Tourism and social capital in Malaysia, Sep 5, 2012
This article explores the relationship between social capital and tourism in Malaysia. Social cap... more This article explores the relationship between social capital and tourism in Malaysia. Social capital is a concept that has received particular attention within the social sciences. Despite this, scholars have relatively neglected whether and how tourism contributes to enhance levels of social capital. This is particularly true if non-Western societies, such as Malaysia, are referred to. Malaysia is a plural society that consists of three main ethnic groups, namely Malays, Chinese, and Indians. Considering the country's diverse socio-cultural fabric, social capital is a highly debated topic in Malaysia. Yet, there exists a paucity of data on how specific social practices, such as tourism, strengthen social relationships within Malaysian society. In an attempt to fill this gap, in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 Malaysians from the three main ethnic groups. The findings reveal that tourism is an experience that creates and strengthens social relationships among people irrespective of ethnic background. Overall, this article's contribution to our knowledge is twofold. First, the work on which this article is based contributes to the ongoing debate concerning the nature and meaning of tourism and post-tourism experiences. Second, it provides empirical material on non-Western tourists, who have been relatively neglected by tourism scholars.
‘Journeys in Second Life’ – Iranian Muslim women's behaviour in virtual tourist destinations
While corporeal patterns of mobility continue to increase, virtual tourism has become a widesprea... more While corporeal patterns of mobility continue to increase, virtual tourism has become a widespread social practice in contemporary society. Despite this, tourists' experiences in virtual tourist destinations remain relatively unexplored. This is particularly true if Iranian women's gendered identities and patterns of behaviour in virtual tourist destinations are referred to. In order to fill this gap, this paper explores Iranian female tourists' patterns of behaviour travelling in Second Life. Driven by an interpretivist approach, this study employs virtual ethnography, also known as netnography. The findings show that in virtual tourist spaces the participants reject ‘subordinated’ gender-based stereotypes concerning Muslim women's bodily representations in Iran. However, their gendered performances also accept other ‘subordinated’ stereotypical representations of femininity, mostly reiterated by the media in many Western societies. Overall, this paper provides a more in-depth understanding of Iranian women's tourist behaviour in virtual tourist destinations, a topic neglected by tourism academics.
This paper explores social capital among Malaysian homestay providers. More specifically, this wo... more This paper explores social capital among Malaysian homestay providers. More specifically, this work focuses on the social relationships between (a) the homestay providers and their family members; (b) the homestay providers and other accommodation providers; and (c) the homestay providers and other members of the community not involved in the homestay business. Despite the conspicuous body of knowledge on social capital in the social sciences and the increasing number of studies on social capital in tourism, little is known on whether and how homestays contribute to increase levels of social capital among the host families and between the host families and other members of the community in Malaysia. In an attempt to fill in this gap in knowledge, a qualitative study was conducted in a Malaysian homestay programme to explore hosts’ social relationships. One of the findings of the study is that homestay contributes to strengthen social capital among certain groups of the host community. However, as communities are constituted by heterogeneous groups with diverse interests, the dynamics of social capital and conflict vary according to the different groups of the host community.
SHS Web of Conferences 12’ DOI: 10.105 1/shsconf/20141201058 published by EDP Sciences
Rail transportation in Peninsular Malaysia is a popular transportation mode for locals to return ... more Rail transportation in Peninsular Malaysia is a popular transportation mode for locals to return to their hometown but is not frequently used as the mode of transport when travelling for holidays. Rural towns in Peninsular Malaysia have immense opportunity to be promoted as a popular tourism destination without the need of intense modern development. Using train rather than taking a car or a bus would endorse the concept of slowness during travel enabling tourists to enjoy the time taken to travel rather than rushing to travel to a destination. Encouragement of travelling by rail to the rural towns will enable improved utilization of the existing rail network and further uplift the travel appeal to rural towns in Peninsular Malaysia. In order to promote the concept of slow tourism that would benefit the rural towns’ sustainability, the perception of tourists on travelling slowly by train should first be understood and taken for consideration. A qualitative methodology of in depth interviews with domestic and international tourists whom have travel on trains to the rural towns will be conducted.
