Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 1999. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2003. Graduate Programme in / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 291-316). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ99252

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This dissertation involves a longitudinal study of the promotional materials of !Xaus Lodge, a community-owned lodge in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. The study engages with stakeholders of the Lodge in order to assess its promotional materials in terms of marketing, identity and development issues. The Circuit of Culture (Du Gay et al. 1997) covers and examines the process of meaning-making which forms the basis for understanding the textual and reception analyses. This, along with pertinent tourism theories, which discuss issues such as the concept of ‘authenticity’, the notion of the ‘other’ and various modes of representation, form the basis of the theory pervading the dissertation. The textual analysis is based on Tomaselli’s Phaneroscopic Table (1996), through which the promotional materials are examined. The reception analysis thematically discusses target market and past visitors’ opinions about the materials and the Lodge, facilitated through the process of coding. The informants’ opinions were collected through a number of focus groups conducted with the target market of !Xaus Lodge and through online questionnaires sent to past visitors. A comparison between the textual and reception analyses is conducted in order to identify similarities found and explain divergences. The analyses refer to all aspects of the promotional materials, but tend to concentrate on ≠Khomani representation within the materials and the feedback about the ≠Khomani cultural tourism experience at the Lodge. At the moment, the ≠Khomani express a romantic identity which relates well to similar expectations of many tourists, but the ‘reality’ of ≠Khomani society does not allow these !Xaus employees to meet the idealistic expectations of some visitors. / Thesis (M.A.)-University KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Waikato, 2009. / Title from PDF cover (viewed December 16, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 291-314)

This thesis deals with the potential of the Czech Republic selected sites inscribed on the World Heritage List. The aim of this work is to confirm the hypothesis that inclusion of the Czech immovable cultural monuments on World Heritage List has an impact on the number of domestic and foreign visitors. In this regard, we will try to outline the positive and negative aspects arising from the inscription of monuments on the World Heritage List. Content of work is the analysis of selected factors that may affect attendance at selected sites. Using sociological research oriented to visitors of selected World Heritage Sites will focus on the perception of visitors of World Heritage Sites, because they are the ones who make the demand for tourism services. In conclusion, the results of research evaluate and propose possible solutions to more closely involved World Heritage Site in the development of tourism in the region.

