Far East Tourism

A review by Nicholas Newman 9 June 2009

Tourism in South-east Asia: Challenges and New Directions (Paperback)

by Michael Hitchcock (Author, Editor), Victor T. King (Editor), Michael Parnwell (Editor)

Few of us are aware that tourism is continuing to expand in the Far East, but we fail to realize the vital role which tourism is playing in in the geopolitics of the countries concerned, and its consequents effects on the the societies involved. This interesting book reveals both the light and dark sides of the development of South-East Asia’s tourism industry, written by some of the world’s leading experts on the topic. Far East Asian tourism has increasingly grown in importance in the economic miracle that has been experienced in the region. As a result this has attracted the attention of many researchers from a broad range of disciplines including those from the humanities, and also from the geopolitical fields.

The writers examine recent evolution of this sector from both the geopolitical and anthropological aspects, as the sector has struggled to adapt to changes in world events and fashions. However, despite coverage by writers of the experiences of Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia in the progress of their tourism industries, this book’s main focus is on the Indonesian experience.

The authors’ insights make for fascinating reading, both for a student of tourism, but also for any potential investor new to the region. Already we are seeing signs of rampant overdevelopment that are destroying the very reasons tourists visit the Far East.

Despite this volatile region being subject to natural disasters, crime, health hazards, corruption, terrorism and world economic events, such factors have only hindered the growth of this sector. However, we are beginning to see a realization by some policy makers that development must be managed if the Far East is not going to replicate the nightmare over development of the Spanish Costas.

Reading this book, one realizes three remarkable trends, the first is of the transformation of Singapore into the Far East’s tourism giant, while geographically larger players have remained supporting players to the Singapore’s tourism policy ambitions for the region. The second, the importance of Japan in developing the region for tourists, Japan has pioneered package holidays, eco-tourism, sports tourism and health tourism in the Far East. The third the growing importance of local tourism to the sector, as increasing numbers of inhabitants can afford to take holidays and see the sights.

Even though this region has adapted quickly to market demands for romance and ecotourism, it has been slow to regulate sex tourism. However, many of the observations made about the region could equally apply to other parts of the world, from endemic corruption to failures to provide sufficient infrastructure to support the huge numbers of tourists involved. Though, what is clear that as the internationalization of the industry grows apace, the experience for many tourists proves increasingly little different from visiting elsewhere in the world.

Although providing a thorough in depth analysis of many of the issues facing the industry, this book’s one weakness is providing politically useful solutions that policy makers can easily implement, given the cultural background of some of the countries involved.

Also available at Oxford Retailer