There is little consensus on the definition of slow tourism in the context of a rural destination... more There is little consensus on the definition of slow tourism in the context of a rural destination. A rural destination with a slow-paced lifestyle could potentially be considered as an avenue for slow tourism. The purpose of this paper is to review the relevant literature on slow tourism and rural tourism to provide a look into the similarities between both types of tourism. By looking into the similarities of slow tourism and rural tourism, a working definition of slow tourism in a rural destination can be introduced. Content analysis is used to identify the similarities of slow tourism and rural tourism in the literature. The findings from the study can be used to further generate a scenario‐based discussion on the application of slow tourism theories in a rural destination.
Despite the plethora of studies about authenticity in tourism and homestays in Malaysia, little i... more Despite the plethora of studies about authenticity in tourism and homestays in Malaysia, little is known about tourists' perceptions of authenticity in the Malaysian homestay experience. This paper attempts to address this gap by focussing on guests' narratives of authenticity in a Malaysian homestay experience. As narratives can be the object and the method of inquiry, this study employs narrative analysis to deconstruct and analyse tourists' narratives. Grounded on an interpretivist frame of inquiry, the empirical material is obtained from internet blogs and on-line interviews. Overall, the analysis of narratives suggests that the whole experience is in general described as ‘authentic’ by the guests. However, the findings also show that ‘authenticity-triggering’ experiences should not last for long periods of time as guests seem to be keen to compromise their comforts only for short periods of time.
While the quantitative–qualitative dichotomy still permeates academic circles, qualitative resear... more While the quantitative–qualitative dichotomy still permeates academic circles, qualitative research is gaining momentum within the realm of social sciences. Among the scholars who have contributed to legitimize qualitative approaches to research, Denzin and Lincoln (2005) have represented one of the leading voices in the field in the last 30 years. A significant aspect of Denzin and Lincoln's scholarly production concerns the historical analysis of qualitative methodologies. More specifically, they identify eight historical periods or ‘moments’ of qualitative research, which heuristically map the development of qualitative studies from the beginning of the twentieth century until the ‘fractured present’. Based on Denzin and Lincoln's (2011) eight moments, this paper employs descriptive statistics to present a critical analysis of the state of qualitative tourism research in Southeast Asia. The results indicate that quantitative approaches are privileged over qualitative methodologies. Moreover, the findings show that Asian qualitative tourism research is mainly driven by positivist and post-positivist paradigms. The results are discussed in relation to the colonial and postcolonial forces that have shaped the political and sociocultural context of Southeast Asian academic circles.
This is the pre-publication version of the paper. For the authoritative version please consult th... more This is the pre-publication version of the paper. For the authoritative version please consult the journal website.
Discussions about ethics are often based on whether and how the research affects the physical and... more Discussions about ethics are often based on whether and how the research affects the physical and psychological well-being of the participants of the study. However, too often discussions concerning the safety and well-being of the researcher are overlooked by tourism scholars. This paper is a reflective account of the ethical dilemmas that I, as a researcher, had to face during an ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2007 on the party island of Ios, Greece, with the intent to explore risk-taking behaviour and perceptions of fear among young holidaymakers. Since binge drinking and drug consumption were common activities among the young tourists, I was at risk of being physically and psychologically harmed. As a result, I had to deal with ethical dilemmas during and after the fieldwork. Overall, this paper's contribution to our knowledge is threefold. First, as a reflective exercise, this paper contributes to the ongoing debate on reflexivity in tourism research. Second, it advances our knowledge concerning ethics in tourism. Third, it allows us to have a better understanding of the relationship between research ethics and reflexivity, which has been relatively neglected by tourism scholars.
