1. Manual on Module V – Trends and Issues in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry

2. The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityBy
Thomas Bauer, Ph.D.
School of Hotel and Tourism Management
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

3. CURRENT ISSUES IN TOURISM
The field of tourism and hospitality is a fast changing one. Because tourism is not a single discipline but is connected to many other aspects of life it is constantly changing. Think for a moment what has to happen for a person we shall call Ms. Wong in Hong Kong to become a tourist in say New York and you will appreciate how many factors are involved. First Ms Wong has to have an interest in leaving Hong Kong to become a tourist. This will require her to have a motive for traveling.

4. Why should she leave Hong Kong to go travel to another part of the world? What is there that she can’t find at home? If it is shopping that is her main interest why should she bother to travel to New York when there are thousands of shops in Hong Kong? To be able to afford to travel she has to save enough money to be able to pay for an air ticket and accommodation at the destination and she has to have enough days of paid holidays accumulated to be allowed to leave her place of work. She will need to arrange for air transport and for accommodation in New York, will require a permit to visit the United States (called an entry visa), and she will have to take the seasonality of her visit into consideration (will it be winter or summer when she arrives in New York?)

5. Tourism has a connection to many other disciplines including politics, religion, agriculture, economics, environment, health, finance, transport, society, immigration, and education just to name a few. All of these fields of human endevour are constantly changing and changes in one field will impact on other fields and hence also on tourism.

6. As a practical example you can think of the changes that were brought to Hong Kong tourism during the outbreak of the Severe Acquired Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Because of the fear that they may catch the disease when visiting Hong Kong, tourists stayed away. Our hotels, some of the best in the world, were empty; arriving flights carried only very few passenger; farmers in Guangdong Province were not able to sell their vegetables to Hong Kong hotels and employees of tourism related businesses either worked fewer hours or lost their jobs. This is a reminder that demand for tourism products can change very quickly, sometimes over night, and it is an industry that is very sensitive to changes and trends in its operating environment.

7. These fast moving changes require that tourist companies must be constantly on the alert to detect changes, trends and issues early so that they can make the necessary adjustments to their businesses. This includes being prepared for unforeseen circumstances and changes in their operating environment. One way of doing this is by constantly scanning the media for trends that may impact on the firm and by setting aside money to meet unforeseen developments that are out of the control of the company.

8. In the following pages we will look at some of the trends and issues that are current as of the time of the writing of this manual. Some of the issues we will explore such as the sustainability of tourism and climate change will be with the industry for a long time, while other trends, especially if they are driven by fashion will change, sometimes very quickly.
Let’s explore.

9. ACTIVITY 1
Get a copy of the South China Morning Post and scan it for articles that relate to tourism. You will need to read the articles and draw conclusions because very few of them will actually have the word “tourism” in the text. Compare your findings with those of your classmates who have looked through different parts of the newspaper.

10. Sustainable tourism development
A conceptual approach to sustainable tourism:
As noted above, the concept of sustainable development is based on respect for the social and natural environment in which tourism takes place. On the environmental side there are several very important issues that we need to be aware of. Some of these are discussed in the following section.

11. The Big Environmental Issues
It is now beyond doubt that our climate is changing and that humans are, at least in parts, to blame for those changes. Some experts (see the Stern report prepared by Sir Nicholas Stern of the UK) estimate that unless we act now, climate change will reduce annual Gross Domestic Product of the economies of many countries by 20 per cent. The movie production “An Inconvenient Truth” by former US Vice President Al Gore is a reminder that time to take action is running out and that all of us must act now to avoid further degradation of our world.

12. ACTIVITY 2
Watch ‘An Inconvenient Truth” under the guidance of your teacher and discuss the issues raised in the film. Pay particular attention to the tips provided on the inside of the front cover of the movie that gives you ideas of what YOU can do to help in the fight against our changing climate.

13. Sustainability and sustainable development
What does it mean to make an activity sustainable? It basically means that an activity that is carried out today for the benefit of all involved can continue to be carried out indefinitely into the future without doing harm to anyone or anything involved or impacted by it.
The opposite of sustainability is un-sustainability which involves activities that have a very short term horizon and that involve excessive profit and often greed as the major motivations without any regard to the long term.

14. Sustainability is about striking a balance between the rights of humans to a decent and meaningful life, the right to life for all types of animals and for nature to be protected for its own sake and for the sake of all other living things, including humans.
Sustainable development is envisaged as leading to the management of all resources in such a way that economic, social, and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life support systems (World Travel and Tourism Council, World Tourism Organisation and Earth Council 1995 p. 30).

15. These pictures show the two alternatives: Short term greed and long term intergenerational equity. The latter involves a grandfather’s consideration for what is best for his granddaughter and her children and leaving the world a better place so that they can live meaningful and happy lives.

16. It was the World Commission on Environment and Development (also known by the name of its chairman as the Bruntland Commission) that in its report “Our Common Future” first raised the issue of sustainability when they said that:
“Humanity has the ability to make development sustainable – to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Our Common Future 1987 p.8)

17. This coal-fired power station on Lamma Island supplies Lamma and Hong Kong Island with electricity on which most of us depend on a daily basis.

18. Imagine your daily life without electricity and think of all the things you could not do such as watching TV, playing computer games, recharging your mobile phone, taking the lift to your high-rise apartment and reading a book at night. As you will agree, we need electricity and hence the question is not whether or not to have power stations but what the best and cleanest way is to produce electricity so that we do not unnecessarily harm the environment while we produce it.

19. ACTIVITY 3
Find out what fuel sources Hong Kong power companies use to generate electricity. Investigate alternative energy sources that could be used to produce cleaner energy and discuss the merits and potential problems associated with each energy source.

20. Sustainable Tourism
It has long been known that there is a close connection between tourism and the environment but whether this nexus is sustainable in the long run has only relatively recently been discussed. If we want to have tourist destinations that can prosper from tourism we need to shift our thinking away from a simple marketing approach. As Bauer (2003) said, “The major issue for many destinations will no longer be to attract increasing numbers of tourists but how to manage them once they have arrived.”

21. Many writers have addressed issues that concern tourism and the environment. Some of them are:
Cohen’s (1973) ‘drifters’
Young (1973) "Tourism: Blessing or Blight"
Budowski 1976 'Tourism and Environmental Conservation: Conflict, Coexistence or Symbiosis?"
deKadt (1979) “Tourism: Passport to Development?“
Mathieson and Wall (1982) ‘Tourism: Economic, Physical and Social Impacts’
Hector Ceballos Lascurain (1984) “Ecotourism”
As noted above, the Bruntland Report is the defining document. The United Nations (UN) set up the World Commission on Environment and Development (Bruntland Commission and its report Our Common Future (1987) formed the basis for Agenda 21 and the subsequent Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.

22. The report addressed the state of the global environment and defined sustainable development as: " Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” By 1995 the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), a body of the top executives of some 100 of the world’s biggest travel companies, joined forces with the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the Earth Council to formulate a tourism industry response to the challenges posed by the Rio declaration. The result was the publishing of “Agenda 21 for the Travel and Tourism Industry: Towards Environmentally Sustainable Development.”

23. Definitions of sustainable tourism
In 1995 the World Tourism Organization defined sustainable tourism as: “Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future.” In its definition the WTO included environmental, socio-cultural and economic sustainability:
Make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.

24. Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance
Ensure viable, long-term economic operations, providing socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed, including stable employment and income-earning opportunities and social services to host communities, and contributing to poverty alleviation.
In 2004 the World Tourism Organization added: ”Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures whenever necessary.”

