Abstract
Core and peripheral destinations are very significant to island tourism because of core and peripheral islands. Peripheral locations may be disadvantaged as they are isolated from the core or economic centers and from the main population. This chapter reviews literature on the complexity of core and peripheral destinations, their development, planning, marketing and management together with local resident's perceptions of tourists and the tourist's expectations. The South Pacific is defined and it's Colonial past discussed together with tourist motivations. It is becoming increasingly difficult for all stakeholders to agree on programs and tourism practices and that various South Pacific countries have different ways of collecting statistical data resulting in few generic standards to adhere to.
TopBackground
A number of studies have been undertaken into the development of core and peripheral destinations and tourism in Australia (Schmallegger & Carson 2010) and in islands (Cassidy 2012). In many areas, tourism development in third world countries has come about on an ad hoc basis with little thought given to local society or the expectations of the traveller. Scheyvens and Russell (2012) notes that tourism is not a practice of the indigenous, but of large corporations making as much money as possible in ways which may not be compatible with balanced island development. The large corporations are looking at maximizing profit and this may conflict with traditional island ethics of giving and sharing.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Pull Factors: A pull strategy involves motivating customers to seek out your brand in an active process. “Getting the customer to come to you”.
Core Destination: A destination that is the primary purpose of the transaction. Eg: the mainland.
Sustainable Tourism: May be defined as tourism which is developed and maintained in such a manner and scale that it remains viable in the long run and does not degrade the environment in which it exists to such an extent that it prohibits the successful development of other activities.
Supplementary Services: Services that are rendered as a corollary to the sale of a tangible product.
Peripheral Destination: Destination that are rendered as a corollary to the sale of a tangible product. Eg: outer tourist island, cultural tours.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Are low-lying coastal countries that tend to share similar sustainable development challenges, including small but growing populations, limited resources, remoteness, susceptibility to natural disasters, vulnerability to external shocks, excessive dependence on international trade, and fragile environments.
Push Factors: Push promotional strategy involves taking the product directly to the customer via whatever means, ensuring the customer is aware of your brand at the point of purchase. “Taking the product to the customer”.
South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO): Established in 1983 as the Tourism Council of the South Pacific, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) is the mandated organisation representing Tourism in the region. Its 18 Government members are American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and the People’s Republic of China. In addition to government members, the South Pacific Tourism Organisation has about 200 private sector members.
Core Services: A service that is the primary purpose of the transaction.
Global Hospitality: Is the relationship between the guest and the host, or the act or practice of being hospitable in a global context.