This article explores the relationship between social capital and tourism in Malaysia. Social cap... more This article explores the relationship between social capital and tourism in Malaysia. Social capital is a concept that has received particular attention within the social sciences. Despite this, scholars have relatively neglected whether and how tourism contributes to enhance levels of social capital. This is particularly true if non-Western societies, such as Malaysia, are referred to. Malaysia is a plural society that consists of three main ethnic groups, namely Malays, Chinese, and Indians. Considering the country's diverse socio-cultural fabric, social capital is a highly debated topic in Malaysia. Yet, there exists a paucity of data on how specific social practices, such as tourism, strengthen social relationships within Malaysian society. In an attempt to fill this gap, in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 Malaysians from the three main ethnic groups. The findings reveal that tourism is an experience that creates and strengthens social relationships among people irrespective of ethnic background. Overall, this article's contribution to our knowledge is twofold. First, the work on which this article is based contributes to the ongoing debate concerning the nature and meaning of tourism and post-tourism experiences. Second, it provides empirical material on non-Western tourists, who have been relatively neglected by tourism scholars.
Abstract: Although the economic and sociocultural significance of the youth tourism market highli... more Abstract: Although the economic and sociocultural significance of the youth tourism market highlights the importance of conducting research on the young tourist, there is a lack of in-depth exploration and understanding of young tourists' experiences on holiday. The aim of this article is to explore young beach-oriented tourists' behavior on holiday by employing a qualitative research method. Twenty-five young tourists in Ios, Greece were observed systematically over a 3-month period and then interviewed. The findings reveal that drug ...
Tourism and social capital in Malaysia, Sep 5, 2012
This article explores the relationship between social capital and tourism in Malaysia. Social cap... more This article explores the relationship between social capital and tourism in Malaysia. Social capital is a concept that has received particular attention within the social sciences. Despite this, scholars have relatively neglected whether and how tourism contributes to enhance levels of social capital. This is particularly true if non-Western societies, such as Malaysia, are referred to. Malaysia is a plural society that consists of three main ethnic groups, namely Malays, Chinese, and Indians. Considering the country's diverse socio-cultural fabric, social capital is a highly debated topic in Malaysia. Yet, there exists a paucity of data on how specific social practices, such as tourism, strengthen social relationships within Malaysian society. In an attempt to fill this gap, in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 Malaysians from the three main ethnic groups. The findings reveal that tourism is an experience that creates and strengthens social relationships among people irrespective of ethnic background. Overall, this article's contribution to our knowledge is twofold. First, the work on which this article is based contributes to the ongoing debate concerning the nature and meaning of tourism and post-tourism experiences. Second, it provides empirical material on non-Western tourists, who have been relatively neglected by tourism scholars.
‘Journeys in Second Life’ – Iranian Muslim women's behaviour in virtual tourist destinations
While corporeal patterns of mobility continue to increase, virtual tourism has become a widesprea... more While corporeal patterns of mobility continue to increase, virtual tourism has become a widespread social practice in contemporary society. Despite this, tourists' experiences in virtual tourist destinations remain relatively unexplored. This is particularly true if Iranian women's gendered identities and patterns of behaviour in virtual tourist destinations are referred to. In order to fill this gap, this paper explores Iranian female tourists' patterns of behaviour travelling in Second Life. Driven by an interpretivist approach, this study employs virtual ethnography, also known as netnography. The findings show that in virtual tourist spaces the participants reject ‘subordinated’ gender-based stereotypes concerning Muslim women's bodily representations in Iran. However, their gendered performances also accept other ‘subordinated’ stereotypical representations of femininity, mostly reiterated by the media in many Western societies. Overall, this paper provides a more in-depth understanding of Iranian women's tourist behaviour in virtual tourist destinations, a topic neglected by tourism academics.
