Academic literature on the topic 'Tourism Social aspects Cook Islands'

Background Arthropod-borne diseases pose a significant and increasing risk to global health. Given its rapid dissemination, causing large-scale outbreaks with severe human infections and economic loss, the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is one of the most important arboviruses worldwide. Despite its significance, the real global impact of CHIKV remains underestimated as outbreak data are often incomplete and based solely on syndromic surveillance. During 2011–2016, the South Pacific Region was severely affected by several CHIKV-epidemics, yet the area is still underrepresented in arboviral research. Methods 465 outpatient serum samples collected between 08/2016 and 04/2017 on three islands of the island states Vanuatu (Espiritu Santo) and the Cook Islands (Rarotonga, Aitutaki) were tested for anti-CHIKV specific antibodies using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent Assays. Results A total of 30% (Cook Islands) and 8% (Vanuatu) of specimens were found positive for anti-CHIKV specific antibodies with major variations in national and intranational immunity levels. Seroprevalence throughout all age groups was relatively constant. Four potential outbreak-protective factors were identified by comparing the different study settings: presence of Ae. albopictus (in absence of ECSA E1-A226V-mutation CHIKV), as well as low levels of human population densities, residents’ travel activity and tourism. Conclusion This is the first seroprevalence study focussing on an arboviral disease in the Cook Islands and Vanuatu. It highlights the impact of the 2014/2015 CHIKV epidemic on the Cook Islands population and shows that a notable part of the Vanuatu test population was exposed to CHIKV although no outbreaks were reported. Our findings supplement the knowledge concerning CHIKV epidemics in the South Pacific Region and contribute to a better understanding of virus dissemination, including outbreak modifying factors. This study may support preventive and rapid response measures in affected areas, travel-related risk assessment and infection identification in returning travellers. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Aachen: 051/16_09/05/2016 Cook Islands Ref.: #16-16 Vanuatu Ref.: MOH/DG 10/1/1-GKT/lr.

Social media impacts all aspects of society from citizens to businesses, but also political parties. The article proposes a new social media engagement model that evaluates political cyber operations and the success of such campaigns during elections. The article will use the Cook Islands 2018 general election to validate the model.

The Cook Islands is the largest of several Pacific island microstates experiencing absolute population decline, raising questions over national viability. Since its peak of 21,300 in 1971 the population has almost halved, mainly through depopulation of the twelve outer islands. The population of the main island, Rarotonga, has remained constant. Decline has been particularly rapid following economic problems and restructuring in the mid-1990s, while return migration has been slight. Skilled migrants, especially health workers, have been most prone to migration, for educational, economic and social reasons, facilitated by unimpeded entry into Australia and New Zealand. Workers increasingly join the health system with the intention of subsequent migration. Both the education and health system are short of skilled workers, and service delivery is worsening. Economic growth through tourism may slow migration, but will not prevent it, and further overall population decline seems probable.

AbstractObjectiveBetween 1980 and 2008, two Pacific island nations – Nauru and the Cook Islands – experienced the fastest rates of increasing BMI in the world. Rates were over four times higher than the mean global BMI increase. The aim of the present paper is to examine why these populations have been so prone to obesity increases in recent times.DesignThree explanatory frames that apply to both countries are presented: (i) geographic isolation and genetic predisposition; (ii) small population and low food production capacity; and (iii) social change under colonial influence. These are compared with social changes documented by anthropologists during the colonial and post-colonial periods.SettingNauru and the Cook Islands.ResultsWhile islands are isolated, islanders are interconnected. Similarly, islands are small, but land use is socially determined. While obesity affects individuals, islanders are interdependent. New social values, which were rapidly propagated through institutions such as the colonial system of education and the cash economy, are today reflected in all aspects of islander life, including diet. Such historical social changes may predispose societies to obesity.ConclusionsColonial processes may have put in place the conditions for subsequent rapidly escalating obesity. Of the three frameworks discussed, social change under colonial influence is not immutable to further change in the future and could take place rapidly. In theorising obesity emergence in the Pacific islands, there is a need to incorporate the idea of obesity being a product of interdependence and interconnectedness, rather than independence and individual choice.

