《旅游与社会政策---社会旅游业的价值(中英文)》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《旅游与社会政策---社会旅游业的价值(中英文)（8页珍藏版）》请在金锄头文库上搜索。
1、英文原文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 countries of mainland Europe, but l
2、ittle research evidence of its benefits exists. This study empirically examines these benefits in terms of increases in social and family capital. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with participating families and their support workers, in a semi-longitudinal research design. Social Tourism
3、was found to increase family capital in the short term, and social capitalin terms of social networks, related pro-active behavior and self-esteemin the medium term. These increases can be seen as beneficial for the participants and to wider society. Consequently it is suggested that Social Tourism
4、may be a cost-effective addition to social policy. Keywords: Social Tourism, low-income, social capital, family capital.INTRODUCTIONHunziker describes Social Tourism as the relationships and phenomena in the field of tourism resulting from participation in travel by economically weak or otherwise di
5、sadvantaged 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 an added moral value, which ai
6、ms 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 development of community-based to
7、urism 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 funding, and mostly takes the
8、form of low-cost domestic holidays. In these countries, 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 countries, including the UK and U
9、SA, 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 confer net benefits to so
10、ciety 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 document, Tomorrows Tour
11、ism 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 (EESC) for example, in its
12、 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 the member state gover
13、nments 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 on a rights basis, evi
14、dence 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. First to draw togethe
15、r literature on social and family capital, social policy and learning to show how in principle Social Tourism might be seen as a contributor to public policy. Second, to test the ideas empirically through a study of how Social Tourism affects personal and family development of low-income groups. The
16、 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.SOCIAL AND FAM