This paper explores social capital among Malaysian homestay providers. More specifically, this wo... more This paper explores social capital among Malaysian homestay providers. More specifically, this work focuses on the social relationships between (a) the homestay providers and their family members; (b) the homestay providers and other accommodation providers; and (c) the homestay providers and other members of the community not involved in the homestay business. Despite the conspicuous body of knowledge on social capital in the social sciences and the increasing number of studies on social capital in tourism, little is known on whether and how homestays contribute to increase levels of social capital among the host families and between the host families and other members of the community in Malaysia. In an attempt to fill in this gap in knowledge, a qualitative study was conducted in a Malaysian homestay programme to explore hosts’ social relationships. One of the findings of the study is that homestay contributes to strengthen social capital among certain groups of the host community. However, as communities are constituted by heterogeneous groups with diverse interests, the dynamics of social capital and conflict vary according to the different groups of the host community.
SHS Web of Conferences 12’ DOI: 10.105 1/shsconf/20141201058 published by EDP Sciences
Rail transportation in Peninsular Malaysia is a popular transportation mode for locals to return ... more Rail transportation in Peninsular Malaysia is a popular transportation mode for locals to return to their hometown but is not frequently used as the mode of transport when travelling for holidays. Rural towns in Peninsular Malaysia have immense opportunity to be promoted as a popular tourism destination without the need of intense modern development. Using train rather than taking a car or a bus would endorse the concept of slowness during travel enabling tourists to enjoy the time taken to travel rather than rushing to travel to a destination. Encouragement of travelling by rail to the rural towns will enable improved utilization of the existing rail network and further uplift the travel appeal to rural towns in Peninsular Malaysia. In order to promote the concept of slow tourism that would benefit the rural towns’ sustainability, the perception of tourists on travelling slowly by train should first be understood and taken for consideration. A qualitative methodology of in depth interviews with domestic and international tourists whom have travel on trains to the rural towns will be conducted.
There is little consensus on the definition of slow tourism in the context of a rural destination... more There is little consensus on the definition of slow tourism in the context of a rural destination. A rural destination with a slow-paced lifestyle could potentially be considered as an avenue for slow tourism. The purpose of this paper is to review the relevant literature on slow tourism and rural tourism to provide a look into the similarities between both types of tourism. By looking into the similarities of slow tourism and rural tourism, a working definition of slow tourism in a rural destination can be introduced. Content analysis is used to identify the similarities of slow tourism and rural tourism in the literature. The findings from the study can be used to further generate a scenario‐based discussion on the application of slow tourism theories in a rural destination.
Despite the plethora of studies about authenticity in tourism and homestays in Malaysia, little i... more Despite the plethora of studies about authenticity in tourism and homestays in Malaysia, little is known about tourists' perceptions of authenticity in the Malaysian homestay experience. This paper attempts to address this gap by focussing on guests' narratives of authenticity in a Malaysian homestay experience. As narratives can be the object and the method of inquiry, this study employs narrative analysis to deconstruct and analyse tourists' narratives. Grounded on an interpretivist frame of inquiry, the empirical material is obtained from internet blogs and on-line interviews. Overall, the analysis of narratives suggests that the whole experience is in general described as ‘authentic’ by the guests. However, the findings also show that ‘authenticity-triggering’ experiences should not last for long periods of time as guests seem to be keen to compromise their comforts only for short periods of time.
While the quantitative–qualitative dichotomy still permeates academic circles, qualitative resear... more While the quantitative–qualitative dichotomy still permeates academic circles, qualitative research is gaining momentum within the realm of social sciences. Among the scholars who have contributed to legitimize qualitative approaches to research, Denzin and Lincoln (2005) have represented one of the leading voices in the field in the last 30 years. A significant aspect of Denzin and Lincoln's scholarly production concerns the historical analysis of qualitative methodologies. More specifically, they identify eight historical periods or ‘moments’ of qualitative research, which heuristically map the development of qualitative studies from the beginning of the twentieth century until the ‘fractured present’. Based on Denzin and Lincoln's (2011) eight moments, this paper employs descriptive statistics to present a critical analysis of the state of qualitative tourism research in Southeast Asia. The results indicate that quantitative approaches are privileged over qualitative methodologies. Moreover, the findings show that Asian qualitative tourism research is mainly driven by positivist and post-positivist paradigms. The results are discussed in relation to the colonial and postcolonial forces that have shaped the political and sociocultural context of Southeast Asian academic circles.
