RC50 extra special in-between symposium
Statement
'Sociology of tourism' or 'sociology and tourism' or 'society and tourism'.
Scott McCabe,
Centre for Tourism and Cultural Change, Faculty of Organisation and Management, Sheffield Hallam University, Howard Street, Sheffield.
00 44 +114 225 3526
email: s.mccabe@shu.ac.uk
The sociology of tourism has made a great contribution to developing understandings about the relationships between travel consumption behaviour and wider social mores. It has also contributed towards the development of knowledge in the context of intercultural interactions, host-guest relations, cultural changes and globalisation. It has become more focused on an engagement with the experiential aspects of travel and how these impact upon everyday life. In this, the sociology of tourism is very good at advancing knowledge in the context of 'tourists', social relations and an examination of what mobile people in societies actually do. And yet, it appears that the sociology of tourism has always remained on the periphery of sociological studies, contributing only a little to sociological theory (Q4). Our studies in the sociology of tourism have developed useful (largely qualitative) methodologies and interpretive techniques to sociological phenomena, and we have engaged fruitfully in the dialogue of postmodernism, if we have not really been able to produce large-scale macro-sociological analyses of tourism, this is not too problematic, so why should the sociology of tourism have so little impact upon mainstream sociology or why is there so little dialogue and exchange with other scientific fields (Q3)? Perhaps one explanation for this is that the sociology of tourism has not managed to reach out to the more pressing concerns of mainstream sociologists, namely an analysis of how social relations and patterns of such are built up into institutions. Put another way, the sociology of tourism seems not to be able to engage with socio-political institutions or systems. Can we apply our knowledge production usefully for social development? What good does our research do for society at large? This is a question I have been struggling with for the last year, and maybe we can discuss this, or you know of good work that you can share with me.
Perhaps this statement is more relevant to those studying within a social policy framework of sociology, but yet it is a question which troubles. With more attention being devoted to the more experiential aspects of touristic consumption, as a discipline (or sub-discipline), maybe it is fruitful to address the issues through a discussion of those who are not tourists - just members of society. For it appears we have neglected those who are unable to participate and consume touristic experiences. Perhaps these people in society have the moral high ground, since we as academics often tend to view our subjects as being involved in morally dubious forms of activity when they engage in tourism. I refer not just to international tourism and the non-western, developing world situation (Q1), but even domestic (UK) tourism.
In the UK over 30% of the population do not currently have a holiday (Family holidays Association: 2002). Why should we be interested in them? Well, despite much of modern tourism being based upon the infrastructure (holiday time, transport routes and services, cultural history) of a Victorian notion that time spent away from grimy cities by the seaside would cure health related problems (and from a health care perspective!), we seem to have little to say on how tourism actually brings many benefits to individuals and society. As sociologists we do not appear to be interested in why people do not engage in tourism, what barriers are in place, or to consider the effects of non-participation.
Take for example the health benefits that holidays bring. A recent study for the National Children’s Bureau (Lewis: 2001) cited an extensive survey by the English Tourism council (ETC; 1999) into the health benefits of holidays which revealed that 91% of General Practitioners in the UK believe that a holiday can enhance quality of life. It also stated that 87% believed that a holiday could help alleviate behavioural problems and (childhood) stress-related illness in children. Yet there is very little research which specifically addresses these or the social benefits that participation in holidaymaking can bring to people and how these benefits could be harnessed to create a positive social policy lobbying vehicle. Of course, in the EU where many countries have a long history of 'social tourism', perhaps these social and health benefits are embedded within a cultural approach to the utility or functionality of holidaymaking. But what are those policies and socio-cultural norms? How can we learn from and use such knowledge in the UK policy debates?
It is widely recognised that globalisation - either passively (through for example population growth trends) or openly (through the concentration of trade and capital flows within the developed regions of the world) - creates increasing inequalities between the rich nations and poor. This will affect the ability of huge areas of the world to participate in tourism activity. Can this be just? But this is not simply a development studies issue. In the UK, the gap between the richest and poorest in society is increasing, and the impact that working patterns, demographic changes (single householders for example) and income distribution has on types and forms of tourism and the inter-relationships between family holidaymaking is very poorly treated within the sociology of tourism. According to Oxfam's submission to the UK Government White Paper on Globalisation "Rising inequality has been a hallmark of globalisation. The income gap between rich and poor countries has reached record levels – and continues to widen. Income distribution is also worsening in a large group of developing countries. At the same time, inequality in intra-household distribution may also be exacerbated by globalisation, and care should be taken to consider the distribution of benefits between men and women." (Oxfam: 2000).
Whilst there is great attention to the new forms and types of tourism activity there is little work that relates these trends in an overall picture of consumption patterns in a society. In a UK policy era dominated by notions of citizenship and social 'inclusivity', I propose that people who cannot access holidays are effectively excluded from mainstream society, particularly as social identity is increasingly defined through (and dominated by) leisure consumption, including holidays and leisure travel. An ability to experience and participate in holidays becomes a part of 'social capital'. Yet we tend to overlook those who cannot participate perhaps because we have focused too narrowly on understanding touristic experience. Take for example the elderly. We live in a society which is ageing and we must think about the impact of longer life, healthier lifestyles and the elderly as an increasing proportion of our (EU) population structures. Dann (2000) examined the institutional nature of package holidays for the elderly (after Goffman 1973, and Cheong and Miller 2000) in Mallorca with a touch of sympathy but without any real consideration of how holidays - however institutionalised - can bring enormous benefits to people in later life.
Age Concern identify that the benefits of holidays to older people can include confidence building, socialising, and providing a benefit for carers, who could accompany their friends or relatives or decide to stay behind and have a break from their caring role. Similarly, the National Benevolent Fund for the Aged (www.nbfa.org.uk) identify that the social benefits of having a holiday are important in: “helping to combat the isolation and loneliness that older people feel once the front door is shut. The holiday provides an opportunity for socialising, having fun and making new friends. The change of scene is rejuvenating and boosts self confidence for people who are living on their own. The benefits of the holiday continue long after the return home with holidaymakers continuing to meet with new friends.” There are also potential health benefits. These may be physical benefits brought about in a change to a favourable climate or more perceived health benefits brought about by a change in scenery etc. Similarly, many people become active consumers of holidays following a death of a spouse, do holidays help with the grieving process?
This becomes a relevant social policy issue in relation to current UK Government concerns on citizenship, health, ageing and disability as well as poverty. According to a recent report by Age Concern (Modest but Adequate: 2002), half of all pensioners do not meet minimum income requirements to provide for a modest, but above poverty level, lifestyle (including two 5 five day holidays in the UK [not abroad], and no private transport). This figure is likely to rise even higher in future years as less people are able to save for adequate retirement income and the population of older people grows significantly as a proportion of all people. In the press release to the report, Age concern’s Director-General, Gordon Lishman, said: “Our pensions system simply isn’t working. Too many older people today are not reaching decent incomes in retirement and the position for future pensioners is uncertain”.
How will a generation, which has been brought up on a diet of free-wheeling (buy now -pay later), conspicuous consumption with the freedom to travel and experience whatever they wish, cope in a long, and healthy retirement in which they are unable to sustain such pleasures? We might mock the last of the current generation of elderly people who were brought up in times of war, depression and austerity without the benefit of international travel, and intercultural experiences, yet as sociologists we should be asking about what impact our travel activities will have on future generations cultures and social systems? This gap between our work and those in the more conventional applied sociological fields (Q5) will never be bridged unless we can address some of these issues and make ourselves relevant to current and future sociological concerns.