25. Today a variety of sustainable tourism initiatives have emerged
Today a variety of sustainable tourism initiatives have emerged. These include:
Various environmental accreditation schemes that certify that companies are as environmentally friendly as they can be. Some of the schemes benchmark a company’s performance (for example energy and water consumption per guest in a hotel) against industry norms against the industry standard.
PATA Sustainable Tourism Advisory Committee which encourages all parts of the tourism industry to conduct there activities in a sustainable fashion

26. Blue Flag that classifies beaches in Europe
Blue Flag that classifies beaches in Europe. Classification helps these beaches to be marketed to environmentally sensitive consumers
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) assisted international tour operators with the establishment of the Tour Operator Initiative that seeks to put pressure on the suppliers of tourism products to make their products sustainable.
ISO which establishes Environmental Management Systems (EMS) for companies. In Hong Kong we have 4 hotels that have undergone certification.

27. When we discuss issues of sustainability and sustainable tourism some important questions need to be asked. These include:
What does a tourism destination want to maintain (sustain) in the long term?
The culture and the life-style of local people?
The local natural environment?
The local economy including jobs?
At what levels does the government want to sustain tourism at the destination? This leads to the question of how many tourists, from which part of the world a destination want to attract. More tourists are not necessarily better and many destinations are now looking to attract fewer but higher spending tourists.
What is the connection between sustainable tourism and the broader social, cultural and economic development of the destination? Is it possible that in an effort to achieve sustainable tourism we may put other sectors such as agriculture under threat by encouraging people to leave the land and to get involved in tourism?
These are difficult questions to answer and each tourist destination will have to come up with its own answers.

28. When we talk about sustainable tourism development we also need to ask whether there are limits of growth for tourism and where these limits are. Questions that should be asked include:
What is the optimal/best level of tourism at any given site or destination?
Have we already exceeded the carrying capacity at certain sites and should tourism activities be excluded from certain places?
Do we need much stricter rules and regulations for visiting sites?
Do we need to install reservation systems for our most treasured natural and cultural sites? We use such systems for cinemas, theatres and sports events but not for visits to beaches, mountain sites or many cultural attractions.

29. There are no easy answers to any of the above questions because they will depend very much on the local situation and on how tourism is handled on the ground. Policies set by governments set the guidelines for tourism development and how tourism is managed at a destination will make the difference between success and failure of a destination.

30. There is no doubt that if tourist destinations want to be sustainable, that is successful in the long term, they will have to maintain or improved the environment in which tourism takes place while at the same time taking the needs of the local population into full consideration. Tourism that only benefits the tourists is unsustainable.

31. ACTIVITY 4
Look at some of the above questions and discuss with your class mates what some possible answers could be in the Hong Kong tourism context.

32. Protection of World Heritage
Following the end of the Second World War, there has been increasing international concern that precious cultural and natural heritage sites around the world were vulnerable to threats from wars, natural disasters, environmental catastrophes and industrial development.
This worldwide awareness has led to the adoption of the famous Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage by the General Conference of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its 17th session in Paris on 16 November 1972.

33. “World Heritage” refers to various kinds of heritage sites that have undergone evaluation and have been approved by UNESCO to be inscribed in The World Heritage List, according to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage ( for more information on World Heritage click into Refer to for details on the criteria for selection.
At present, World Heritage is classified into five categories: Cultural Heritage, Natural Heritage, Mixed (Cultural and Natural) Heritage, Heritage of Cultural Landscape and Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage.
See Appendix 1 for additional information on the protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage in China and Hong Kong.

34. Requirements for sustainable tourism
Because tourism is made up of so many different parts, it is vital that all participants in tourism make great efforts to ensure that their activities are as sustainable as possible. Let us look at some of these component parts.

35. Buildings
Buildings such as the Sydney Opera House (above) were not originally designed with environmental best practices in mind and they therefore have to undergo some changes before they can be fully sustainable. New developments such as new airports, hotels or shopping centers can be designed to meet strict environmental guidelines making them more sustainable.

36. Transport
Travellers an often select from a diverse range of modes of transport. Depending on where they are traveling to they can walk, cycle, or use a car, coach, ship, train or aircraft. The various forms of transport have different impacts on the environment. Obviously walking and cycling have the least negative impacts on the environment because no fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas) are burned and hence no green house gas emissions occur.

37. Hiking Tai Mo Shan is a sustainable activity provided that hikers stick to the established paths and that these are well maintained
Small motorbikes are very popular modes of transport but they depend on petrol and contribute to pollution

38. The next best form of transport is mass transport where the energy used is shared by many other passengers.
The new Airbus A 380 in the picture above consumes less than 3 liters of fuel per passenger per 100 km and only generates 75 g of Carbon Dioxide per passenger kilometer. This compares to the European car industry’s aim of 140 g of Carbon Dioxide per km in 2009 (see

39. Sustainable natural destinations
Respect for wildlife in all its forms is required to make natural attractions sustainable. In the past Australian salt water crocodiles were hunted to near extinction. Today these animals are one of the major attractions in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory.

40. We need to develop a greater respect for wild places even though they look like they are of no immediate use to humans. The coastal rivers in the above images in the Australian tropics meander through coastal mangroves. They provide spawning grounds for many species of fish and protect the hinterland from disastrous floods.

41. We have choices: Rice production for human consumption (China) or golf course development (Kenya) for the elite. Golf courses use lots of water and fertilizers to keep them green. This can cause problems in areas where there is a water shortage.

42. Hong Kong is a highly developed city
Hong Kong is a highly developed city. Because of the constant need to accommodate more and more people the apartment blocks of the city have grown taller and taller. This is especially so in the new town of Tin Sui Wai. To compensate for the loss of natural areas the government of the Hong Kong SAR has constructed some artificial wetlands that are now incorporated into the International Wetland Park.

43. We have to learn to live in harmony with nature if we do not want to threaten the very existence of humanity (Australian Museum, Sydney)

44. Towards sustainable tourism
The current model of mass tourism means that success is measured in increases in tourist arrivals from one year to the next. If there is no, or only a small, growth in visitor numbers the destination and its managers are seen as having failed in their duty.
We need to move away from such a thinking that is only focused on quantity to one that is based on quality. Not how many visitors we attract but how they are treated, what experiences they have at our destination will matter most. Of course how positive their economic impact on the destination is also needs to be considered.

45. To maximize the positive benefits and to minimize the negative environmental impacts we need to be aware of the consequences for a tourist destination when additional people visit. More tourists generate more income and employment for residents but more people also can put severe pressure on a destination’s natural, social and cultural resources.

46. Tourism development can have many impacts on the environment
Tourism development can have many impacts on the environment. As visitor numbers rise there will be an increase in:
Demand for fresh, clean water
Demand for electricity
Creation of waste and sewage
Increase in vehicular traffic
Crowding
Land, sea and air pollution
All these aspects need to be evaluated and planned for before a destination can become sustainable.

47. Crowding on the Nathan Road sidewalk creates an unpleasant experience for visitors and local people.

48. Air pollution combined with cloudy skies can reduce the attractiveness of a tourist destination. At times it is impossible to see the other side of our beautiful Victoria Harbour. Air pollution can reduce the attractiveness of a tourist destination. Hong Kong often uses images of its skyline but they never show the city when it is blanketed with smog. This can lead to visitor dissatisfaction, especially if they are keen photographers who want to take a photograph like the one above that they have seen in brochures that advertise the city.