This is the pre-publication version of the paper. For the authoritative version please consult th... more This is the pre-publication version of the paper. For the authoritative version please consult the journal website.
Discussions about ethics are often based on whether and how the research affects the physical and... more Discussions about ethics are often based on whether and how the research affects the physical and psychological well-being of the participants of the study. However, too often discussions concerning the safety and well-being of the researcher are overlooked by tourism scholars. This paper is a reflective account of the ethical dilemmas that I, as a researcher, had to face during an ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2007 on the party island of Ios, Greece, with the intent to explore risk-taking behaviour and perceptions of fear among young holidaymakers. Since binge drinking and drug consumption were common activities among the young tourists, I was at risk of being physically and psychologically harmed. As a result, I had to deal with ethical dilemmas during and after the fieldwork. Overall, this paper's contribution to our knowledge is threefold. First, as a reflective exercise, this paper contributes to the ongoing debate on reflexivity in tourism research. Second, it advances our knowledge concerning ethics in tourism. Third, it allows us to have a better understanding of the relationship between research ethics and reflexivity, which has been relatively neglected by tourism scholars.
This article explores the relationship between social capital and tourism in Malaysia. Social cap... more This article explores the relationship between social capital and tourism in Malaysia. Social capital is a concept that has received particular attention within the social sciences. Despite this, scholars have relatively neglected whether and how tourism contributes to enhance levels of social capital. This is particularly true if non-Western societies, such as Malaysia, are referred to. Malaysia is a plural society that consists of three main ethnic groups, namely Malays, Chinese, and Indians. Considering the country's diverse socio-cultural fabric, social capital is a highly debated topic in Malaysia. Yet, there exists a paucity of data on how specific social practices, such as tourism, strengthen social relationships within Malaysian society. In an attempt to fill this gap, in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 Malaysians from the three main ethnic groups. The findings reveal that tourism is an experience that creates and strengthens social relationships among people irrespective of ethnic background. Overall, this article's contribution to our knowledge is twofold. First, the work on which this article is based contributes to the ongoing debate concerning the nature and meaning of tourism and post-tourism experiences. Second, it provides empirical material on non-Western tourists, who have been relatively neglected by tourism scholars.
Abstract: Although the economic and sociocultural significance of the youth tourism market highli... more Abstract: Although the economic and sociocultural significance of the youth tourism market highlights the importance of conducting research on the young tourist, there is a lack of in-depth exploration and understanding of young tourists' experiences on holiday. The aim of this article is to explore young beach-oriented tourists' behavior on holiday by employing a qualitative research method. Twenty-five young tourists in Ios, Greece were observed systematically over a 3-month period and then interviewed. The findings reveal that drug ...
In C. Khoo-Lattimore & P. Mura (Eds.), Asian genders in tourism (pp. 6-22), 2016
By focusing on Asian gendered identities in tourism, this chapter attempts to address knowledge g... more By focusing on Asian gendered identities in tourism, this chapter attempts to address knowledge gaps in this area. First, the dominant ideologies and practices that have shaped gendered relations in Asia are presented. The multiple religious, cultural, and political values that have contributed to produce Asian gendered identities throughout the centuries are briefly discussed. More specifically, the legacies of Confucianism and Islam in constructing male and female roles are examined in the first part of the chapter. Second, an analysis of the intricate system of contemporary socio-cultural trends, such as neoliberal globalisation, state deregulation, and capitalism (which are continuously producing, deconstructing, and reproducing Asian gendered identities) is conducted. Finally, Asians’ gendered identities during tourist experiences are discussed and critically analysed in the last section of the chapter. In view of the dearth of studies about gender and tourism in Asia, this chapter pulls together the limited understandings of Asian gender(s) on holiday, mainly from women’s perspective due to the lack of studies about Asian masculinities, with an aim to build a foundation for future exploration. The review is organised into two geographical regions: East Asia and Southeast Asia.
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