Source: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
SOCIAL IMPACTS OF TOURISM ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0225860
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jun 7, 2011
Project End Date
Jun 6, 2016
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
750 AGRONOMY RD STE 2701
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001
Performing Department
Recreation, Parks & Tourism
Non Technical Summary
The resident-tourist relationship has traditionally been reduced to a financial context, whereby tourists are merely visiting consumers paying for a good or service produced by locals (Wall and Mathieson 2006). In an extensive review of resident attitude research, Harrill (2004) points out that such transactions are at the heart of the social exchange theory which emphasizes "reciprocity rather than solidarity" (p. 260). Such a theoretical perspective is currently being utilized in the tourism literature (e.g., Wang and Pfister 2008), which can perpetuate the relationship as one being based largely on money as Aramberri (2001) argued. Separateness also characterizes the common view of the relationship between resident and tourist, typically in the form of the self versus other dichotomy (Kohn 1997). Such heuristics are used by tourists looking at the resident as other (Smith, 1989; Urry 2002) as well as residents viewing the tourist as other (McNaughton 2006). Often times this sense of otherness originates from perpetuated stereotypes (Evans-Pritchard 1989; Laxson 1991). MacCannell (1984) claims, "relationships between residents and tourists are a breeding ground for stereotype formation" (p. 388). From a residents perspective tourists can be viewed as elitists, intrusive, agents of conflict, and agents of change (Mason 2008). From a visitors perspective, residents can be viewed as "poor, carefree, untidy, unhygienic, lazy, and not so very intelligent" (Krippendorf 1999, p. 61). These characterizations of the traditional perspective undercut the potential for common ground between resident and tourist and intimate relationships to exist beyond a financial context. In the growing fields of heritage and sustainable tourism, residents and tourists are becoming more inextricably linked based on their common desire to preserve indigenous cultural and natural resources (Hampton 2005; Raymond and Brown 2007). Wearing and Wearing (2001) as well as Pizam, Uriely, and Reichel (2000) have noted that a potential intimate relationship may exist between residents and tourists and should examined in greater detail. The theory of emotional solidarity (Durkheim 1995[1915]) is a viable framework to utilize in explaining such potential relations among residents and tourists in a travel destination. Durkheim claimed that when individuals possess similar beliefs, engage in similar activities, and interact with each other, a feeling of solidarity results (see Figure 1). Given the minimal utilization of emotional solidarity to explain relationships between residents and tourists in the tourism field, much more research is needed to further my line of work concerning the construct, which will serve as my research agenda for the next five years. The research that I propose largely focuses on the extension and application of Durkheims model. This research will largely include survey methods to collect information from residents regarding their attitudes toward tourism and development. Such information will be crucial for local chambers of commerce and convention and visitor bureaus to have in creating long-term plans for tourism in destinations.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
60860993080100%
Knowledge Area
608 - Community Resource Planning and Development;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3080 - Sociology;
Goals / Objectives
The following objectives concern unique lines of research that I plan to engage in over the next five years; one objective per year. 1. To expand on Durkheim model to include additional antecedents and outcomes of emotional solidarity. 2. To examine emotional solidarity in context of festivals. 3. To utilize the emotional solidarity scale (ESS) in an international destination (developing) with visitors from a developed country. 4. To explain the process of residents forging emotional solidarity with tourists. 5. To utilize both the ESS and visual measures in determining the correlation between such measures.
Project Methods
This research will utilize all existing measures of Durkheims model but also include antecedents in the way of socioeconomic and sociodemographic variables, travel use history, travel behavior, etc. to explain emotional solidarity. In addition, consequences or outcomes of emotional solidarity will be examined. No one has looked at how residents perceive festival visitors and the closeness residents perceive with such individuals. I would propose to conduct a study in the Hill Country (of Texas) or East Texas, where numerous cultural festivals are held throughout the year, in either spring or fall. This project would not only focus on ascertaining residents emotional solidarity with festival visitors but also their attitudes about social-cultural impacts of hosting the festival. Each research project I have conducted to date has taken place in the context of domestic destinations within the continental U.S. I would like to collect data from my ESS in an international destination preferably in a developing country) involving visitors from a developed country to determine if residents and visitors level of emotional solidarity are comparable. In addition, such a study would serve to validate ESS further in another context. Most of the research concerning emotional solidarity has occurred involving quantitative survey through single-item or scale measures and their relation to some outcome variable. The process whereby individuals forge an emotional solidarity with one another (especially in the context of tourism) has rarely, if ever occurred. For this reason, I would like to undertake a qualitative research project in a destination in which residents have exhibited some strong degree of emotional solidarity with visitors to determine the process of how emotional solidarity comes about. Such a location would serve as a prime case. Central to such a research opportunity would be to determine what central life events occurred to foster such closeness, how individuals conceptual their solidarity, and to determine if and how solidarity levels have changed over time. This research project would involve utilizing the ESS and visual measures of the construct (e.g., Inclusion of Other in Self Scale) to determine if the former could be assessed visually through the latter. Such information would be important for practical reasons (i.e., parsimony by reducing burden of time for respondents) as well as measurement reasons (i.e., to determine reliability of measures in helping to ensure I am consistently capturing degree of closeness). Location of this project will be along the Texas coast in locations such as South Padre Island, Galveston Island, Rockport-Fulton, and the like.