49. ACTIVITY 5
Establish where and how Hong Kong obtains its water for residents and tourists.
Establish how and where Hong Kong’s electricity is generated. What fuels are used to generate electricity?
Find out where Hong Kong puts its solid waste?
If you get a chance to talk to tourists, ask them what they think of environmental conditions in Hong Kong.

50. OBSTACLES TO CHANGE OR WHY IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY
We now know that the more people visit a destination the greater the impacts will be. So we need to ask ourselves what can be done to manage a tourist destination in a way that it is sustainable and we need to discuss the obstacles that stop destinations from becoming sustainable. There is also a need to establish guidelines for sustainable tourism development that limit the damage we do to the environments.
Measures we not to investigate require that destination managers first get an understanding of the limited capacity that all sites have to accommodate tourists. This concept is usually referred to as the concept of carrying capacity.

51. The Concept of Carrying Capacity
Carrying capacity has been defined as “The maximum number of people who can use a site without an unacceptable alteration in the physical environment and without an unacceptable decline in the quality of experiences gained by visitors”. (Mathieson and Wall 1982) …” and without an unacceptable adverse impact on the society, economy and culture of the tourism area” (Innskeep 1991). We have to be aware that this concept is not always an exact science and that visitor number limits established should only be used as guidelines. There are several types of carrying capacity.

52. Physical Carrying Capacity
When no more people can physically fit into a space its physical carrying capacity is reached. Theatres, cinemas, or sports stadia are examples. To increase physical capacity a new venue may be need to be built. You can also think about capacity on an aircraft. If all seats are occupied the plane has reached its physical carrying capacity.

53. In nature capacity can also be reached
In nature capacity can also be reached. The pyramid-shaped mountain towards the left hand side of this picture is Mount Everest, at 8850 metres the highest point on earth. During the peak climbing season many mountaineers try to reach the top. Because there is only very little flat space on the summit, climbers have to wait until those who are already standing on top of the world have moved down the mountain before they themselves can set foot on the summit.

54. Long lines form as pilgrims line up to enter the building where the bedroom of the Dalai Lama is located (Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet). Visitor numbers may need to be limited to ensure that no damage is done. Controlling visitor numbers may also include the introduction of a pr-booking system for visits.

55. Ecological Carrying Capacity
The ecological state of the site must be maintained, or where possible, enhanced. Sites vary and detailed environmental assessment is needed to establish carrying capacities.

56. Carrying capacity can also be reached in nature
Carrying capacity can also be reached in nature. These Adelie penguins on a beach in the Antarctic Peninsula are running out of nesting space. If more penguins arrive, they may need to look for other nesting sites to raise their young.

57. Socio/Cultural Carrying Capacity
This refers to the acceptance of tourists by the local population. The level of acceptance depends on previous experience and benefits that tourism brings. People who benefit from tourism such as those who own shops that cater to tourists or those who are employed in the industry tend to hold more favourable attitudes towards tourism than those that are not involved with it at all. One way to minimize the negative impacts that tourism may have is by educating visitors and tourists about what they can expect of each other.

58. This souvenir seller in Ubud, Bali is trying to benefit from tourists and hence will have a positive attitude towards them – if they buy his products.

59. Psychological Carrying Capacity
Crowding is one of the problems that can be brought on by the presence of too many tourists in a place. Some people and nationalities are more tolerant of crowds than others. In Hong Kong people are so used to huge crowds of people that they don’t worry much if tourists add to the congestion. In other countries such as Australia that have low population densities even the presence of a few additional people can be perceived as intruding on the life-style of the locals.

60. How tolerant locals and tourists are of crowding will depend on the site. During the annual Hong Kong Rugby Sevens tournament, spectators will tolerate crowded conditions at Hong Kong Stadium because crowds are part of the party atmosphere. When going for walks on the beach Western people tend to want to have their own space and they do not appreciate if there are too many other people around

61. The tranquility of a sunset walk along the 14 km long Mission Beach in tropical Far North Queensland, Australia would be spoiled if there were too many other people present.

62. The long beach at Surfers Paradise on Queensland’s Gold Coast provides ample space for visitors. Even during peak season this beach rarely gets crowded.

63. Socio-cultural impacts of tourism
Closely linked to some of the points raised above are the socio-cultural impacts that can result from tourism. With this in mind the United Nations World Tourism Organization has developed a Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. This code was adopted at the WTO General Assembly in The code states:
Tourism’s contribution to mutual understanding and respect between peoples and societies
Tourism as vehicle for individual and collective fulfilment
Tourism, a factor of sustainable development

64. Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities
Tourism, a user of the cultural heritage of mankind and a contributor to its enhancement
Tourism, a beneficial activity for host countries and communities
Obligations of stakeholders in tourism development
Right to tourism
Liberty of tourist movements
Rights of the workers and entrepreneurs in the tourism industry
Implementation of the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for tourism
The impacts of tourism can be positive or negative. Let’s explore.

65. Potentially positive impacts
New ideas from outsiders can revive local cultures and art
Art work produced by local artists on the Indonesian resort island of Bali is a good example of how outsiders have created a new style of painting that is based on the demand that is generated by tourists.

66. Break down of stereo-types
Break down of stereo-types. Most people have a certain stereo-typical image of other peoples and cultures. By meeting foreign tourist’s face-to face such often wrong stereo-types can be corrected.

67. Improved lifestyles from introduction of tourism related infrastructure (Sports facilities, museums etc.)
The National Stadium (“Birds nest”) built for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will provide local people with an excellent sporting venue for many years to come.

68. Civic pride is enhanced because outsiders value the place
Civic pride is enhanced because outsiders value the place. Often local people do not appreciate the true value and attractiveness of what they have in their local community but once tourists arrive who tell locals how wonderful their place is, residents often start to develop a greater appreciation of their own environment.

69. Tourism provides incentives to preserve heritage such as traditional dances in Bali. Such dances were once considered old-fashioned but because of demands from tourists they are rejuvenated and are now taught to young people in schools.

70. As we can see from the above, visits by outsiders (called tourists) and their activities at a location can have both positive and negative impacts. How well the interaction between the two groups of people is managed will determine how accepted tourism is by the local population.

71. Potentially negative impacts
Overcrowding of sites used by local people
Distortion of local customs by adapting them to tourist consumption
Effects on local language – English words replace local ones
“Demonstration effect”-perception that all tourists as wealthy which can lead to envy of tourist’s material goods. If tourists carry items such as cameras or an I-Pod many locals may also desire these. If they can’t afford to buy the item they may resort to theft or robbery to obtain it from the tourists who are perceived as rich.

72. Loss of traditional industries – replacement of agriculture with tourism. There is a danger that agricultural land is converted to tourism use and that farmers leave the land to get involved in the tourism industry at the expense of producing food for consumption by local people and tourists. This may lead to food shortages and/or the need to import food at higher prices.

73. Rise in social problems induced by outsiders and increases in crime and prostitution
It is not always the locals that are the “victims” of tourism. This vendor in Lhasa in Tibet is reaching inside the tour bus to sell her souvenirs. Such approaches are not welcomed by tourists.

74. Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island on a week-day (above) and on a week-end (below). On week-ends tourists are competing with locals for space while they are going about their daily business such as grocery shopping or going to the post office.

75. ACTIVITY 6
Make a list of all the positive and negative impacts you think that tourism has in the part of Hong Kong where you live. Compare these lists with those created by your class mates.