Since the 1970s there has been a growing interest in Indigenous cultures globally. In Australia, the recognition that Aboriginal art and culture represents a distinct component of Australian identity has resulted in increased promotion of Aboriginal cultures and heritage sites as unique tourist attractions, mainly since the 1990s. Research indicates that there is a significant international interest in Australian Indigenous cultures. In particular, it has been suggested that tourists want to experience ‘real’ Aboriginal culture and that they desire ‘authentic and genuine’ Aboriginal cultural experiences. Despite the fact that the concept of authenticity remains important to the different stakeholder groups of Aboriginal tourism, including tourists, tour operators and promoters as well as State/Territorial Governments, limited understanding exists as to what ‘authentic’ Aboriginal culture and, in particular, ‘authentic’ Aboriginal tourism experiences constitute in the minds of these stakeholders. Whilst an abundance of research exists that has addressed the issue of authenticity in different tourism settings, the majority of studies have treated the concept of authenticity as something given and have used quantitative tools to analyse the authentic-inauthentic binary. However, research utilising such methods has failed to uncover the different perspectives and meanings respondents may hold of the notion of authenticity. Notably, the perceptions of authenticity in Indigenous tourism have received little attention. The few existing studies on authenticity in Indigenous tourism settings have given emphasis to differing agendas, and have therefore provided only a piecemeal understanding of how authenticity is perceived and interpreted by the different stakeholders of Indigenous tourism. More importantly, research on Aboriginal hosts’ perceptions of authenticity is virtually non-existent. Yet, clarification of how tourists and hosts perceive authenticity in Aboriginal tourism is essential when addressing issues of accreditation and branding as well as key marketing objectives that aim to promote ‘authentic’ Aboriginal tourism experiences. This study seeks to address the gaps within the tourism literature surrounding authenticity in Aboriginal tourism. The aim is to understand the concept of authenticity in Aboriginal tourism from a stakeholder perspective. The study is guided by two main research questions: What are the perceptions of authenticity of tourists as well as tour providers and their employees? and Are theoretical perspectives of the notion of authenticity shared by those stakeholders? More specifically, this study investigated five important issues: 1) tourists’ perceptions of authenticity at three different Aboriginal cultural tours; 2) the perceptions of three Aboriginal cultural tour operators and their employees in regard to authenticity; 3) whether there were any discrepancies and/or similarities between the perceptions of tour operators/employees and tourists about what constitutes an authentic Aboriginal tourism experience; 4) whether any of the different theoretical perspectives of authenticity were shared by tourists and tour operators/employees; and 5) whether a conceptual framework could be developed that provides an overview of salient elements explaining the formation of perceptions of authenticity within Aboriginal cultural tourism experiences. In order to examine the research questions a qualitative research methodology grounded in the constructivist paradigm was adopted. This paradigm was chosen as it reflects the exploratory nature of the research and allows for flexibility throughout the research process. This study utilised qualitative in-depth semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection method together with participant observation. Data was collected from 92 interviews, consisting of 72 tourists and 20 employees, within three Aboriginal cultural tour companies in the Northern Territory. The three different Aboriginal cultural tours chosen for the purpose of this study were: Tiwi Tours at Bathurst Island, Manyallaluk Aboriginal Cultural Tours near Katherine and Anangu Tours at the Uluru-Kata-Tjuta National Park. The results of this research revealed that respondents hold multiple constructions of the notion of authenticity. In general, however, most respondents associated an authentic Aboriginal cultural tour experience with a genuine experience which does not feel contrived, staged or ‘plastic’. In particular, the study found that respondents’ perceptions of authenticity can be grouped into four elements. The first element consisted of the background and role of the Aboriginal tour guide, which was found to be a major factor influencing respondents’ perceptions on whether the tour was offering an authentic experience. The second element is characterised by the tourists’ search for ‘real’ and ‘genuine’ Aboriginal people. Here, respondents equated authenticity with the opportunity to visit a ‘real’ Aboriginal working community and to be able to experience Aboriginal people in an everyday setting. Respondents were found to hold preconceived notions and images in their minds as to who ‘real’ Aboriginal people are and what their ‘authentic’ lifestyle should involve. In addition, the majority of respondents defined authentic Aboriginal culture as the contemporary culture of Aboriginal people. Consequently, an authentic Aboriginal cultural tour experience was conceived in terms of gaining an insight into the contemporary lifestyle of Aboriginal people. The third element that contributed to the experience of authenticity is associated with having the opportunity to see and/or purchase authentic Aboriginal arts and crafts. Respondents perceived a product as authentic if it conformed to specific criteria, such as reflecting uniqueness and originality and being handmade by a local artist. Verification of authenticity was also generated by the shopping experience itself, for example meeting the artist and watching how the craft is produced. Finally, the fourth element in the construction of authenticity is related to tourists’ perceptions of the dance performance. Some respondents recognised this as a contrived experience that lacked ‘traditional’ authenticity, while some respondents wanted to see an authentically contrived or staged cultural performance as this was regarded as an occasion for entertainment and enjoyment. Furthermore, the findings of this study suggested that respondents generally referred to the authenticity of toured objects (object authenticity) when describing their perceptions of an authentic experience. The majority of tourists and employees employed a constructivist approach within their conceptualisation of the notion of authenticity. Only a small number of tourists appeared to hold attitudes similar to the objectivist and postmodern perspectives. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (MIHM) -- AUT University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Also held in print (viii, 109 leaves : col. ill. ; 30 cm.) in City Campus Theses Collection (T 338.479193 MAR)

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, 2007. / A thesis submitted to the University of Western Sydney, College of Business, School of Marketing, in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Sydney, 2007. / A thesis presented to the University of Western Sydney, College of Business, School of Management, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Includes bibliographies.