<p>In South Africa, poverty engendered by the apartheid regime has long been part of the fabric of the economy. Against this background of social marginalisation, material deprivation and individual vulnerability, tourism has over the years increasingly been mooted as a strategically important and lucrative sector that, if fully explored and exploited, would lead to sustained poverty alleviation in the Republic of South Africa. The central aim of this study was to establish whether tourism as evident in the Spier Tourism model is a sustainable poverty-reduction strategy. The specific objectives of this study were to examine the socio-economic impact of Spier tourism initiatives on its workers (previously disadvantaged individuals) and the local population, to assess the pro-poor tourism practices as implemented by Spier in relation to Rogerson&rsquo / s pro-poor approach, to identify the challenges that Spier is facing in its pro-poor tourism approach with respect to poverty reduction goals, to provide recommendations on how the challenges can be met most effectively and to examine how pro-poor tourism can be promoted and enhanced in South Africa. The study employed both the qualitative and quantitative research designs. Data were collected through different qualitative and quantitative techniques (in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaire). Summary findings indicate that Spier has positively contributed to the socio-economic improvement in the living standards (contribution to livelihood &ndash / increased income, enhanced health and food status), through job creation, improved education/healthcare, empowerment through training and skill development, investment in the corporate social responsibility. However, Spier is still grappling with challenges such as racial disputes, insufficient income of employees and unqualified staff to mention a few. This study makes several recommendations which are based on the findings.</p>

This thesis examines the nature of amenity migration, its effects and related planning strategies and practices through a case study of the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and surrounding environs. The goal of this study is to provide a descriptive overview of amenity migration in relation to the RMOW and region, primarily from the perspectives of selected key stakeholders as well as documentation from several RMOW and regional sources. For some time, the RMOW has been known as a world class destination resort and a progressive leader in various aspects of planning and sustainability. Interviews with sixteen key stakeholders revealed a range of familiarity with the concept of amenity migration and considerable knowledge about economic, social and environmental consequences. The concept of amenity migration was not used in RMOW and regional planning strategies and practices, raising some question about its conceptualization. A major effect of amenity migration was the lack of affordable housing, with subsequent local and regional effects. Significant planning measures perceived as effective included the Whistler Housing Authority, Vision 2020 and a regional growth strategy, currently under development. The study identifies the importance of a regional framework for strategic planning and the need for more research, in particular, to enable mountain communities to track their amenity migrants. Two key issues emerged: whether a “resort community” is viable; and the role of planners in relation to serving the diverse interests of stakeholders in these locales. The thesis concludes with implications regarding the continued use of the concept of amenity migration and the importance of the concept for planners, policy development and planning practice related to the phenomenon.

This thesis examines the nature of amenity migration, its effects and related planning strategies and practices through a case study of the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and surrounding environs. The goal of this study is to provide a descriptive overview of amenity migration in relation to the RMOW and region, primarily from the perspectives of selected key stakeholders as well as documentation from several RMOW and regional sources. For some time, the RMOW has been known as a world class destination resort and a progressive leader in various aspects of planning and sustainability. Interviews with sixteen key stakeholders revealed a range of familiarity with the concept of amenity migration and considerable knowledge about economic, social and environmental consequences. The concept of amenity migration was not used in RMOW and regional planning strategies and practices, raising some question about its conceptualization. A major effect of amenity migration was the lack of affordable housing, with subsequent local and regional effects. Significant planning measures perceived as effective included the Whistler Housing Authority, Vision 2020 and a regional growth strategy, currently under development. The study identifies the importance of a regional framework for strategic planning and the need for more research, in particular, to enable mountain communities to track their amenity migrants. Two key issues emerged: whether a “resort community” is viable; and the role of planners in relation to serving the diverse interests of stakeholders in these locales. The thesis concludes with implications regarding the continued use of the concept of amenity migration and the importance of the concept for planners, policy development and planning practice related to the phenomenon.

