Nature and Nomads: Service Approach to Mongolia Tours

Tourism has potential to diversify Mongolia’s geopolitically challenged economy. Tourism development and promotion has increased since 1990, and there is reason to expect continued sector growth. Cultural tourism has potential to commodify or degrade cultural resources (Gilbert, 2006, Pigliasco, 2010, Soma & Suhkee, 2014) and alter the physical landscape and identity of local people (Chang & Yeoh, 1999, Seng, 2005, Phua & Berkowitz, 2014). As tourism in Mongolia increases, its effects on cultural resources should be understood. This study of Mongolian tourism interviews fifteen tour company employees to understand how Mongolian culture is perceived and used from a business perspective. What attractions do companies visit and why? How is the government involved? What does this imply for tourism stakeholders? Data shows that Mongolia tour companies lacks standard protocol, making individual companies responsible for tourist activity and resource management. When a limited number of resources are used in different ways, fragmentation may undermine collective interests like cultural preservation. There also appears to be multiple and even contradictory perspectives on cultural authenticity, which complicates the role of nomadic people. Issues of seasonal contracting and exclusive growth are also discussed. The research fills some gaps in Mongolian tourism literature and provides a base for further research

Factors Affecting Biodiversity Protection in the Mediterranean Basin

Earth’s biodiversity includes all extant species; however, species are not evenly distributed across the planet. Species tend to be clustered in densely populated areas known as “biodiversity hotspots;” species which inhabit only a single area are also termed “endemic,” and tend to be highly vulnerable to population-reducing changes in their environment. Biodiversity hotspots are considered priorities for conservation if the area has a high rate of endemism as well as a notable and continual habitat loss (Noss et al., 2015). Preventing biodiversity loss is a complex and multi-level decision-making process about setting priorities and defining clear biodiversity protection areas. Biodiversity loss, or the loss of entire species or sub-populations in an area, can be driven by multiple processes, including land use changes, climate change, and the introduction of invasive species (Plexida et al. 2018). The Mediterranean Basin is one such hotspot, transecting multiple countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, including European, Middle Eastern, and North African countries with different systems of government and cultural perceptions of environmental resources and biodiversity. Furthermore, the basin is one the most species-rich biodiversity hotspots on Earth in terms of endemic vascular plants and has high rates of endemism for amphibians and fish, as well as being an important migration corridor for many bird species (Cuttelod et al., 2008). The hotspot is at high risk for continued biodiversity loss due to 53 several human-driven factors including population increase and government-level environmental policies (Grainger, 2003)

Nature and Nomads: Service Approach to Mongolia Tours

Tourism has potential to diversify Mongolia’s geopolitically challenged economy. Tourism development and promotion has increased since 1990, and there is reason to expect continued sector growth. Cultural tourism has potential to commodify or degrade cultural resources (Gilbert, 2006, Pigliasco, 2010, Soma & Suhkee, 2014) and alter the physical landscape and identity of local people (Chang & Yeoh, 1999, Seng, 2005, Phua & Berkowitz, 2014). As tourism in Mongolia increases, its effects on cultural resources should be understood. This study of Mongolian tourism interviews fifteen tour company employees to understand how Mongolian culture is perceived and used from a business perspective. What attractions do companies visit and why? How is the government involved? What does this imply for tourism stakeholders? Data shows that Mongolia tour companies lacks standard protocol, making individual companies responsible for tourist activity and resource management. When a limited number of resources are used in different ways, fragmentation may undermine collective interests like cultural preservation. There also appears to be multiple and even contradictory perspectives on cultural authenticity, which complicates the role of nomadic people. Issues of seasonal contracting and exclusive growth are also discussed. The research fills some gaps in Mongolian tourism literature and provides a base for further research

Hosting a Virtual Research Site for Data: Collecting Participants’ Voices on Bargaining During Tourist Shopping

Our project goal was to examine participants’ views on bargaining during tourist shopping. We wanted to reach a global sample to understand whether there are broader themes about bargaining beyond a localized context. To achieve our sample goal, we decided to host an online research site for data collection. We also wanted participants to have more control over the process to ensure ease of participation and protect their confidentiality. In this case study, we discuss major considerations and choices that we had to make as we hosted a virtual research site. We paid special attention to the need to follow Institutional Review Board guidelines, the choice of language, and how the site was formatted. As we discussed the practicalities of and lessons learned from hosting the site, we also made recommendations on how to improve the process in the future

Heritage Spaces in a Global Context: The Case of Singapore Chinatown

Chinatowns are heritage spaces that are historically and geographically specific. Chinatowns are commonly leveraged as heritage attractions in tourism. In this paper, we used data from semi-structured interviews conducted in summer 2018 in Singapore to examine how locals and tourists view Singapore Chinatown. Our results suggest heritage and commercialization are two major themes regarding Chinatown. Both locals and tourists see Chinatown’s heritage value, though their interest levels vary. Their views on commercialization differ: locals see it as a loss of heritage whereas for tourists, it homogenizes Chinatowns. We recommend placing Singapore Chinatown in a global context to amplify its distinction