Progress 06/07/11 to 06/06/16

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Project Director is no longer employed with Texas A&M University - nothing to report

Publications


    Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Target audiences during the course of 2015 included two communities in Texas: Childress (within the Panhandle). This community was served by a visitor study that occured in the location. The second community was in Japan (Oizumi). This community was also served by having a resident study conducted throughout 2015. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Presenting my research at key national and international conferences has afforded me countless opportunities to network with colleagues and develop as a profession in benefitting from such interactions and learning about potential collaborations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A report waswritten in Sept 2015 following the completion of the project in Childress and provided to the local Economic Development Corporation. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I will be engaging in more international research as well as conducting qualitative research in 2016to accomplish my remaining goals and further complete each of the objectives.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Objectives 1, 2, and 3 continue to be met with this work.I have included both antecedents and outcomes of emotional solidarity in two separate projects this year and am working toward publishing my findings from the two completed projects. Furthermore, work has been published that extends Durkheim's model to include economic outcomes of emotional solidarity (e.g., expenditures).Additionally, I have collected data on emotional solidarity in the context of festivals throughout festivals. Such data have resulted in key presentations at major national and international conferences as well as manuscripts drafted for journals. FInally, I have collaborated this year with colleagues in Japan and Nigeria to have data collected in each of these countries pertaining to emotional solidarity. Such data will be analyzed and reported in 2016 and continue to be presented throughconference papers and journal articles in 2016. Objectives 4 and 5 were also met through qualitative means of data collection in Nigeria this year as well as in Japan. Such research will be disseminated in 2016.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Woosnam, K.M., Shafer, C.S., Scott, D., & Timothy, D.J. (2015). Tourists perceived safety through emotional solidarity with residents in two Mexico-United States border regions. Tourism Management, 46, 263-273.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kim, H., Woosnam, K.M., & Marcouiller, D.W. (2015). Spatial and temporal contours in economic losses from natural disasters: A case study of Florida. KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, 19(3), 457-464.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Boley, B.B., Maruyama, N., & Woosnam, K.M. (2015). Measuring empowerment in an eastern context: Findings from Japan. Tourism Management, 50, 112-122.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Maruyama, N. & Woosnam, K.M. (2015). Residents ethnic attitudes and support for ethnic neighborhood tourism: The case of a Brazilian town in Japan. Tourism Management, 50, 225-237.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Woosnam, K.M., Dudensing, R.M., & Walker, J.R. (2015). How does emotional solidarity factor into visitor spending among birders in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas? Journal of Travel Research, 54(5), 645-658.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Kim, H., Woosnam, K.M., Marcouiller, D.W., & Aleshinloye*, K.D. (2015). Residential mobility, urban preference, and human settlement: A South Korean Case Study. Habitat International, 49, 497-507.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Maruyama, N. & Woosnam, K.M. (2015, January). Sustainable tourism and ethnic neighborhoods: The case of a Brazilian neighborhood in Japan. Paper presented at the International Conference on Tourism and Business (hosted by Mahidol University International College); Bangkok, Thailand.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Harmon*, J., & Woosnam, K.M. (2015, March). Leisure expatriation: Making the most of past experience. Paper presented at the 2015 Southeastern Recreation Research (SERR) Conference and in SERR Conference Proceedings; Asheville, North Carolina.