76. Sex and Tourism
One of the often mentioned negative impacts of tourism is the perceived increase in prostitution at some tourist sites. It must, however, be remembered that sex and tourism covers a wide spectrum ranging from romance to commercial exploitation of women and children. The book Sex and Tourism: Journeys of Romance, Love and Lust by Thomas Bauer and Bob McKercher (The Haworth Hospitality Press, New York, 2003) covers the topic well.

77. Sex and Tourism
The authors argue that there is a spectrum that ranges from the positive/mutually beneficial encounters such as people on honeymoon or young people participating in a singles only cruise on one end to commercial sex tours, trafficking of women and children for prostitution and child sex tourism at the other, darker end of the spectrum. It is important to note that there is a big difference between “sextourism” which implies a commercial transaction and “sex and tourism” which can take many forms.

78. Sex and Tourism
While sexuality is a perfectly normal human activity that goes on at home and away from home (as tourists), it is the commercial side of sex that tends to be highlighted and that is often shown in a negative light.. The images are of mostly young and female prostitutes from poor regions ‘entertaining’ older and ‘rich’ foreigners at destinations such as Bangkok or Pattaya.

79. Sex and Tourism
In some countries (for example Holland and Germany) prostitution – the provision of sexual services in exchange for rewards (usually cash) is a legal activity. It is conducted as a business and sex workers are subject to taxation and regular health checks. In other jurisdictions prostitution is illegal but it still goes on but underground.

80. Sex and Tourism
The message is clear: sexual activities between consenting adults who agree to participate out of their own free will – whether paid for or not – have been going on since time immemorial and such activities should not be condemned solely on moral grounds. When it comes to the exploitation of children for sexual purposes the message is equally clear: it is totally unacceptable and such acts must be prevented at all costs and offenders must be prosecuted.

81. Sometimes massage places offer more ‘services” than customers might expect.

82. ACTIVITY 7
Start a discussion with other members of your class on the pros and cons of legalizing prostitution.

83. Globalization and its effects on tourism development
“ Globalization is essentially a process by which an ever tightening network of ties that cut across national political boundaries connects communities in a single, interdependent whole, a shrinking world where local differences are steadily eroded and subsumed within a massive global social order” (Mowforth and Mundt 1998:12). It is facilitated by the rapid movement of people, information , money and ideas around the globe.

84. How is globalization felt in the tourism context
How is globalization felt in the tourism context? We can think of several ways which include the following:
Commodification and trivialization of local cultures – everything takes on a practical and commercial (for money) aspect
Money is king!

85. Americanization through McDonald’s , KFC and Starbucks
McDonald’s fast food outlets can now even be found on islands in the South Pacific such as in Fiji.

86. Homogenization – all cities of the world look the same
Homogenization – all cities of the world look the same. Experiencing the diversity of building styles, dishes and cultures was once a main reason to visit cities. Today as one travels around the world one finds that many airports, hotels and cities are more or less the same – this takes the fun out of traveling.
Welcome to New York, London or Paris? No, welcome to Beijing.

87. Free flow of money around the world where it can earn the highest rate of return on investment
The location of manufacturing shifts to where wages are the lowest at the expense of local people. Souvenir production is an example whereby Australian koala toys are manufactured in China or where coconut souvenirs sold in the Maldives are made in Bali.
Small scale operations such as Peregrine Adventures, a Melbourne based tour company, are bought out by bigger companies (First Choice in the UK) who in turn are purchased by even larger companies (TUI of Germany).

88. Most of the economic restructuring (change in ownership) is in the interest of big business not in the interest of the public and of the local people.
The Hilton Hotel Corporation was recently sold to an investment fund that is primarily interested in a high rate of return on its investment for its shareholders and not in the wellbeing of guests, local people, and employees or in corporate social responsibility.
Multinational companies such as CNN present consumers with their idea of the “truth” behind the news. They tell us what is important and what is not. They show us places we should want to travel to
National Geographic brings the world’s most exotic travel experiences to our living room and we become “armchair travellers”. This raises the question whether we still have to travel to places when we have already ‘experienced “ them on our flat screen TVs.

89. Globalization is felt particularly in less developed countries, many of which see tourism as an important development option. Unfortunately developing tourism can require that poor countries have to take out billion dollar loans to build the necessary infrastructure for tourism development and this can be a problem because they may not be able to pay back their debts. Airports, roads, hotels, restaurants and theme parks may be built but they are of little use to locals who can’t afford to fly or stay in those hotels.

90. Tax concessions (tax holidays) are often provided to outside developers to provide them with incentives to develop tourism infrastructure such as hotels in developing countries. By allowing developers not to pay local taxes for the first 5 or more years they are depriving the local government and hence the citizens of revenue but often no infrastructure would be build if such concessions are not offered.

91. International tourists demand international style hotels, food and drinks and hence developing countries have to import up-market building materials such as marble from Italy, food (oysters from Australia) and drinks (Scotch whiskey) from abroad which means that much of the tourism earnings flows abroad. This is called leakage because the money leaks out of the local economy and it can’t be used to benefit local people.

92. Leakage in the Maldives
The Republic of the Maldives is a low lying island nation in the Indian Ocean. The main source of income is tourism.
Resorts are mainly funded by European tour operators and most of the profits flow back to Europe to pay for construction and maintenance
More than 50 % of all labour is imported and remittances flow out of the Maldives economy back to the home countries of the workers (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan).

93. What is a net loss for Maldives is a net gain for those countries where the remittances of those workers make an important contribution to their families survival and hence also to the economy
Above water bungalows provide exclusive accommodation in the Maldives

94. Poverty alleviation through tourism
Poverty is still a very serious problem in many parts of the world. One of the United Nations Millennium Goals is to substantially reduce the number of people who live in poverty and tourism has been called upon to play its part in this effort.
There are different levels of poverty ranging from extreme to moderate. Extreme poverty is often defined as applying to people who live on less than 1 US$ per day. One thing is clear: There is nothing ‘romantic’ about being poor as is sometimes shown in destination photographs of some African countries.

95. Often it is assumed that people in rural areas are the poorest but this may not necessarily be the case because as long as people have access to land they can sustain their lives by growing their own food or by raising animals. People who live in urban slums are the poorest of the poor because they have no access to land to sustain their lives. All they can sell to make money is their labour. Because they are mostly unskilled they have a hard time in getting jobs because they have to compete against often much higher skilled city residents.

96. Creating employment or self-employment opportunities for poor and unskilled peoples is one of the fastest ways that tourism can assist in reducing poverty. Here are a few examples:
Gardening and luggage handling (Nepal)

97. Self employment business opportunities (Nepal)

98. Making carpets that tourists buy as souvenirs (Nepal)

99. Silk production in Assam, India is another form of employment and revenue generation for local people

100. Development of tourism products to assist in poverty alleviation
The tourism product is made up of many components including transport, accommodation, activities, amenities, food and services. The challenge is to develop products that meet the needs of the tourists while at the same time assisting in poverty alleviation. A range of products can conceivably be developed including attractions, tours, packages, guiding services, shopping, entertainment and information provision.

101. Products can be developed from two perspectives:
By involving the poor in the development and management of the product and
By developing products based on the assets of the poor (culture, natural features, way of life)

102. The first question that needs to be asked, however, is whether local people genuinely want tourists to visit and if so at what intensity? Sometimes people may appear poor to outsiders but they may be content with their lives because they live in strong communities where they enjoy full family and social support and hence they may not need additional income from an activity that involves outsiders. If they do want tourism we have to ask what he poor need to know to enable them to participate in tourism. What assistance do they need so that they can benefit from tourism and how can provide this assistance? There are some potential difficulties and barriers:

103. Potential Difficulties
Unequal distribution of benefits from tourism. Not everyone in a community will benefit equally when tourism is started.
Unequal distribution of problems created by tourism. Sometimes the women in a community are required to do most of the tourism related work such as cooking and dancing for tourists while the men benefit without contributing much. This can lead to dissatisfaction among the women and to conflict between the sexes.

