This dissertation aims to investigate the perceptions and attitude of young citizens towards the social impacts of tourism in Casablanca, Morocco. Tourism is known to have both positive and negative social impacts on any community and significant research has been done on how host communities perceive it. However, little research has been implemented on the perceptions of young people particularly. The first objective was to review secondary data regarding the topic. The reviewed literature presents different models and theories such as Doxey's Irritation Index, Butler's Cycle and the Social Exchange Theory. A primary fieldwork research was designed to meet the second objective of investigating the perceptions of the youth. The research was carried out through an e-survey and a total sample of 301 people in Morocco. The collected data were analyzed and the results were compared with the findings from the literature review. Some of the findings were indeed surprising. Although most of the respondents think that tourism has a good impact on their city, opinions vary according to age, gender, income and ethnic background. Casablanca is yet to become a mature destination and measures need to be taken to avoid future irritation among locals. Most notably, hospitality managers should provide women with adequate working conditions and the Moroccan government should prioritise tourism as an economic activity but also as means for social cohesion and social sustainability.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Research
1.2 Aim
1.3 Objectives
1.4 Structure of the Dissertation
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Tourism Development in Morocco
2.2.1 Morocco
2.2.2 Casablanca
2.2.3 Tourism Development
2.3 Socio-cultural Impacts
2.3.1 Social Impacts
2.3.2 Alienation
2.3.3 Acculturation
2.3.4 Demonstration Effect
2.4 Tourism Impacts and Host Community Perceptions
2.4.1 Host Perceptions
2.4.2 Doxey's Irritation Index
2.4.3 Butler's Cycle
2.4.4 Social Exchange Theory
2.5 Social Impact Assessment
2.5.1 Social Impact Assessment in Tourism
2.5.2 Social Resource Unit
2.5.3 Interactive Community Forum
2.5.4 Surveying
2.6 Conclusions
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Secondary Research
3.2.1 Literature Search
3.2.2 Literature Review
3.3 Primary Research
3.3.1 Qualitative Research
3.3.2 Quantitative Research
3.3.3 Research Instrument Design
3.3.4 Sampling Strategy
3.3.5 Conducting the research
3.4 Data Analysis
CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Results and Analysis
4.2.1 Demographics
4.2.2 Survey Analysis
4.2.3 Open-ended Questions
4.3 Conclusion
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND REFLECTIONS
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Conclusions
5.3 Recommendations
5.3.1 For Tourism Planners and Stakeholders
5.3.2 For Hospitality and Tourism Businesses
5.3.3 For Participants and Casablancan Youth
5.4 Reflections and Evaluation of Methodology
5.5 Suggestions for Future Research
Objectives and Research Themes
This dissertation investigates the perceptions and attitudes of young citizens in Casablanca, Morocco, toward the social impacts of tourism. It aims to bridge the gap in existing research by focusing specifically on the youth demographic and analyzing how factors such as age, gender, income, and ethnic background influence their views on tourism development and social sustainability.
- Social and cultural impacts of tourism on local host communities.
- Theoretical models including Doxey's Irritation Index and Social Exchange Theory.
- Analysis of youth perceptions on employment, infrastructure, and urban change.
- Identification of strategies to minimize negative social consequences and improve community participation.
Excerpt from the Book
2.3.2 Alienation
Hegel (1949, cited in Xue, Navarrete and Buzinde, 2014) argued that alienation is the surrendering of personal interests. Marx (1978, cited in Xue, Navarrete and Buzinde, 2014) expanded on that and linked it to the working environment in a capitalist system. According to Marx, alienation is a direct consequence of capitalism. Marx argued that workers lost control of their powers and the products they produced but more importantly the relationship between them.
In modern day tourism in the global south, Marx's theory of alienation is as current as ever. The internationalisation of tourism has endangered the social power of the locals working in the tourism industry (Hjalager, 2007). The workers are almost powerless as they are unable to escape the cycle of working for multi-national hotel chains. Small family-run businesses are helpless in front of a hotel that is able to market itself through a variety of distribution channels and cut costs by hiring cheap foreign labour, such as Syrian workers in Lebanon or domestic ones from rural areas, such as Kurds in Istanbul (Gambetti and Jongerden, 2015).
Alienation in tourism also affects the social structure of a traditional society through the employment of youth in tourism rather than in land with their fathers (Cooper, 2012). A positive side to threatening the social structure could be the employment of females which could empower the oppressed sex. However, many females suffer from abuse and harassment at the hands of colleagues, employers and even tourists (Tomsky, 2011). Although females are able to find job opportunities in the tourism industry, it is hard to claim that women in the global south have been empowered when very few of them reached high positions and many of them are trafficked through sex tourism. Many of these females have been forced into such jobs and have no say in their future.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the research context, focusing on tourism in Morocco and Casablanca, and outlines the research aims and specific objectives.
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter reviews secondary data on social impacts, theoretical frameworks like the Social Exchange Theory, and the current state of tourism in Morocco.
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY: This chapter justifies the research approach, detailing the use of quantitative surveys among Casablanca’s youth and the ethical considerations involved.
CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS OF RESULTS: This chapter presents the primary research findings, analyzing participant demographics and their perceptions through statistical data and open-ended responses.
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND REFLECTIONS: This final chapter synthesizes the research findings and provides recommendations for stakeholders, alongside a self-evaluation of the chosen research methodology.
Keywords
Tourism, Social Impacts, Casablanca, Morocco, Youth Perceptions, Social Exchange Theory, Alienation, Acculturation, Demonstration Effect, Sustainable Tourism, Host Community, Quantitative Research, Employment, Socio-cultural, Urban Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this dissertation?
The dissertation focuses on investigating how young people in Casablanca, Morocco, perceive and experience the social impacts of tourism development in their city.
What are the primary thematic areas of this research?
The research explores socio-cultural impacts such as alienation, acculturation, and the demonstration effect, while also examining the economic role of tourism and its influence on community life.
What is the main research objective?
The primary objective is to identify the opinions and perceptions of local youth regarding tourism to propose strategies that minimize negative attitudes and increase local involvement in decision-making.
Which scientific methods are employed in this study?
The study utilizes a quantitative methodology, specifically an e-survey distributed to a sample of 301 young people, complemented by open-ended questions to provide qualitative depth.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body reviews existing literature on tourism impacts, outlines the methodology used to gather primary data, and provides a detailed analysis of the results based on demographics and Likert-scale statements.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The research is best characterized by terms such as Social Impacts, Casablanca, Youth Perceptions, Sustainable Tourism, Host Community, and Social Exchange Theory.
How does age influence the perceptions of Casablanca's youth?
The study found that age significantly impacts perspectives; for example, younger respondents tend to be more open-minded regarding tourism, while older respondents express more concern about the loss of culture and traditions.
What is the relationship between tourism and the status of women in Casablanca according to the research?
While tourism provides job opportunities, the research indicates that many women feel dissatisfied with their status, citing wage gaps, workplace harassment, and a lack of empowerment in high-management positions.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sari Arab (Autor:in), 2016, Youth's Perceptions of Tourism's Social Impacts in Casablanca, Morocco, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/370856
