"Managed evils" of hedonistic tourism in the Maldives: Islamic social representations and their mediation of local social exchange
Author(s)
Shakeela, Aishath
Weaver, David
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2018
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This paper explores resident attitudes toward tourism development in the Maldives. Findings from 50 semi-structured interviews and 200 household surveys collected in two island communities provide insights into the reconciliation of deeply held Islamic social representations with proximate hedonistic tourism. In the less tourism-affiliated island, religious affinity and social exchange were central as to how residents viewed tourism as an ‘evil’ from which their community should be insulated. In the more tourism-affiliated case, social exchange and social representations influenced how tourism is rationalised as a ‘managed evil’.This paper explores resident attitudes toward tourism development in the Maldives. Findings from 50 semi-structured interviews and 200 household surveys collected in two island communities provide insights into the reconciliation of deeply held Islamic social representations with proximate hedonistic tourism. In the less tourism-affiliated island, religious affinity and social exchange were central as to how residents viewed tourism as an ‘evil’ from which their community should be insulated. In the more tourism-affiliated case, social exchange and social representations influenced how tourism is rationalised as a ‘managed evil’.
View less >
View less >
Journal Title
Annals of Tourism Research
Volume
71
Subject
Tourism management
Impacts of tourism
Tourism not elsewhere classified
Tourism marketing