104. Potential Barriers
Time constraint of tourists. Visitors invest time and money into their holidays and they only want to visit places that they think can fully satisfy their needs.
Tour operators control many products – unless a new tourism itinerary or product can pay money (commission) to the wholesalers they will not include it into their brochures and hence the product will not get exposure and therefore no customers.
Distance of a new tourism product from existing main tourist areas can be a problem.
Lack of transport infrastructure.

105. Lack of tourism and hospitality related skills of the local population.
Lack of understanding of the expectations of tourists.
Lack of attractiveness of the local area.
Competition from other areas that may offer similar products.
Lack of environmental hygiene.
Distance from major tourist source markets.

106. Children working in tourism
Employing children, in particular young children in the various sectors of the tourism industry is a double-edged sword. On the one hand it is very common for restaurants or small, family owned guest-houses or hotels to require children to contribute to the economic well-being of the family by performing some tasks in the business. This is not necessarily a bad thing since children who grow up in the family’s hospitality business will have a very good understanding of the operation of such a business and this may well lead them to become successful restaurant or hotel owners when they grow up.

107. There are many examples where children who have worked in the family business from an early age have later taken over the running of the business when their parents are ready to retire. Such practices are not restricted to the hotel and tourism industry but can be found on most farms in the world and in small shops, in particular in Chinese shops.

108. At the same time the opportunity exist for young people who do not have family connections to a tourism or hotel business to be given the opportunity at a relatively early age to perform certain small task such as maybe cleaning the beach or assisting with other cleaning duties or as messengers in a hotel. Such employment opportunities can be particularly important when they are provided in some of the least developed countries where employment for the young and poor is often difficult to obtain. By earning some money they can help their families to survive.

109. The children in the above photo have never been to school but are already showing the spirit of enterprise by hiring out mats so that tourists can slide down the sand dunes of Mui Ne in southern Vietnam. These children would greatly benefit if they could be given small paid jobs in the emerging local hospitality industry.

110. While the above noted scenarios are positive, there is also a darker and more exploitative side to children’s employment in tourism. Often children are made to work in the hospitality industry without appropriate care, wages, working hours and work conditions. They may even be forced to work in this industry against their own free will and at the expense of their schooling and health. Such practices need to be prevented wherever possible but unfortunately they are often tolerated in countries where poverty levels are still very high.

111. ACTIVITY 8
Discuss the concept of poverty, its causes and consequences with your class mates.
Think about the issue of poverty in the Hong Kong context and consider what role tourism can play to assist poor people to improve their lives.

112. Trends and issues in Hospitality
Hospitality can be defined as the reception and entertainment of guests or strangers with empathy, kindness, and an overall concern for their well-being. It is at the heart of all tourism and without providing a friendly and welcoming environment for visitors, tourism cannot develop successfully.

113. Trends in the accommodation sector
One of the most basic requirements for tourists is the need for clean and secure accommodation. This can range from luxury hotels with full services to motels, guest houses, backpacker lodges, youth hostels and camping facilities. Because people are different and have different reasons for travel they also have different accommodation requirements. The accommodation of business travelers is usually paid for by their employer and hence they are more inclined to stay in up-market, more luxurious hotels whereas the more prices sensitive leisure travelers who pay for their trip themselves may prefer more affordable and therefore also less luxurious places to stay. In particular young people who travel around the world as backpackers for long periods of time, sometimes years, do not want to spend a lot on accommodation. They prefer to spend their money on activities and experiences instead of on sleeping.

114. Greening of accommodation
Inline with the previously discussed trend towards a more sustainable tourism industry, accommodation places are also increasingly trying to be more environmentally friendly in their designs and practices. In many hotels around the world the guest now finds notices in the bathroom that encourage them to indicate if they do not want their towels and sheets changed daily. This is a measure that helps save water and reduces the pollution caused by the discharge of detergents into the sewage system.

115. Guests are also encouraged to turn off lights and air conditioning if they are not needed and in many hotel rooms electrical appliances and lighting can only be used after a key card is inserted into a slot that is located near the entrance to the room.
Once the card, which also opens the room door, is removed, the electricity to the room is cut off thus avoiding any unnecessary energy consumption.

116. More personal ‘boutique’ styles of accommodation
Commercial accommodation places tend to be large with many rooms and facilities but a recent trend is that experienced travelers are seeking smaller, more personal accommodation facilities such as boutique hotels, small guest houses, home-stays or eco-lodges. Such facilities usually have more limited facilities but they provide guests with the opportunity to be in close contact with local people who own or operate such facilities.

117. Many travelers now prefer to stay in smaller, locally owned and operated accommodation places like the Udayana Lodge in Bali, Indonesia. Such places offer comfortable accommodation in a relaxed atmosphere.

118. Home-stays in Vietnam (above) and tented accommodation near the Undura lava tubes in Far North Queensland, Australia (below) provide interesting and affordable places to stay. Home stays also help in an effort to improve the economic situation of poor people in remote areas.

119. Hotel Branding
There are many different hotel brands in the world. A brand is essentially the name of a product, in this case hotels, that is recognized, trusted and valued by the consumer to deliver the services required in the expected fashion. The table below shows the top 20 hotel brands, the number of hotels they operate and the number of rooms they control. As the industry is expanding these numbers are constantly changing.

120. Hilton is one of the most recognized hotel brands in the world.

121. Top 10 Hotel Brands in the World as of January 1, 2008
Rank Hotel Chain Number of hotels Number of Rooms
1 Best Western
2 Holiday Inn
3 Comfort Inns & Suites
4 Marriott Hotels & Resorts
5 Hilton Hotels & Resorts
6 Express Holidays Inn
7 Days Inn of America
8 Hampton Inn
9 Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
10 Super 8 Motels

122. More than just sleeping and eating
Integrating accommodation, dining, entertainment casino gaming and shopping is a new trend that recognizes that people who stay at a hotel or resort want to be able to participate in a diversity of activities during their stay. Gone are the days when a hotel was only a place to sleep.
The Grand Canal at the Venetian Resort in Macau provides guests with an indoor boating experience that simulates a real canal ride in Venice, Italy.111

123. ACTIVITY 9
Check the website of the Hong Kong Hotels Association (HKHA) to get familiar with the great diversity of up- market hotels available to guests in Hong Kong

124. Trends and issues in the restaurant and food services sector

125. Food
Food is a necessary and often enjoyable component of the tourism experience and the challenge for the hospitality industry is to provide good quality and healthy meals in a pleasant setting.

126. Quality and healthy meals
Healthy, home cooked food in Vietnam provides visitors with a genuine food experience.
All restaurants should aim to be good restaurants

127. Al fresco or outdoor dining is very popular, particularly in tropical locations such as Bali. Tourists also enjoy being offered a variety of dishes to select from and “Fusion” restaurants that provide a blend of cuisines from a variety of regions (East and West for example) are gaining in popularity.

128. As the above sign shows, getting permission to set up outdoor food and beverage facilities can be a difficult undertaking.