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Aleshinloye*, K.D., & Woosnam, K.M. (2015, March). Do residents emotional solidarity and perceived closeness with tourists differ based on degree of attendance at the Nigerian Osun Osogbo Cultural Festival? Paper presented at the 2015 Southeast Chapter of Travel and Tourism Research Association (SeTTRA) Annual Conference & Tourism Research Symposium and in Presentation Proceedings from the 2015 SeTTRA Tourism Research Symposium and Annual Meeting; Charlotte, North Carolina.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Jiang*, J., Woosnam, K.M., & Aleshinloye*, K.D. (2015, June). I travel, I think: Applying the self-perception theory to explain residents attitudes toward tourism development through their travel histories. Paper presented at the 46th Annual Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Conference and in 2015 TTRA Annual Conference Proceedings; Portland, Oregon.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Aleshinloye*, K.D., & Woosnam, K.M. (2015, June). Mediating the relationship between emotional solidarity and intentions to revisit a UNESCO World Heritage Site: The effects of perceived safety at the Osun Osogbo Cultural Festival in Osogbo, Nigeria. Paper presented at the 46th Annual Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Conference and in 2015 TTRA Annual Conference Proceedings; Portland, Oregon.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Maruyama, N., Woosnam, K.M., & Boley, B.B. (2015, June). Ethnic enclave tourism and empowerment of residents: The case of Brazilian and Japanese Residents in Oizumi, Japan. Paper presented at the 5th Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Marketing and Management (AHTMM) Conference (hosted by Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University) and in conference proceedings; Beppu, Japan.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Maruyama, N., Woosnam, K.M., & Boley, B.B. (2015, December). Ethnic enclave tourism and the dominant ethnic group: Qualitative findings in Japan. Paper presented at the 2015 Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA)Asia Pacific Chapter (APac) Annual Conference; Tokyo, Japan.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Joo*, D., & Woosnam, K.M., & Dudensing, R.M. (2015, March). A comparative analysis of first-time and repeat visitors to Port Aransas, TX. Paper presented at the 2015 Southeast Chapter of Travel and Tourism Research Association (SeTTRA) Annual Conference & Tourism Research Symposium and in Presentation Proceedings from the 2015 SeTTRA Tourism Research Symposium and Annual Meeting; Charlotte, North Carolina.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Aleshinloye*, K.D., & Woosnam, K.M. (2015, April). Perceived safety at the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove: A comparative study of visitors to the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nigeria. Paper presented at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting and in the Annual AAG Abstract Compilation; Chicago, Illinois.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Erul*, E., & Woosnam, K.M. (2015, April). Examining Antalya residents perspectives about the impacts of all-inclusive resorts across socio-demographic and economic indicators. Paper presented at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting and in the Annual AAG Abstract Compilation; Chicago, Illinois.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Maruyama, N., Woosnam, K.M., & Boley, B.B. (2015, December). Residents attitudes towards tourism: Considering empowerment and ethnicity. Paper presented at the 2015 Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA)Asia Pacific Chapter (APac) Annual Conference; Tokyo, Japan.
    • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Woosnam, K.M., Dudensing, R.M., Joo*, D., & Aleshinloye*, K.D. (2015). The impact of sports tourism on the economy of Childress, Texas. 28 pp. Project report for Childress Economic Development Corporation (Childress, Texas). College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University, Departments of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences and Agricultural Economics.


    Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

    Outputs
    Target Audience: Target audiences during the course of 2014 included one community in Texas: Childress (within the Panhandle). This community was served by a visitor study that occured in the location. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Presenting my research at key national and international conferences has afforded me countless opportunities to network with colleagues and develop as a profession in benefitting from such interactions and learning about potential collaborations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? A report will be written in Sept 2015 once the project is completed and disseminated to the town of Childress, Texas. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? I will be engaging in more international research as well as conducting qualitative research in 2015 to accomplish my remaining goals and further complete each of the objectives.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Objectives 1, 2, and 3 have been met. I have included both antecedents and outcomes of emotional solidarity in two separate projects this year and am working toward publishing my findings from the two completed projects. Additionally, I have collected data on emotional solidarity in the context of festivals throughout festivals. Such data have resulted in key presentations at major national and international conferences as well as manuscripts drafted for journals. FInally, I have collaborated this year with colleagues in Japan and Nigeria to have data collected in each of these countries pertaining to emotional solidarity. Such data will be analyzed and reported in 2015 through conference papers and journal articles in 2015. The remaining objectives (4 and 5) will continue to be pursued in 2015 as I engage in qualitative data research with doctoral students.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Woosnam, K.M., & Kim, H. (2014). Hurricane impacts on Southeastern US coastal national park visitation. Tourism Geographies, 16(3), 364-381.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Woosnam, K.M., & Aleshinloye, K.D., Van Winkle, C. & Qian, W. (2014). Applying and expanding the theoretical framework of emotional solidarity in a festival context. Event Management, 18(2), 141-152.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jiang, J., Woosnam, K.M., & Draper, J. (2014). Structural elements of articles and diachronous citation analysis among top-ranking tourism journals (1990-2010). Tourism Management Perspectives, 12, 48-56. DOI: 10.1016/j.tmp2014.06.004
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Van Winkle, C., & Woosnam, K.M. (2014). Sense of community and perceptions of festival social impacts. International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 5(1), 22-38.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Aleshinloye, K.D., & Woosnam, K.M. (2014, June). Using place attachment to explain tourists level of emotional solidarity with residents living adjacent to the Osun Osogbo Cultural Festival in Osgobo, Nigeria. Paper presented at the 45th Annual Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Conference and in 2014 TTRA Annual Conference Proceedings; Brugge, Belgium.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Woosnam, K.M., & Jiang, J. (2014, April). Does emotional solidarity with visitors impact residents attachment to the community in which they live? Paper presented at the 2014 Greater Western Chapter of Travel and Tourism Research Association (GWTTRA) Annual Conference & Tourism Research Symposium and in Presentation Proceedings from the 2014 GWTTRA Tourism Research Symposium and Annual Meeting; Denver, Colorado.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jiang, J., & Woosnam, K.M. (2014, April). Using residents travel use history (TUH) to explain solidarity they report with area visitors. Paper presented at the 2014 Greater Western Chapter of Travel and Tourism Research Association (GWTTRA) Annual Conference & Tourism Research Symposium and in Presentation Proceedings from the 2014 GWTTRA Tourism Research Symposium and Annual Meeting; Denver, Colorado.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Woosnam, K.M., & Aleshinloye*, K.D. (2014, April). Factoring tourists expenditures into emotional solidarity with destination residents. Paper presented at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting and in the Annual AAG Abstract Compilation; Tampa, Florida.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Jiang, J., & Woosnam, K.M. (2014, April). Considering satisfaction with life in explaining residents perceived impacts of a rural Texas Czech festival. Paper presented at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting and in the Annual AAG Abstract Compilation; Tampa, Florida.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Dangi, T.B., Xu, Y., Aleshinloye, K.D., Joo, D., Walker, J.R., & Woosnam, K.M. (2014, March). Predicting tourists intentions to revisit from guest-host interactions and emotional ties in Galveston County, Texas. Paper presented at the 2014 Southeast Chapter of Travel and Tourism Research Association (SeTTRA) Annual Conference & Tourism Research Symposium and in Presentation Proceedings from the 2014 SeTTRA Tourism Research Symposium and Annual Meeting; Lexington, Kentucky.


    Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

    Outputs
    Target Audience: Target audiences during the course of 2013 included two communities in Texas: Port Aransas and Brewster County (encompassing the Big Bend region and National Park). Each of these communities were served by visitor studies occuring in each location. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Presenting my research at key national and international conferences has afforded me countless opportunities to network with colleagues and develop as a profession in benefitting from such interactions and learning about potential collaborations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? A report was written and disseminated as a written document for each of the two communities (Port Aransas and Brewster County). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? I will be engaging in more international research as well as conducting qualitative research in 2014 to accomplish my remaining goals and further complete each of the objectives.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Objectives 1, 2, and 3 have been met. I have included both antecedents and outcomes of emotional solidarity in two separate projects this year and am working toward publishing my findings from the two completed projects. Additionally, I have collected data on emotional solidarity in the context of festivals throughout festivals. Such data have resulted in key presentations at major national and international conferences as well as manuscripts drafted for journals. FInally, I have collaborated this year with colleagues in Japan and Nigeria to have data collected in each of these countries pertaining to emtional solidarity. Such data will be collected in 2014. The remaining objectives (4 and 5) will be pursued in 2014 as I engage in qualitative data research.

