A cultural theory of German ecotourism in New Zealand

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
German
Degree name
Master of Arts
Publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
English
Date
2003
Authors
Colberts, Maria J.
Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine ecotourism from the advantage point of cultural theory. The objective is to explore the reasons why people travel, and more in particularly to investigate the trend toward an environmentally and culturally sensitive brand of tourism. It will be found that ecotourism is a powerful new movement that may change the very nature of the tourist industry and provide the key to the conservation of cultural and natural resources in our post-industrial society. My hypothesis is that humans are part of an ecosystem and that tourism may be motivated by a profound desire to know and learn about others; a desire that is shared by host and guests alike. In this context a survey of a clearly defined group of German tourists to New Zealand seeks to validate sociological theories that emphasize the role of prestige and identity, and to examine the impact of the interaction of visitors from a different culture on a local host community. This discussion of the merits of ecotourism is grounded in a case study of the host community in Oamaru, New Zealand. It is found that recently developed ecotourism ventures have not only had a positive socio-economic effect on the local population, but have also been of vital importance for the restoration of the blue penguin habitat. These conservation measures are all the more remarkable for the way in which tourism has helped foster community cohesion and strengthen pride and identity; indeed it is argued that Oamaru constitutes a revealing preview of the way in which a new broad-based culture of environmentalism can arise around the oft-maligned practice of tourism. This thesis will also analyze contrasting theories about the effect of the tourists' demand for locally produced arts and crafts products as souvenirs. The final research question is into the role of the internet in ecotourism that has arguably provided revolutionary new tools for establishing direct contact of host and guests and facilitates the learning process of the culture and ecosystems in tourist destinations.

Description
Citation
Keywords
Ecotourism--New Zealand, Ecotourism--Germany, Tourism--New Zealand, Tourism--Environmental aspects--New Zealand, Tourism--New Zealand--Oamaru
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Rights
All Rights Reserved