129. Freshness of food served
Many diners are now said to be more health conscious and they are interested in meals that are made from fresh ingredients and that are prepared under hygienic conditions.
Freshly caught fish displayed in a local market in the Maldives provide an excellent ingredient for a nice and healthy meal.

130. This Korean meal consists entirely of fresh and mostly uncooked ingredients that are said to be very good for your health

131. Hygiene in food storage and preparation is very important
Hygiene in food storage and preparation is very important. Most tourists would be reluctant to order a meat dish in a restaurant after seeing meat stored on an open cart as in the above picture on the left taken in Tibet. How food is displayed will also impact on the enjoyment diners get out of food consumption. Chinese diners may find the presentation of the chicken served in a Hong Kong restaurant acceptable but for most western travelers it is not ok.

132. Experiencing the local food at tourist destinations can be a very interesting and often enjoyable experience. The picture on the left advertises a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup while an Australian breakfast is advertised in the picture on the right.

133. New entertainment districts such as China town in Singapore or Lang Kwai Fong in Hong Kong provide visitors with after dark dining, entertainment and shopping attractions. Such places have become very popular tourist spots in many cities across Asia

134. Conclusion
Trends and issues in tourism and hospitality are constantly subject to change. As societies change so will trends in the tourism and hospitality industry. Many trends are subject to what is fashionable at the moment while other trends and issues emerge from wider issues in society souch as a greater awareness of environmental protection or the increased concern about health. Companies that operate in the tourism and hospitality industry are required to keep their eyes and ears open and to constantly scan their environment for emerging trends so that they can meet the requirements of their customers. This is an ongoing process that never ends. As students of these fields we need to do the same so that we keep up-to-date with developments that impact on our industry..

135. All photographs by Thomas Bauer

136. Appendix 1

137. Protection of World Heritage Newspaper clipping series
PART ONE
Protection of World Heritage
Newspaper clipping series

138. Newspaper Clipping One
Six World Heritage Sites including Forbidden City given “Yellow Cards”
Excerpt from: ‘Six World Heritage Sites including given Yellow Cards,’ Metro,
In spite of being approved to be inscribed on the World Heritage List, many heritage sites in different parts of still lack protection. Mr. Tong Ming-kang, Deputy Director-General of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, was quoted saying that, due to construction of a huge dam and hydro-electric power facilities, etc. in the vicinity of Nu Jiang (怒江), destructive effects had been generated upon the lives of the species and the original ecosystem of the “Three Parallel Rivers” of Yunnan, the Natural Heritage of China.
The World Heritage Committee had thus requested the Chinese authority rehabilitate the heritage site before evaluation in next year’s annual meeting. If there was no significant improvement, the site might fall into the List of World Heritage in Danger and risk being removed from the World Heritage List.
Apart from the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, six World Heritage sites in have already been given “yellow cards”, where the three major issues of concern are: firstly, the provincial authorities show a lack of experience in the protection of heritage, they need to catch up with international standards. For instance, in the Old Town of Lijiang, owing to ignorance, the native Nakhi ethnic minorities were moved away from their domicile, distorting the genuineness at the heritage site.
The second problem was the excessive pursuit of commercial interest. Thirdly, some principles of protection and renovation must match international standards. For example, the restoration projects of the Forbidden City, and the had triggered fierce public criticism. The requirements of rehabilitation of the “yellow cards” are as follows:

139. Yellow Card ─ Three Parallel Rivers of Protected Areas
Mining activities in the vicinity of the heritage site should be terminated. A comprehensive evaluation on the possible damage brought about by dams and power stations is to be conducted.
─ the Forbidden City, of and
The restoration project should not alter the primitive style of the heritage site. Raw materials should be used with the original architectural structure maintained where possible in the restoration. Comprehensive planning of risk management and tourism management should also be incorporated.
Yunti ─ the of Lijiang
Development, tourism and protection of the heritage site should be phased strategically in order to maintain the integrity of the heritage site and its surrounding environment. Local residence should be preserved with traditional architectural techniques.
Tibet ─the Potala Palace
The buffer zone areas should be extended, including those of the , Norbulingka and Jokhang. A new amendment proposal which is more scientific in nature shall be formulated, and the ancient city’s original landscape shall be preserved as much as possible.

140. Categories of World Heritage
Indicate the category for which the following World Heritage Sites belong to with a 「√」
Categories of World Heritage
Category
Cultural Heritage
Natural Heritage
Mixed (Cultural and Natural) Heritage
Cultural Landscape Heritage
Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage
Yunnan ─ The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas
Beijing ─ Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace
Yunti ─ the Old Town of Lijiang
Tibet ─ the Potala Palace

141. Questions for Discussion
Discuss the positive impacts on the local economy that results from the conservation of local heritage sites.
What circumstances would lead the “World Heritage” sites of a country to make it to the “List of World Heritage in Danger”?

142. Newspaper Clipping Two
The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas
Excerpt from: ‘ turned into reservoir at the Three Parallel Rivers’, Ming Pao,
─ the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas was granted approval for being listed as a World Natural Heritage in It is a rare mountain landform and one of the areas with the richest bio-diversity in the world, including 17 fauna species and 34 flora species under state protection. Following its successful enrolment in the World Heritage List, the number of tourists has been on the rise over the years, leading to damaging effects on ethnic minority culture and potential threats brought by construction of facilities.
Damaging effects on ethnic minority culture
Despite its remote location, experts of the World Heritage Committee think that the Three Parallel Rivers area is attracting more and more tourists on account of its precious natural and cultural resources. At the same time, the authority fails to cope with the pressure produced by the rapid increase in the number of tourists. An example would be the authority’s incapability to construct large scale tourism infrastructure, etc.
Potential threats brought by construction of facilities
Long before the application was inscribed as a World Heritage site, development of large scale tourism facilities to cater to the demands of tourists had already been launched, such as the timber bedding and fences constructed at White Water Terrace, though the effectiveness of this protection was very limited. A snow mountain tour base and interchange have been established there, leading to an increase in pedestrian and traffic flow. As a result, a “heat island” was formed in this originally low temperature zone and thus gave rise to potential threats and damaged local tourism resources.
Before becoming a World Heritage, the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous prefecture had commenced constructing a highway crossing the Tiger Leaping Gorge, which prompted fierce opposition from experts and local and overseas tourists. However, the decision was greeted with applause from villagers residing along the highway. Since 1997, vehicles were permitted to run along Tiger Leaping Gorge and it was a decision openly welcomed by the villagers. This is the year when they watched TV for the first time.

143. Questions for discussion
Why do the responses of local Yunnan residents and tourists towards the construction of highway differ so greatly?
Based on the article above, indicate the negative effects brought about by tourism development on Yunnan’s natural environment.

144. Excerpt from: ‘ crumbles under hordes of tourists’, Ming Pao,
Newspaper Clipping Three
Beijing – the Forbidden City
Excerpt from: ‘ crumbles under hordes of tourists’, Ming Pao,
From 1406 to 1420, artisans of the Ming Dynasty took 14 years to establish the majestic and spectacular . 24 emperors lived and ruled the Empire here since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was inscribed in the World Heritage List in 1987 which brought along large amount of tourists every year.
During the Labour Day Golden Week this year, the set a record of receiving nearly 120,000 tourists within a single day, exceeding 2.3 times its highest capacity. In fact, in order to protect the historical and cultural relics, the authority has already implemented measures like installing railings and other facilities at the site. However, inconsiderate behaviour by tourists still persists.
For example, apart from the natural weathering, the damage shown on the white marble balustrade and the stone carving groups was largely the result of touching from tourists as they walk past. There were even visitors who completely ignored the regulations, crossing over the railing and stepping on the stone carvings when taking photos. As a result, the beautiful cloud and dragon decorations have worn considerably. It was also stated in the Palace’s regulations that tourists were required to wear “shoes for protecting cultural relics,” but many difficulties were encountered in its implementation.
In addition, insolent behaviour like sitting, leaning and even lying wherever one pleases were very common among tourists. Some of them even sit on the threshold while eating, leaving food packages and garbage everywhere. Mr. Zhang Xinmiao, Director of the , admitted that the protection of cultural relics of the Palace could not rely solely on the authority’s management, but also on visitor co-operation.

