Displacement of Youth from the Isle of Man: The Role of House Price Inflation

Abstract: Small islands frequently suffer from population decline, especially of young people, putting continuity of community at risk. At the same time, their limited size can mean an intense competition for housing stock, particularly in scenic or economically successful islands which draw investors and migrants: a dynamic that fuels inflation. This paper investigates property inflation on the Isle of Man and its threat of displacing young inhabitants and upsetting social sustainability. Qualitative interviews with young Isle of Man émigrés and residents investigate the influences upon decisions to either remain on, or leave, the island. Whilst prices were not found to be significant in the decisions of those that have left, they were very much so for those who wished to remain. Those who have left claimed to have done so in order to improve their financial and personal options, but most did not necessarily want to leave. The overall result is distress, work disenchantment, family postponement and potentially, rising xenophobia

The Tourist Culture Nexus: Occurrence, Advantages, Sustainability

This article investigates the concept of tourist culture in three island cases. Fieldwork and qualitative depth interviews of key stakeholders are used to identify and describe. Tourist culture is identified through artefacts and practises that are shown to be stimulated, reinterpreted and created as a result of interactions between hosts and guests, both of whom are shown to have distinct cultures of their own. Tourist culture is thus described as a nexus between. A range of benefits are identified. These may be associated with overall sustainability of tourism. Yet findings highlight that tourist culture evolution is affected by stage and scale of tourism development and may therefore need careful management if it is to be established and maintained

Defining the Gay Tourist Niche: Marketing and Ethical Considerations

Niche tourism is associated with the differentiation, competitive advantage, and sustainability, of tourist destinations. However, limitations and moral implications of niche strategies have been raised. These apply particularly acutely to the gay tourist niche. Depth interviews reveal the ambivalence of gay individuals towards gay tourism. Sexuality appears an inadequate basis for distinguishing tourists. Gay tourism descriptions are perceived as stereotypes; unrepresentative and potentially insulting. The variety and multiplicity of tourism pursued by gay individuals is not recognised. Nor are concerns for the alienation, isolation, and stigmatisation, produced by gay tourist labels. The effectiveness and ethics of defining tourists based on sexuality, is therefore challenged

Exploring nuances in the domestic tourism niche: the case of a small island

This paper presents a case concerning domestic tourism on the Isle of Man, British Isles. Qualitative interviews find existence of considerable domestic tourism activity conducted by island residents. This includes daytrips and overnight stays within the island. Such behaviour is identified by residents as touristic and distinct from other leisure activities. Particular activities and motivations associated with are recognisable as touristic, as a review of the relevant literature demonstrates. Yet recognition of domestic tourism in small geographic spaces is currently almost entirely absent. This article attempts to highlight the issue and draw attention to attendant benefits of domestic tourism, which include economic and social inputs. These may be relevant to a small island community, and in the case of the Isle of Man, help to support an otherwise ailing tourism industry

An Existentialist Exploration of Tourism Sustainability: Backpackers Fleeing and Finding Themselves

This article applies existentialism to sustainable tourism discussion using an exploratory netnographic case study of twelve backpackers. Highlighted is the importance of both existential avoidance and authenticity to participants looking to escape and transcend underlying existential anxiety. Avoidance can be found in the cultural-adherence and self-esteem pathways facilitated by travel. Authenticity is identified in the deeper interactions with host peoples and landscapes, and the liberation, reflection and learning which emerges from this. Avoidance and authenticity are linked in turn with the sustainability of tourism pursued. The former is associated with more hedonistic escape and superficial, self-centric and insensitive tourism. The latter is suggestive of more transcendent escape and involved, appreciative and alternative tourism

Tourism, Creativity and Sustainability

This article explores tourism creativity from the perspective of hosts; previously under-represented in the still nascent literature, and discusses in relation to sustainability. The creative responses of hosts to tourism in three small islands are reviewed. Findings illustrate the commercial, cultural and coping creativity of communities, stimulated by the processes of exchange and change which tourism engenders. This creativity helps residents to exploit advantages, ameliorate disadvantages, and shape tourism in a more sustainable manner. Tourism creativity is an important process for those involved in sustainable management to consider

