Breaking dichotomies in tourism
“Back to reality” is what we would often hear people say after returning from a fun and restful vacation in a place far away from home and work.
But what if someone’s fantasy world is another person’s reality? I’ve heard of French people referring to life in Paris as akin to living in a fish bowl—what, with the droves of tourists defining the daily tempo of life in this city and with people in every corner taking photos as an everyday thing. I have also experienced being sneered at for listening to tour guides talk about life in Hollywood, suggesting the hyping up of everyday life to get people interested in the place.
Some people living in tourism destinations were thankful during the height of the pandemic for the respite from the usual noise and crowd. Places were reclaimed by the locals as domestic and international travel restrictions were imposed and natural settings were allowed to heal after many years of human domination.
How does it feel like to live in a place that is frequented by tourists? What is good or bad about being surrounded by foreign visitors, tourist buses and souvenir shops? More than that, how does it feel like to be the tourist’s subject of observation?
TRAVEL AND TOURISM
People get drawn to places that are known for natural and built assets, famous and infamous people, historical and recurring seasonal events, cultural experiences and material expressions of heritage.
The desire to be outside of one’s everyday zone intensified after two years of restricted mobility. With or without a pandemic, people travel to take a break from the usual pattern of activities. Short-term visits to new and less frequented places help recharge exhausted minds or even reset life plans.
Physical and mental rejuvenation are sought by those who temporarily leave their homes to be in less familiar environments. Going on vacation is taken to mean by many as packing bags, pausing work timelines and traveling to other places. The constant movement of people highlights the relativity of the notion of rest and recreation. What’s home for one can be the tourism place for another and vice-versa.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR REAL ESTATE
The Hedonic model factors in environment and neighborhood qualities in the real estate pricing equation
(O’Sullivan, 2007). Depending on how tourism manifests in a place, being in the center of gravity can add to or reduce place value.
On one hand, revenues brought in by tourism activities may translate to better maintained facilities, consequently increasing the aesthetic value of places. Unique features enhance place branding, which accounts for positive associations and higher property values.
On the other hand, being in the midst of the daily tourism-driven hustle and bustle may compromise people’s sense of privacy and security. Crowds pose health risks and activity congestion can result in lowered productivity and efficiency in household and workplace organizations. Overbuilding as a response to increasing demand in guest accommodations, and breaching thresholds result from stimulated backward and forward linkages in the local tourism economic system.
DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS
Current and emerging development strategies blur the divide between the host and the guest, the origin and the destination, the home and the vacation place. Enhancing rather than hyping up the place features would account for authenticity of experience that will make both the locals and visitors better meld as they engage in shared activities. This strategy is opposed to one where communities end up as theme parks.
Resort-type residential developments seek to offer the
vacation experience as a way of life. One need not leave home to relax and be one with nature. Integrating more open spaces, plantscaping and community amenities in the neighborhood can make a home-based vacation an attractive option to traveling long distances.
Properties alternating as rental accommodation for tourists enable homeowners to spend free time in these second homes during some days of the year. Short-stay rental is preferred over long-term rental contracts because certain periods may be blocked off for family use.
Office work mobility, enabled by technology, allows one to attend meetings while sitting by the beach. Transaction spac
es such as cafes, restaurants and clubhouses host business negotiations, closing of deals and product selling. Work and play may co-exist in these settings.
While rivers, forests, flora and fauna provide relief from the chaos of city life, urban tourism is a viable option for relaxation. The re-energizing value of the downtown, the old town center, landmark architecture and state of the art facilities are also comfort givers. The staycation concept has become popular because it caters to people looking for the convenient alternative in city centers.
Cyberspace has also been hosting tourists through virtual spaces such as online museums and libraries. Heritage structures that are presently in ruins are reconstructed in online format for walkthrough experiences. Social media platforms have been instrumental in virtually transporting people to many places.
The traditional notion of tourism will always be sought as this takes people beyond physical boundaries. But other strategies will continue to emerge as people search for alternatives that will address issues of cost, comfort and well-being.