145. Questions for Discussion
Discuss with students if they have behaved as mentioned above or if they have observed similar behaviour during their travels.
Discuss the appropriate code of conduct for tourists while visiting these World Heritage sites.
Apart from “installing railings” and requiring “shoes for protecting cultural relics,” what other measures could be taken by the authority to effectively conserve the relics at the Palace?

146. Newspaper Clipping Four
– the of Lijiang
Excerpt from: ‘Nakhi culture of Lijiang fades away’, Ming Pao, .
The Old Town of Lijiang was built at the end of the Southern Song Dynasty with more than 800 years of history. It was listed in the World Heritage List in December The ancient city of has retained its historical appearance since the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Due to the over-development of tourism, the Nahki culture is now facing a dilemma between succession and assimilation.
Since the booming of tourism, over 70% of shops and traditional inns established by more than 1,600 Nahki native families have now come under the operation of “outsiders.” The number of natives has dropped from over 30,000 to 25,000 now. Mr. Yang Fu Quan, Director of Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out, “The unique city identity and local characteristics are the fusion of Confucian, Buddhist, Taoist and local culture through historical progression.
However, when people, who are the principle component of that culture, start to move away from the town in large numbers, transformation, decay and the fall of ethnic culture would start to take place.”
With the migration of native residents, culture such as the Nahki language, costumes, traditional festivals and customs is rapidly being assimilated and overwhelmed by modern alien culture. Scholars of Nakhi culture stated that, “The most precious value of the Old Town of Lijiang lies in its being a ’living ancient city.’ Sadly, it is now becoming a destination catering to the demands of tourists.

147. The historical ’Ma bang’ (carriages of horses carrying goods), is replaced by modern automobiles, tourists take the place of merchants, and traditional handicrafts and food, which are slipshod or stereotypical sides of Nahki culture, are now being substituted for tea, butter tea and bronze wares.”
Inside the old town, a deep alley constructed by the riverside has turned into a “bar street” in recent years. When night falls, it is immersed in all kinds of pop music. “Alien culture” like this is completely out of harmony with the traditional style and cultural landscape of the old town, and its unique cultural characteristics have started to wane.
The good news is that the authority has already launched a series of policies to protect the culture of the old city, such as the prohibition of selling housing in the Old Town to outsiders, providing subsidies for the maintenance of ancient architecture to owners of private residences by the government, offering benefits for the basic needs of living, conserving traditional local ethnical features, shops and former residences of celebrities, organizing, protecting and conserving the unique Dongba cultures such as music, Dongba script, dance, religion and worshipping; protecting traditional lifestyles, costumes and food etc.

148. Questions for discussion
According to the newspaper clipping, describe the negative impacts on local Lijiang culture brought on by tourism.
In view of the over-development of tourism, how can the government strike a balance between succession and assimilation of the Nahki culture in order to achieve sustainable tourism development?

149. Newspaper Clipping Five The Potala Palace
Excerpt from: ’Calcium supplements” for to prevent “osteoporosis”’, Ming Pao,
Situated in , the was built by the thirty-third emperor of the kingdom Songtsen for greeting his bride Princess Wencheng in 700 BC. After the 17th century, the fifth Dalai Lama began rebuilding the Palace, and it took years until 1935 before the present scale of architecture was accomplished.
The Palace preserves abundant unique Tibetan artifact, enamelwork “Thangka Paitings” (Buddhist scroll-painting), stupa–tomb halls of the successive Dalai Lamas, golden diplomas and jade seals of Chinese Kings of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and gifts and scriptures offered by different parties.
The was listed on the World Heritage List in 1994 and it has always been a popular tourist attraction. The number of overseas and local tourists received in even exceeded 250 million after the inauguration of the Qingzang Railway last year.
In order to alleviate the pressure of tourist flow, the authority implemented a policy aimed at restricting the number of visitors, releasing visitors to enter the Palace in batches and limiting the duration of visits. Starting from last year, the number of visitors entering the Palace each day was limited to around 2,300. Visitors at the entrance of the were released to enter in stages while the duration of visit is limited to 1 hour.
The Director of the Tibet Tourism Bureau stated that the local authority would implement three measures for alleviating excess demand in peak seasons:
1. enhance promotion to attract tourists visiting after October;
2. accelerate the construction of “Xue Cheng” (City of ), especially the “Zhen Bao Guan” ( ) at the foot of the Palace for attracting and directing visitor flow;
3. release the documentary to satisfy the demand to learn about the history and culture of .

150. Questions for discussion
What other measures for controlling the amount of tourists could be implemented by the Potala Palace apart from those mentioned in the article?
List other factors affecting visitor flow apart from the weather and seasonal reasons mentioned in the above article.
As the number of local and overseas tourists received by the Potala Palace in Tibet keeps rising, what are three problems that could result in overcapacity? With reference to the following article, quote one example of each problem.

151. PART TWO Traditional Culture – Development and Succession
Newspaper clipping series

152. The Home Affairs Bureau will establish a specialist panel next month to monitor the implementation of a survey, which will last for two years, to formulate Hong Kong’s first “Intangible Cultural Heritage List.”
According to the definitions set out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Intangible Cultural Heritage refers to a special trait that carries with it a strong and deep connection with the history of the community and identification with the community. On a societal level, Hong Kong as a community is constantly striving for “world records,” but what do we know about our “Intangible Cultural Heritage”?

153. Newspaper Clipping One
Succession of Intangible Cultural Heritage relies on the community
Excerpt from: ‘Succession of intangible cultural heritage relies on community’, Ming Pao, . published in
The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (“the Convention”) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been in effect since and is applicable in . Article 2 of the Convention defines Intangible Cultural Heritage as the practices, representations, expressions, as well as the knowledge and skills that communities, groups and in some cases, individuals recognise as part of their cultural heritage.
It also requires local governments to conduct surveys, set out categories and criteria for the Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The Home Affairs Bureau hopes that the survey could incorporate opinions of experts and the community and ensure citizens’ participation. Thus, community is critical to the life of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
It is responsible for, for instance, the intellectual property of these resources, or improving or preserving their social economic status, in order to ensure that their Intangible Cultural Heritage can live and be prevented from being exploited etc.
The Convention states that the Intangible Cultural Heritage is manifested in the five domains below: oral traditions and expressions (including language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural heritage), performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship.