Sustainable tourism in the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man was once a busy, upmarket tourism destination, but it has declined dramatically since its 1950's heyday. This project reviews the possibilities for tourism development in a small island on the periphery of the UK and Europe. Research of island stakeholders gauges demand for tourism revival and what is sought from this. Sustainable tourism is recommended as most suitable for meeting island needs, reducing impacts and exploiting the locations cultural and natural resources to create an appealing product for niche visitors. Practical recommendations for implementing such a strategy are provided

Existentialism, Consumption and Sustainability: Backpackers Fleeing and Finding Themselves

This article seeks to understand sustainable tourism consumption through the lens of existentialism. Netnography of backpackers on an extended vacation reveals both existential anxiety and authenticity motivate and shape travel. This in turn has implications for the relative sustainability of otherwise of tourism consumed

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Tiffany’s: Existentialism and Consumption in Capote’s Novella

Existentialism has been used within marketing to enrich understanding of consumer motivations and behaviour. Consumption may be used as a means of existential avoidance or facilitator of existential authenticity. However the overlap, mutual support, limitations and nuances of the relationships between existentialism and consumption are underdeveloped. Drawing on the literary tradition of the philosophy, this think piece explores the themes of existentialism and consumption within Truman Capote’s classic fiction. Breakfast at Tiffany’s provides a succinct, engaging and holistic depiction of existential consumption and demonstrates the value of reading literature in enriching marketing theory

Entrepreneurial responses to sustainability: regulatory, normative and cognitive dimensions in emergent and declining destinations

This paper examines the characteristics, commonalities and contrasts between emerging and declining tourist destinations from a sustainable development perspective. This paper aims to contribute to current marketing theory relating to the sustainable management of destinations by investigating the influences of the regulatory (government structures), normative (value systems) and cognitive (social knowledge) dimensions on the activities of tourism entrepreneurs. Two regions are chosen as the basis for this research; Northern Ireland, a newly emerging tourism destination, and the Isle of Man, and well established tourism destination, which in recent years has moved into a stage of decline in terms of tourism. Tourism entrepreneurs encourage tourism development and destination competitiveness (Komppula 2014; Dwyer et al 2009), however this also requires the support of a range of stakeholders and government bodies (Bramwell and Sharman 2009; Hardy and Beeton 2001). Indeed, given that the tourism resources are often owned by various entities in many contexts, the need to achieve consensus in terms of tourism development can be a limiting factor (Jamal and Getz 1995). In addition, sustainability principles may be viewed differently, depending on the stage of development of the region in question (Canavan 2014; Hardy and Beeton 2009), In more advanced regions, tourism development may be ubiquitous and advantageous to locals; they understand and indeed have benefitted from tourism development. However, regions in decline may find government has retreated from the development process, thereby sacrificing momentum in terms of strategic progress. In emerging regions, government may not have the knowledge or experience to support tourism development from a sustainable development perspective as institutional and sociocultural sustainability principles (Puhakka, Sarkki, Cottrell, Pirkko 2009) have not been established. Some regions may experience opposition to tourism development itself. Both scenarios depict a situation of poor governmental support, thereby demonstrating similarities, and possible opportunities for shared learning and practice. The research takes a qualitative approach, using case studies to provide rich and in-depth insights into two regions; one emergent (Northern Ireland) and one in decline (Isle of Man). In-depth interviews were carried out with a range of stakeholders, including local entrepreneurs and community associations. Findings are presented according to regulative, cognitive and normative dimensions. There are many similarities of emergent and declining destinations. Highlighted is the heightened importance of sustainable management in these contexts to avoid fragmentation, degradation and contestation. Also demonstrated are the increased challenges which both emergent and declining destinations pose for destination management, product development and promotion