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Inter-area/Border Crossing
Organized Panel Session
Today, tourism is a major player in world commerce, and the Asia and the Pacific region leads its growth. The Asia and Pacific area hosts 25 % of tourists’ movement and shares 30% of the profits generated through tourism activities (World Tourism Organization 2017). The forms of tourism have diversified. To name only a few, the following types of tourism can be found in Asia today: agri-tourism, anime-tourism, ethnic-tourism, eco-tourism, industrial-tourism, and medical-tourism. There is clearly an indication that increasing number of tourists value experiential aspects of tourist activities and the hosts are expected to provide such opportunities. In this context, tourism impacts local communities economically, politically socially and culturally. The four panelists with background in cultural anthropology, museum studies, and architecture will examine how tourism impacts small/marginalized communities in different Asian countries and how they respond to the domestic and international forces of tourism. Cases will be drawn from Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Mongolia. Kawamura will examine how “rural-ness” has become a significant asset for tourism activities for small communities in Japan through agri-tourism. Truong will similarly explore agri- and ethnic-tourism at three farms in Vietnam. Jambaldorj examines how museum plays a part in tourism and cultural preservation. The focus of Fujioka’s paper will be traditional architecture for ethnic minorities. Based on the four case studies, this panel will examine dynamic interaction between local communities and the outside world for tourism activities and explore the potential and challenges of tourism as a means of sustainable development for local communities.
Hiroaki Kawamura
University of Findlay