    Publications

    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Woosnam, K.M., & Aleshinloye, K.D. (2013). Can tourists experience emotional solidarity with residents? Testing Durkheims model from a new perspective. Journal of Travel Research, 52(4), 494-505.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Woosnam, K.M. (2013). Modifying the IOS Scale among tourists. Annals of Tourism Research, 42, 431-434
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Woosnam, K.M., & Aleshinloye, K.D. (2013, June). Modifying the Inclusion of Other in Self (IOS) Scale and comparing residents and tourists perceived closeness with one another. Paper presented at the 44th Annual Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Conference and in 2013 TTRA Annual Conference Proceedings; Kansas City, Missouri.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jiang, J., Woosnam, K.M., & Dudensing, R.M. (2013, August). Economic and socio-cultural impacts of nature tourism in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Paper presented at the 2013 National Extension Tourism (NET) Conference and in 2013 NET Annual Conference Proceedings; Detroit, Michigan.
    • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jiang, J., Qian, W., Woosnam, K.M., & Draper, J. (2013, June). Predicting visitors emotional solidarity with residents through their travel use history (TUH). Paper presented at the 19th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management (ISSRM) Conference and in Book of Abstracts from the 19th ISSRM; Estes Park, Colorado.
    • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Woosnam, K.M., Van Winkle, C., & An, S. (2013). Confirming the Festival Social Impact Attitude Scale in the context of a rural Texas cultural festival. Event Management, 17(3), 257-270.


    Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Lower Rio Grande Valley - Economic impact of nature tourism in the Rio Grande Valley: Considering off-peak and peak visitation in South Texas. 1. Final report delivered to South Texas Nature Marketing Coop, Inc. in April 2012. 2. Overview of findings was delivered to stakeholders in March 2012. 3. Presentation of additional analyses will be made in subsequent months in the form of multiple conference papers and journal article manuscripts. PARTICIPANTS: Kyle M. Woosnam, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Texas A&M University Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences Kayode D. Aleshinloye Ph.D. Student Texas A&M University Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences Seonhee An Ph.D. Student Texas A&M University Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences Rebekka M. Dudensing, Ph.D. Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist Texas A&M University Department of Agriculture Economics Dan Hanselka Extension Associate Texas A&M University Department of Agriculture Economics TARGET AUDIENCES: Chambers of commerce throughout the region. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    Lower Rio Grande Valley - Economic impact of nature tourism in the Rio Grande Valley: Considering off-peak and peak visitation in South Texas. This was the second project funded by The South Texas Nature Marketing Coop, Inc. (STNMC), which is comprised of heads of Chambers of Commerce throughout the Lower Rio Grande Valley, which includes the counties of Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy. The STNMC is charged with promoting the natural amenities of the Valley to individuals interested in birding, photography, outdoor recreation, art, etc. Given it had been approximately 20 years since the STNMC had current numbers of nature tourism, I was hired to conduct an on-site survey of nature tourists to the Valley during the winter months. Upon completion of data collection in January of 2012, I (along with colleagues), began writing a report for STNMC, whereby we indicated current travel behavior findings along with the direct, indirect, and induced economic effects of nature tourism in the Valley for 2011. Such findings will be monumental in determining future lands to preserve throughout the Valley as well as how to appropriate existing and future funds to nature tourism.