Nowadays, GIS techniques have been widely used in every walk of life. Owing to the rapid urban growth, it is of importance to plan and develop the cities in a reasonable and scientific way. As a result, optimum sites of different constructions should be considered to make full use of land resources and optimize urban structure. Although the traditional field-survey method is important, GIS-based multi-criteria analysis (MCA) provides a more reasonable and scientific way in site selection issue. Weihai, our study area, is one of the fastest developing coastal cities in China. Owing to the rapid urban expansion, Weihai government municipality planned to develop the Poyu town into a new district with multifunctions. In consideration of its advantages in natural resources and geographic position, a holiday resort is proposed. In the aim of applying GIS-based MCA in site selection, this thesis would present an experiment to select the optimal site for a holiday resort with the help of GIS techniques. The data used in this project is a satellite image and digital elevation data of Poyu town. The satellite image has been digitized to obtain the current land use map, based on which constraint maps and factor maps have been made to make preparation of multi-criteria analysis. Finally, the multi-criteria analysis model has been made. The weights for multi-criteria analysis are obtained from the advice of experienced people in Weihai Planning Bureau and also earlier studies on the site selection. There are three sets of weights based on three themes that have been used in this project. The three themes which were fruit-picking theme, seascape and seafood theme as well as leisure and recreation theme were decided based on the results of the questionnaire. Through the discussions of the results, a final selected site for the holiday resort was determined. It includes the optimal site for the main part focusing on both fruit picking theme and leisure and recreation theme and also the optimal site for an accessory part focusing on seascape and seafood theme. The final section concludes the general project work, its perspectives and the function of GIS-based MCA in site selection.

This dissertation examines the role and impact of the promotion tools in the repositioning strategy of a tourism destination. Building on a theory which brings together the repositioning strategy process and the communication mix, this study is conducted through the examination of a case study based on one of the most important and innovative European ski resort: Avoriaz. The research has been made through an in-depth interview with a manager of the ski resort in charge of the communication, which has been completed by a content analysis of the communication supports edited by the resort. As a result, this study concludes that the communication tools have a main role in the implementation a repositioning strategy by having a major impact on the image of the tourism destination.

När den amerikanska investmentbanken Lehman Brothers ansökte om konkurs den 15 september 2008 ökade oron på den globala finansiella marknaden. Detta ledde till svårigheter för finansiella aktörer i Sverige att finansiera sin verksamhet eftersom det blev dyrare att ta upp lån internationellt samtidigt som misstänksamheten gentemot andra aktörer pressade upp riskpremierna. Vid denna tidpunkt var inflationsnivån i Sverige den högsta på 15 år vilket fick Riksbanken att höja styrräntan dagarna innan konkursansökan. När den amerikanska investmentbanken Lehman Brothers ansökte om konkurs den 15 september 2008 ökade oron på den globala finansiella marknaden. Detta ledde till svårigheter för finansiella aktörer i Sverige att finansiera sin verksamhet eftersom det blev dyrare att ta upp lån internationellt samtidigt som misstänksamheten gentemot andra aktörer pressade upp riskpremierna. Vid denna tidpunkt var inflationsnivån i Sverige den högsta på 15 år vilket fick Riksbanken att höja styrräntan dagarna innan konkursansökan. Uppsatsens undersökning har till stor del bestått av en litteraturstudie. Utöver detta har även en intervju genomförts med riksbankschefen Stefan Ingves. Materialet som har använts har främst tagits från Riksbanken. Riksbanken vidtog ett flertal åtgärder för att stärka den svenska finansmarknadens motståndskraft. Åtgärderna var under krisens gång en kombination av penningpolitik och finansiella stabiliseringsåtgärder. Utöver räntejusteringar erbjöds bland annat obegränsade lånemöjligheter till Riksbankens motparter, vilket enligt Stefan Ingves även var den viktigaste åtgärden. Detta syftade främst till att sänka den allmänna räntenivån och återskapa förtroendet på den svenska finansiella marknaden. Till följd av Riksbankens åtgärder föll den allmänna räntenivån. Vilka effekter Riksbankens åtgärder hade på inflations och BNP utvecklingen är dock svårt att fastställa då utvecklingen av dessa berodde på flera olika faktorer. Riksbankens agerande under finanskrisen stämmer väl överens med vad teorierna förespråkar. Problemet med de penningpolitiska teorierna är att handlingsutrymmet begränsas när styrräntan närmar sig nollgränsen samtidigt som konjunkturnedgången är ihållande. Trots att Riksbanken agerade i enlighet med de penningpolitiska teorierna kan händelseförloppet inte enbart förklaras av dessa. Riksbanken agerande som en Lender of Last Resort är teorienlig förutom att en alldeles för låg straffränta togs ut.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the population over the age of 65 in Taiwan has reached over 7% of the total population, making Taiwan an aging society and the senior consumer market a target market with significant potential. This study attempts to identify, quantify, and target the potential of senior living. First, the study identifies the senior living market demand, and product examples within the senior living market. Secondly, the report quantifies the senior living market demand. Lastly, the study proposes a senior living community resort as an investment. The study targets the senior population over 60 years old, indigenous peoples over 55 years old, are capable of independent living, and spouses no less than 50 years old. The study method is based upon secondary research and comparative analysis. This research analyzes the current residential market for seniors, identifies trends in the senior residential market, and based on existing research on the senior living market; discuss product design, target market, and pricing strategies for a senior residential product. From this research, we provide an investment valuation model that can be used to develop an investment proposal for a community-style senior living resort. This study aims for two main contributions from this research. First, current studies on seniors currently do not address the investment possibilities of senior living resorts or provide an investment valuation model for a workable investment proposal. Secondly, this research report provides actual management experience and industry information appropriate for Taiwanese businesses that require an investment valuation model for the development of an investment plan of a community-style senior living resort.

