1st Edition

Quality Tourism Experiences

Edited By Gayle Jennings, Norma Nickerson Copyright 2006

    The theme of the edited book acknowledges the multiple meanings of quality tourism experiences, the diverse contexts in which tourism occurs, and the varied stakeholders associated directly or indirectly with the phenomenon of tourism.

    "Quality tourism experiences" is a widely used phrase in tourism and tourism-related texts and is associated with a diversity of meanings and usage. Meanings are ascribed by industry/business, government agencies, tourists, community and academics. The phrase is used to argue, for example, for positive social impacts, economic benefits, environmental protection, government policy formulation, discrimination between tourism products as well as issues associated with sustainability. Subsequently, the phrase "quality tourism experiences" is not a nomothetic term but rather one associated with multiple interpretations and meanings. The book"s overarching tenet is that "quality" is a socially constructed term (as are the terms tourism experiences). Authors investigate the role of the mass media, the role of travel providers, the role of host communities, the role of tourists, and the role of "government" at all its levels.

    From an academic perspective, quality tourism experiences are associated with interaction between host and guest (tourists and community perspectives), the classification of type of tourism product (tourism industry and government sector perspectives), market differentiation and development, tourist perspectives, the notion of an integrated system and benefits from an economic perspective.

    Similarly, quality is associated with different meanings and is used in a variety of contexts within tourism literature. For example quality is associated with service quality, quality assurance/auditing and control, perceptions of quality at an individual/business/community level, that is, stakeholder level, and in regard to product and market differentiation.

    The book draws together writers from different backgrounds and interdisciplinary interests and research methodologies, as a consequence, the book provides a model of the way researchers can work together to illuminate an area and to provide multiple representations and interpretations of that area. Moreover the book demonstrates interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary and intradisciplinary approaches and collaborations.

    Kathleen Andereck, Ph.D., Arizona State University West
    Sue Beeton, Ph.D., La Trobe University
    Heather E. Bowen, Ph.D., George Mason University
    Kelly S. Bricker, Ph.D., West Virginia University
    Barbara Carmichael, Ph.D., Wilfrid Laurier University
    Maggie Daniels, Ph.D., George Mason University
    Gayle Jennings, Ph.D., Central Queensland University
    Claudia Jurowski, Ph.D, Northern Arizona University
    Deborah Kerstetter, Ph.D., Penn State University
    Norma Nickerson, Ph.D., University of Montana
    Lori Pennington-Gray, Ph.D., University of Florida
    Carla Almeida Santos, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    Betty Weiler, Ph.D., Monash University

    Chapter One: Perspectives on Quality Tourism Experiences:
    An Introduction

    Gayle Jennings

    Chapter 2: State of Knowledge
    Mass Media and its Relationship to Perceptions of Quality

    Sue Beeton
    Heather E. Bowen
    Carla Almeida Santos

    Chapter 3: Constructing Quality, Constructing Reality

    Heather E. Bowen
    Carla Santos



    Chapter 4: Mediating Meaning:
    Perspectives on Brokering Quality Tourist Experiences

    Gayle Jennings
    Betty Weiler


    Chapter 5: Connecting Experiences to Quality:
    Understanding the Meanings Behind Visitors’ Experiences

    Kathleen Andereck
    Kelly Bricker
    Deb Kerstetter
    Norma Nickerson


    Chapter 6: Saravanua ni vanua:
    Exploring Sense of Place in the Rural Highlands of Fiji

    Kelly S. Bricker
    Deborah Kerstetter


    Chapter 7: Linking Quality Tourism Experiences,
    Residents’ Quality of Life and Quality Experiences For Tourists

    Barbara A. Carmichael


    Chapter 8:
    Tourism and Quality of Life

    Kathleen Andereck
    Claudia Jurowski


    Chapter 9:
    Introduction to Political-Economic Construction of Quality Tourism Experiences

    Margaret J. Daniels

    Lori Pennington-Gray


    Chapter 10:
    Quality Tourism Development and Planning

    Kelly S. Bricker
    Margaret J. Daniels
    Barbara A. Carmichael


    Chapter 11:
    The Distribution of Tourism Benefits

    Claudia Jurowski
    Margaret J. Daniels
    Lori Pennington-Gray


    Chapter 12:
    Political-Economic Construction of Quality Tourism Experiences


    Lori Pennington-Gray
    Barbara A. Carmichael



    Chapter 13
    Quality Tourism Experiences Reconstructed
    Norma Polovitz Nickerson

    Biography

    Gayle Jennings