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1、TOURISM AND SOCIAL POLICYThe Value of Social TourismLynn MinnaertUniversity of Westminster, UKRobert MaitlandUniversity of Westminster, UKGraham MillerUniversity of Surrey, UKAbstract: Social Tourism for low-income groups forms part of social policy in several countriesof mainland Europe, but little
2、 research evidence of its benefits exists. This studyempirically examines these benefits in terms of increases in social and family capital. Interviewsand focus groups were conducted with participating families and their support workers,in a semi-longitudinal research design. Social Tourism was foun
3、d to increase familycapital in the short term, and social capitalin terms of social networks, related pro-activebehavior and self-esteemin the medium term. These increases can be seen as beneficialfor the participants and to wider society. Consequently it is suggested that Social Tourismmay be a cos
4、t-effective addition to social policy. Keywords: Social Tourism, low-income,social capital, family capital. _ 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.INTRODUCTIONHunziker describes Social Tourism as the relationships and phenomena in the field of tourism resulting from participation in travel by econ
5、omically weak or otherwise disadvantaged elements in society (1951:1). It encompasses a variety of different initiatives, commercial and non-commercial, governmental and private, that aim to offer holiday experiences to groups that would not otherwise have them. It has been defined as tourism with a
6、n added moral value, which aims to benefit either the host or the visitor in the tourism exchange(Minnaert, Maitland and Miller 2007:9). Examples of Social Tourism range from holiday initiatives for people with disabilities and charity holidays for children from disadvantaged backgrounds to the deve
7、lopment of community-based tourism in economically underdeveloped areas. This article focuses on Social Tourism for members of low-income groups who would not otherwise go on holiday.In several countries of mainland Europe (for example France,Belgium, Spain), Social Tourism is supported by public fu
8、nding,and mostly takes the form of low-cost domestic holidays. In thesecountries, the basis for provision is the perceived right of all to enjoy tourism (EESC 2006). Social Tourism is provided on the grounds that it increases equality between groups of society (Minnaert et al 2007). In other countri
9、es, including the UK and USA, Social Tourism is a less well-known phenomenon, and rarely publicly funded, since tourism is seen as a discretionary activity, to which no right exists.In these circumstances, any public funding for Social Tourism depends upon utilitarian considerations: whether it can
10、confer net benefits to society as a whole (Minnaert et al 2007). In the UK for example, there is currently little government policy interest in Social Tourism. Whilst Tourism for All, is a topic in the 1999 Tomorrows Tourism policy (DCMS 1999) there is no reference to it in the 2004 follow-up policy
11、 document, Tomorrows Tourism Today(DCMS 2004). Assistance to low income groups is largely confined to grants from charitable bodies (Smith and Hughes 1999).Where Social Tourism is an established part of public policy, its benefits are strongly asserted. The European Economic and Social Committee (EE
12、SC) for example, in its Barcelona declaration, links Social Tourism to a set of benefits, which include improvement of well-being, personal development of the beneficiaries and the host community, European citizenship, improved health and increased employment opportunities (EESC 2006), and describes
13、 the member state governments as stakeholders in this form of tourism (EESC 2006). However, research to assess how far such benefits are actually realized is very limited. If Social Tourism is to be considered as a potential component of public policy in countries where it is not already established
14、 on a rights basis, evidence that it confers benefits on participants and the wider societyfor example by increasing social and family capitalis needed. And if such benefits exist, research is needed to investigate how they can be maximized costeffectively. The aim of this paper is therefore twofold
15、. First to draw together literature on social and family capital, social policy and learning toshow how in principle Social Tourism might be seen as a contributorto public policy. Second, to test the ideas empirically through a study of how Social Tourism affects personal and family development of l
16、ow-income groups. The study was carried out with holiday participants and their welfare agents (WFA) (support workers,such as health workers, charity workers or social workers, who apply for the holiday on behalf of the participants). It examines how far Social Tourism has benefits beyond simply providing holidays to those who would otherwise not be able to afford them, and how far it can lead to increases in social and family capital for low income groups. SOC