    Publications

    • Aleshinloye, K.D., and Woosnam, K.M. 2012,October. Rio Grande Valley Nature Tourists Perceptions of Safety on the U.S.-Mexico Border. Paper presented at the 2012 Global Congress on Travel and in the 2012 Global Congress Proceedings; Houston, Texas.
    • Woosnam, K.M., An, S., Aleshinloye, K.D., Dudensing, R.M., and Hanselka, D.2012, March. What is the value of nature tourism in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas Paper presented at the 2012 Southeast Chapter of Travel and Tourism Research Association Annual Conference and Tourism Research Symposium and in Presentation Proceedings from the 2012 SeTTRA Tourism Research Symposium and Annual Meeting; Tunica, Mississippi.
    • Woosnam, K.M., Dudensing, R.M., Hanselka, D., and Aleshinloye, K. 2012. Economic impact of nature tourism on the Rio Grande Valley: Considering peak and off-peak visitation for 2011, 20 pp. Project report for South Texas Nature Marketing Coop. McAllen, Texas. College Station, Texas: Texas A and M University, Departments of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences and Agricultural Economics.


    Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: Lower Rio Grande Valley - Impact of nature tourism in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas 1. Final report delivered to South Texas Nature Marketing Coop, Inc. in September, 2011. 2. Press release of major findings from report in September, 2011. 3. Overview of findings was presented to stakeholders in August, 2011. 4. Presentation of additional analyses will be made in subsequent months in the form of multiple conference papers (for which one is currently in review) and journal article manuscripts. Caldwell, Texas - Social impacts of rural cultural festivals in Texas 1. Final report delivered to Burleson County Chamber of Commerce in January, 2011. 2. Presentation of additional analyses will be made in subsequent months in the form of multiple conference papers (for which one is currently in review) and journal article manuscripts (for which one is currently in review). PARTICIPANTS: Kyle M. Woosnam Assistant Professor Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences Seon Hee An Graduate Student Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences Kayode Aleshinloye Graduate Student Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences Jamie Rae Walker Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences Rebekka M. Dudensing Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor Department of Agriculture Economics Dan Hanselka Extension Associate Department of Agriculture Economics Christine Van Winkle Assistant Professor University of Manitoba Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management 313 Max Bell Centre Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2 Ann M. Mohammed Graduate Student University of Manitoba Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management 313 Max Bell Centre Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2 TARGET AUDIENCES: Chambers of Commerce throughout Texas PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    Lower Rio Grande Valley - Impact of nature tourism in the Rio Grande Valley The South Texas Nature Marketing Coop, Inc. (STNMC) is comprised of heads of Chambers of Commerce throughout the Lower Rio Grande Valley, which includes the counties of Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy. The STNMC is charged with promoting the natural amenities of the Valley to individuals interested in birding, photography, outdoor recreation, art, etc. Given it had been approximately 20 years since the STNMC had current numbers of nature tourism (i.e., social, cultural, and economic impacts), I was hired to conduct an on-site survey of nature tourists to the Valley during the summer months. Upon completion of data collection in July, I (along with colleagues), began writing a report for STNMC, whereby we indicated current travel behavior findings along with the direct, indirect, and induced economic effects of nature tourism in the Valley for 2011. Such findings will be monumental in determining future lands to preserve throughout the Valley as well as how to appropriate existing and future funds to nature tourism. Caldwell, Texas - Social impacts of rural cultural festivals in Texas As of late, the Burleson County Chamber of Commerce (the CoC that encompasses Caldwell, Texas)had received reports that some local residents had indicated lack of support and were worried about negative impacts that the Kolache Festival was having on the local community. I engaged in a project that would assess the resident population of Caldwell, Texas to determine how individuals' perceived the festival and its social-cultural impacts on the community. The Burleson County Chamber of Commerce now has data that indicates how residents of the community feel about the festival and have been used to plan for future Kolache Festivals within Caldwell.

    Publications

    • Lower Rio Grande Valley - Impact of nature tourism in the Rio Grande Valley. (2011 one conference paper in review)
    • Caldwell, Texas - Social impacts of rural cultural festivals in Texas. (2011 one conference paper and two journal manuscripts in review)
    • Woosnam, K.M., Walker, J.R., & Van Winkle, C. (2011, March). Utilizing the Festival Social Impact Attitude Scale (FSIAS) to Assess Resident Perspectives of a Rural Texas Cultural Festival. Paper presented at the 2011 National Extension Tourism (NET) Conference and in 2011 NET Annual Conference Proceedings; Charleston, South Carolina.