154. Newspaper Clipping Two
Decision on Intangible Cultural Heritage List by conducting
survey - Worries about traditional culture being turned into
commodity
Retrieved from: Ming Pao, from
Hong Kong’s local Chinese herb tea and Cantonese opera became national intangible cultural heritages as early as However, in these two years, herb tea has turned into a commercialized beverage, with none of its traditional healing and medicinal properties. The promotion of Cantonese opera does not result in any obvious quality improvements either.
What is more, it appears that in the industry, there is a phenomenon of “profiting from the name of ‘Intangible Heritage’,” with traditional arts being marketed through poor commercial performances. Some scholars are worried that after entering the list, traditional culture’s commercialization would accelerate, while the traditions and characteristics of our local culture would become more difficult to preserve.
Dr. Liu Tik-sang, who is responsible for the study of the intangible cultural heritage list, pointed out that creating the list would unavoidably accelerate the commercialization of folk traditions.
But the most worrying is th situation in which applicants would intentionally distort traditions in order to fulfil relevant requirements. He believes that change is normal, but if caused by an external force, such as the abandonment of original characteristics to fulfil the qualifications of entering the list, it would turn the whole idea upside down.

155. The Fire Dragon Dance in Tai Hang, embroidery and the Weitou dialect are all precious cultural heritages of . However, choosing between which items to protect would also result in controversy. Some intangible heritages which are likely to disappear due to a lack of resources, for instance, the Weitou dialect, Hakka dialect etc., should be given highest priority. Sometimes, we face the dilemma of choosing between conservation and the temptation of economic resources made possible by modernization and urbanization.
Cheung Chau Bun Festival is a good living example for this. Originally, Cheung Chau Bun Festival was held at the beginning of each year, when people would predict their fortunes, asking for personal safety before the god Pak Tai. It was traditionally held on a day in the fourth month of the Chinese calendar. Now it has been changed to Buddha’s birthday every year. Obviously, the original traditions have been altered to promote the economic development of the island.

156. Question for Discussion
Apart from the above-mentioned items which have been listed in the “Intangible Cultural Heritage List,” please suggest two other precious cultural heritages of Hong Kong to add to the list and explain your reasons for adding them.

157. Excerpt from: Apple Daily,
Newspaper Clipping Three (a)
Traditional Festivals Imply
Change of Cultural Significance
Excerpt from: Apple Daily,
According to traditional rituals, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival is the annual period of exorcism when all the residents and commercial tenants abstain from eating meat. All restaurants on the island serve vegetarian dishes or sell seasonal glutinous rice dumplings and An buns at that time. This year, even fast food chain stores on the island follow local custom and sell mushroom burgers.
However, to the great regret of some residents, this originally traditional festival has changed, becoming a tourist activity. Yesterday, even before the festival ended, some restaurants began selling meat dishes. Some customers were seen eating ‘fried clams with black beans sauce’ in the seafood restaurant while some eateries were selling fishball noodles. Even during the festival, these restaurants were still crowded with customers.
Apart from the Bun Scrambling Competition, the colourful street procession is another important part of the festivities, with children dressed up as different historical icons or celebrities. In fact, this originated from the ban on Cantonese opera by the government of the Qing Dynasty. Although Cantonese opera is not suppressed today, the traditional art is gradually declining due to the popularity of other new forms of entertainment. What could we do to promote its development to preserve the succession of this Chinese traditional culture for the coming generations?

158. Newspaper Clipping Three (b)
Traditional Festivals Imply Change of Cultural Significance
Excerpt from: Ming Pao,
The bun scrambling competition was banned in 1978 by the government and was resumed as a type of sports event in Plastic buns were used for competitions starting from In fact, cultural traditions unquestionably change continuously to match the definitions and scope of life within the community. The Hong Kong government now treats bun scrambling as a kind of performance aimed at promoting as a tourist attraction, but not serving the community. As a result, the “Cheung Chau Bun Festival” has become a festival of rather than Cheung Chau.
One of the standard requirements of Intangible Cultural Heritage, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is that while facing the risk of losing these cultures, we should allow more space to accommodate voices of the minorities in order to embody the diversity of cultures.

159. Question for Discussion
The date of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival has been moved to the Buddha’s birthday, which has now also become a public holiday. What advantages will this bring to the promotion of economic development for the island? And what negative effects will this bring to the local residents and their society?

160. Newspaper Clipping Four
Herb Tea Becomes Commercialized Brand Name Beverage
Packaging Outweighs Medicinal Effects
Retrieved from: ‘Herb Tea becomes brand name beverage; Packaging outweighs medicinal effects’ , Ming Pao, at
Chinese herb tea has become a National Intangible Cultural Heritage since The 54 formulas from 16 herb tea brands, e.g. Wanglaoji, Jian Sheng Tang (健生堂), Wang Zhen Long (黃振龍) were acknowledged by the Ministry of Culture of for their contributions to Chinese herb tea culture. However, rather than being served in porcelain bowls, as in the old days, these old brand name herb teas are now bottled, packed in cartons or even produced as extract powder. Some companies even use “Intangible Cultural Heritage” as the selling point for their products.
Professor Liang Song-ming from the of , the of Hong Kong, indicated that people treated herb tea as an effective remedy for clearing away excessive body heat caused by the summer weather, expelling dampness etc. in the past. However, with the commercialization of herb tea, corporations treat herb tea as a business tool. “Especially after herb tea became an intangible cultural heritage, they just want to boost their sales but ignore the medicinal effects. Herb teas of many brand names in the list have become ’sugar water‘ and the medicinal effects are in doubt.”
’s famous herb tea brands, which have been selected for the Intangible Cultural Heritage List, are developing in the direction of commercialization. In the corporate website of herb tea products, we can not only find presentations of the corporate image and its latest movement, but also commercial jingles as background music. The traditions of porcelain bowls and medicinal herbs are all replaced by the packaging techniques of modern marketing.
The founder of “Leung Chun-leung herb tea”, which has operated for more than 40 years, has expressed his regret for the fact that customers only treat herb tea as a thirst-quenching beverage and do not care about its medical effectiveness anymore.

161. Picture showing “Leung Chun-leung herb tea” which has operated for more than 40 years.

162. Question for Discussion
Based on the article, please point out the negative cultural influence that being listed as an intangible cultural heritage has brought to herb tea.

163. Newspaper Clipping Five Apply for Subsidies in the Name of Promoting Cantonese Quality of Performances Neglected
Retrieved from: ‘Apply for subsidies in the name of promoting Cantonese; Quality of performances neglected’, Ming Pao, at
Apart from herb tea, Cantonese opera is also listed as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Ms. Au Man- fung, who is both a scriptwriter and the organizer of the Cantonese Opera Academy of Hong Kong, indicated that the government has increased resources to promote the development of Cantonese opera since it made the list.
Although most of the audience knew nothing about this, the number of audience members has increased in the past two years. “In the past, the attendance rate of performance used to be only 50% to 60%, but, taking the recent show as an example, 50% to 60% of tickets were sold out in one day.”
Famous player Mr. Yuen Siu-fai pointed out that many performers have applied for subsidies from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and the government in the name of promoting Cantonese opera. However, they were not serious about the performance quality and just took the attitude that it was 'just for fun.”
They ignored the traditional characteristics of Cantonese opera, destroying the image of the industry and the art itself. “There are too much people who ‘fish in troubled waters.’ If it is listed as a Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage in the future without any government monitor on quality, the situation will get worse.”
One of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage practitioners for Cantonese opera, Ms. Chan Kin-sing indicated that, although the number of rehearsals is limited by the subsidies granted, she did not worry that the quality of performance would be influenced by its being listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Well-known opera singers:
Mr. Lung Kin-sang (Left) and Ms. Miu Suet-see (Right) playing ”Princess Chang Ping”

164. Well-known opera singers:
Mr. Lung Kin-sang (Left) and Ms. Miu Suet-see (Right) playing ”Princess Chang Ping”

165. Question for Discussion
In order to ensure a more effective usage of the subsidies for the development of Cantonese opera, what measures can the authority implement?