By means of fuzzy set theory as well as Takagi-Sugeno and Mamdani fuzzy controller, this paper presents the investigation of a Resort Management System implemented by a combination of a T-S model and a Mamdani model. It demonstrates the procedure of the specific premise parameters identification and consequence parameters identification performed by regression knowledge in the T-S model, and the process of the fuzzification, the rule base creation and the defuzzification with COG technique in the Mamdani model. Therefore, an aggregation between T-S controller and Mamdani controller applied in the field of management by a novel angle is illustrated, which, as a result, devotes an improved management system that shares great convenience in the control process when combined with mathematics. Moreover, a modification of the conventional Takagi-Sugeno and Mamdani controller is demonstrated in conjunction with fuzzy operations t-norms and OWA by adjusting the -value, which is used in the calculation of final outputs in the T-S model and the computation of rule consequences in the Mamdani model. The algebraic intersection, bounded intersection as well as the -parameter t-norm are the t-norms which are going to be introduced. Besides, we have tested that t-norms generate the same alpha values when the membership degrees meet the boundary with the value of 1 or 0 while OWA can still yield a well-balanced result different from the one computing by minimum operation. Nevertheless both t-norms and OWA are able to shift the alpha-value in a well-adjusted way when the membership degrees lie in the interval [0,1]. A tendency has been shown that alpha-value tends to decrease by means of t-norms and OWA operations and consequently, the final outputs appear to be reduced.

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

<p>In South Africa, poverty engendered by the apartheid regime has long been part of the fabric of the economy. Against this background of social marginalisation, material deprivation and individual vulnerability, tourism has over the years increasingly been mooted as a strategically important and lucrative sector that, if fully explored and exploited, would lead to sustained poverty alleviation in the Republic of South Africa. The central aim of this study was to establish whether tourism as evident in the Spier Tourism model is a sustainable poverty-reduction strategy. The specific objectives of this study were to examine the socio-economic impact of Spier tourism initiatives on its workers (previously disadvantaged individuals) and the local population, to assess the pro-poor tourism practices as implemented by Spier in relation to Rogerson&rsquo / s pro-poor approach, to identify the challenges that Spier is facing in its pro-poor tourism approach with respect to poverty reduction goals, to provide recommendations on how the challenges can be met most effectively and to examine how pro-poor tourism can be promoted and enhanced in South Africa. The study employed both the qualitative and quantitative research designs. Data were collected through different qualitative and quantitative techniques (in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaire). Summary findings indicate that Spier has positively contributed to the socio-economic improvement in the living standards (contribution to livelihood &ndash / increased income, enhanced health and food status), through job creation, improved education/healthcare, empowerment through training and skill development, investment in the corporate social responsibility. However, Spier is still grappling with challenges such as racial disputes, insufficient income of employees and unqualified staff to mention a few. This study makes several recommendations which are based on the findings.</p>