From distant criticism to constructive engagement

Andreas KagermeierTrier University, Germany

Panel : Towards a Research Agenda for Tourism Geographyat the AAG Annual Meeting,

March 29 - April 2, 2016, San Francisco

Fundamental changes in the tourism market

• Demand side: substantial changes and differentiation of lifestyles, values and consumption orientations => diversified customer preferences (“hybrid tourist”). experiences “off the beaten track,” leaving the “tourism bubble” seeking “authentic” settings,.

• Supply side:Former Fordist production scheme, is increasingly complemented by small service providers addressing the niche markets (Long Tail)

• Information and communication technology: Social Web / Long Tail / C2C “word-of-mouse” Sharing economy facilitated by internet platforms (Airbnb)

Andreas Kagermeier AAG 2016 (SFO): Research Agenda for Tourism Geography 29 March – 2 April 2016, Slide 2

New postfordist products …

Andreas Kagermeier 29 March – 2 April 2016, Slide 3AAG 2016 (SFO): Research Agenda for Tourism Geography

Casablanca

RabatFes

Meknes

Sale

Oued

Tanger

Oued

Oudja

Oued

Tétouan

Oued

Oued SebouKénitra

Oue

d M

oulo

uya

Oum Beni Mellaler

El Jadida

Rbia

Taza

Settat

Larache

Marrakesch

Nador

Berkane

Khemisset

Sidi Kacem

Agadir

Sidi Slimane

Safi

Essaouira

Al Hoceima

Tantan

Khénifra

Sefrou

Guelmim

Taroudannt

El Kelâa Srarhna

Taourirt

Azrou

Tiflet

Errachidia

S.Arbaa Rharb

Midelt

Ben Slimane

Chefchaouen

Sidi Bennour

Tiznit

El Aioun

Asilah

Ouarzazate

Ifni

Mechra Bel Ksiri

Figuig

Bouarfa

Guercif

Taounate

TinerhirErfoud

Sousse

Ziz

Draa

Design & Cartography: A. Kagermeier

0 100 200 km

Main Tourism Sites

Pays d'Accueil Touristique 2010

High Atlas

Anti Atlas

Rif

Atlant

ic Oce

an

Mediterranean Sea

Saidia

Chtouka-Aït Baha

Haut-Atlascentral

Zagora

ImouzerIda-Outanane

Ifrane

Middle

Atlas

Source: authors own photos

… need new governance approaches

1) Traditional hierarchic understanding of an authoritarian state

2) Orientation towards central investors from outside the region

3) Missing conscience on needs for Governance-Structures amongst the public stakeholders

4) Missing competences at the local stakeholders

5) No compensation by NGOs / state cooperation

6) No established cooperation structures (leadership)

Andreas Kagermeier AAG 2016 (SFO): Research Agenda for Tourism Geography 29 March – 2 April 2016, Slide 4

Source: authors own photos

Andreas Kagermeier 29 March – 2 April 2016, Slide 5AAG 2016 (SFO): Research Agenda for Tourism Geography

Interests of the Explorer tourists

Explorer tourists

Insider tips

Get into contact

Life with/like local

Stay in residential 

neighborhood

Sleep in unique accommodation

Explore off the beaten track

Search for authenticity

Theculturetrip.com 2015 Visitberlin.de 2015 

Andreas Kagermeier 29 March – 2 April 2016, Slide 6AAG 2016 (SFO): Research Agenda for Tourism Geography

Airbnb listingsper 1,000 Inhab.

less than 1

1 to less than 5

5 to less than 20

20 and more

0

20075255

Numer of Airbnb listings

Mitte

Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg

Pankow

Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf

Spandau

Steglitz-Zehlendorf

Tempelhof-Schöneberg

Neukölln Treptow-Köpenick

Marzahn-Hellersdorf

Lichten-berg

Reinickendorf

Airbnb in Berlin

Distribution of Airbnb‐offers in Berlin on the LOR‐level

Source: Own design using data from SKOWRONNEK, VOGEL & PARNOW 2015and Land Berlin 2015

Mitte

Tempelhof-

Prenzlauer Berg

Fried-richs-hain

Kreuzberg/Neukölln

Andreas Kagermeier 29 March – 2 April 2016, Slide 7AAG 2016 (SFO): Research Agenda for Tourism Geography

Shifting attitude towards tourists

Invitation for round table discussion: 

“Help, the tourists are coming”; Green Party, 2011               ueddeutsche Zeitung.de, 2011)

“Berlin doesn’t love you” campaign sticker 

(Stors, 2012)

“No more trolley suitcases anymore” graffity(Die Zeit, 2012) 

„I hope that settles all“ says head of visitBerlin Burkhard Kieker 2011

On the interdiction of renting out apartments by Airbnb

(Spiegel.de, 2011) 

Implications for research in Tourism Geography

• Transformation with consequences on destinations = one of the core aspects of Tourism Geography

• New management and governance models must be developed

• Social science foundation of TG allows it to take into account developments and conditions on the demand side as well as the more economic aspects of the supply side

• With its broad multifocal perspective, including economic, societal and political factors such as globalisation, sustainability or CSR discourse, Tourism Geography should be capable of engaging itself in the actual development of tourism.

Andreas Kagermeier AAG 2016 (SFO): Research Agenda for Tourism Geography 29 March – 2 April 2016, Slide 8

Implications for research in Tourism Geography

• Actual practice of academic Tourism Geography = view from the ivory tower

• Criticising the actual practice of tourists, tourism professionals or political stakeholders, paying homage to the pure ideal of values and political correctness

• Often insisting on a pure ideal of development first (or sustainability/participation/protection first)

• But: prioritising the interests of tourists and the tourism industry has led to negative impacts in many cases

• Balancing and reconciling divergent interests might be one of the top priorities for Tourism Geography

Andreas Kagermeier AAG 2016 (SFO): Research Agenda for Tourism Geography 29 March – 2 April 2016, Slide 9

Andreas Kagermeier 29 March – 2 April 2016, Slide 10AAG 2016 (SFO): Research Agenda for Tourism Geography

Thank you for your

attention …

… and I look forward to a lively discussion!