004)

• Case studies (Agarwal 1997, Butler 1993, Johnston 2001b)

• Beyond the advanced stages -> assessing rejuvenation or decline (Agarwal 1997, Agarwal 2002, Helber 1995)

• Empirical applications -> assessment of demand and supply forces (Andriotis 2006, Lundtorp and Wanhill 2001)

Models of Resort Development

• Beach Resort Model (Smith 1991)

• Resort Development Spectrum (Prideaux 2004)

• Economic Evolution of Resorts (Papatheodorou 2004)

• Destination Attribute Model (Litvin and Ng 2001)

• Island Resorts (Domroes 2001)

Integrated Beach Resorts

• Development Models (Inskeep and Kallenberger 1992, Smith 1992)

• Coastal Management (Knight et al 1997, Wong 1998b)

• Case studies (Inskeep and Kallenberger 1992, Wong 1998b, Wong 2003a)

As the previous sections have highlighted, it is the natural beauty and unique environmental features of island destinations that act as a destination draw; however the resulting environmental degradation that follows tourism development showcase the contradictory planning process of a tourism industry that is dependent on the natural environment to establish a competitive advantage Comprehensive planning has been touted to ensure appropriate development schemes; establish infrastructural requirements; allocate scarce resources efficiently; and ultimately to halt or reverse the declining trend of mature resort destinations, thereby establishing long-term sustainability for resort enterprises (Ayala 1996, Conlin 1996, Helber 1995) In other words, whilst planning is an important component in managing a resort’s impact, it is also necessary to be sensitive to other stakeholders involved in the island tourism industry, for as isolated as an island environment may be, there are still numerous other stakeholders involved that impact upon an island resort’s evolutionary path

2.3.2 Sustainable Island Tourism Development

The concept of sustainable development proposes to synthesize the often-conflicting aims of conserving precious natural resources and utilising the same resources to provide for human well-being (Southgate and Sharpley 2002, World Commission on Environment and Development 1987) The incorporation of the definition of sustainable development within the tourism industry led to the formation of the concept ‘sustainable tourism’, which is tourism that incorporates the principles of sustainable development – environmentally sound development and operation, economic viability and community integration (Butler 1998, Shaw and William 2002)

- as a guiding philosophy

Sustainable tourism development is believed to hold the key towards establishing an effective and accepted solution to the problems of negative tourism impacts and preserving the tourism industry’s long-term viability (Liu 2003, Southgate and Sharpley 2002) Sustainable tourism is one step towards reconciling the conflicts that may occur through the energetic interrelationships between the tourism industry, the visitors, the natural environment and host communities (Bramwell and Lane 1993) For tourism to contribute to sustainable development, it must satisfy the key criteria of being economically viable, maintaining ecological integrity, and supporting cultural heritage (Wall 1997) It has been frequently argued that sustainable tourism is synonymous with small-scale tourism; however, it is now accepted that issues of management, community participation and impact control are more significant factors than focusing on the type of tourism (e.g small-scale tourism) in achieving the principles of sustainable tourism (Hall 2001, Shaw and William 2002, Weaver 2000)

Beyond the concept, the operational aspect of sustainable island tourism development

is through the use of wise practices that present practical applicability in developing tourism in accordance to the principles of sustainability (Filho 1996, Lew and Hall

1998, UNESCO 2001) Recognising and implementing the operational aspects of an intangible but widely accepted concept is an important and significant step in answering the changing demands of today’s increasingly sensitive and perceptive visitors (Moscardo 1999, Stewart 1993) Three examples where the symbiotic relationships between the visitor, the wildlife, the natural marine environment and the management regime attempt to reach a sustainable method of development, promotion and presentation are given in Table 2-3