Sexual harassment is prevalent in the hospitality industry with studies indicating that hospitality employees experience sexual harassment significantly more than employees in other industries. Studies also reveal that customers are generally the main perpetrators [1]. Like the Western world, tourism in the South Pacific has seen significant growth and is now the largest and fastest growing sector in the region [2]. However, despite tourism being the key economic driver for many Pacific Island countries, the prevalence of sexual harassment in this location is unknown. This study was conducted in the Cook Islands and investigated the sexual harassment experiences of hospitality employees, by customers. A qualitative approach was adopted involving in-depth interviews with 32 participants from across the industry. The study revealed a significant lack of awareness of sexual harassment and, given the lack of research attention in this region, it is anticipated that this problem is prevalent across the Pacific. Consistent with previous studies [3], alcohol was considered to have the greatest influence on customer behaviour. Supporting Hayner’s [4] ‘moral holiday’ perspective, employees were of the view that visitors behaved inappropriately simply because they were away from home and had a sense of anonymity. A key outcome of the study were the new themes that emerged on ‘cause’, which were unique to the study and its location. The commodification of Cook Islands culture, in particular, the sexualisation of traditional dance and costumes, was perceived to reduce the sexual inhibitions of visitors. A lack of awareness around cultural norms, the hospitable nature of Cook Islanders and titillating marketing messages were also perceived to inadvertently influence visitor behaviour. The ramifications of sexual harassment are serious and cannot be ignored by hospitality employers and managers. The study found that employees experienced a decline in their work performance, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. These outcomes are detrimental not only to individuals, but also to organisations, as they can increase costs and impact the bottom line [5]. Of particular concern, the study found that employees were leaving the industry because of sexual harassment. In light of the current labour market pressures in the Cook Islands tourism industry [6], the implications of this are grave. The research identifies a vital need for education and training with a focus on sexual harassment awareness, cultural awareness, body language and socials skills. The implementation of workplace policies and procedures on sexual harassment is also recommended. Implementing practical strategies at an operational level may also be beneficial for managers and owners. Bystander intervention is an effective approach and involves removing the harassed employee and replacing them with a colleague, before the situation escalates. Implementing host responsibility programmes to educate employees on the responsible sale and supply of alcohol is also recommended. Paramount to addressing the issue of sexual harassment, however, is a clear and visible commitment from management. Employers have an ethical responsibility to create a safe working environment for their employees. Our people are our greatest tourism asset. We need to protect them to ensure a sustainable tourism industry, both in the Pacific and elsewhere. Corresponding author Lisa Sadaraka can be contacted at lisa.sadaraka@aut.ac.nz References (1) Gettman, H. J.; Gelfand, M. J. When the Customer Shouldn’t be King: Antecedents and Consequences of Sexual Harassment by Clients and Customers. Journal of Applied Psychology 2007, 92(3), 757–770. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.92.3.757 (2) The World Bank. Tourism, 2016. http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/95491462763645997/WB-PP-Tourism.pdf (accessed Jun 7, 2018). (3) Yagil, D. When the Customer is Wrong: A Review of Research on Aggression and Sexual Harassment in Service Encounters. Aggression and Violent Behavior 2008, 13(2), 141–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2008.03.002 (4) Hayner, N. S. Hotel Life and Personality. American Journal of Sociology 1928, 33(5), 784–795. (5) Ineson, E. M.; Yap, M. H. T.; Whiting, G. Sexual Discrimination and Harassment in the Hospitality Industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management 2013, 35, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2013.04.012 (6) Sugden, C.; Bosworth, M.; Chung, M.; Tuara, A. Cook Islands 2008 Social and Economic Report: Equity in Development, 2008. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/29732/cook-islands-economic-report-2008.pdf (accessed Jun 7, 2018).

Geographically, the Untung Jawa island is located at the Seribu Islands region, a maritime tourism spot at the<br />north of Jakarta. The development of new infrastructures in the island would benefit to not only for tourism,<br />but also the activities environmental sustainability in the area. A sustainable tourism development must touch<br />three important aspects: First, economic, social and environment which are inter-related to each other. If not<br />carried out in a balanced way, then it could possibly damage the infrastructures around the tourism area, such<br />as breakwaters, piers and the whole environment. In conclusion, it is important to map the characteristics of<br />the infrastructure damage around the Untung Jawa Island, as well as the urgency to update the information<br />about the ecology of the islands without forgetting the government’s role to develop the island by considering<br />the characteristics of the infrastructure, local and ecological potential. <br /> <br /><br />

Cimei Island is a second-class outlying island. In recent years, due to the lack of coastal fishery resources and restrictions on traffic and climate, the traditional fishery and tourism industries that residents rely on for a living have faced challenges. This research is based on the Barbados Programme of Action, from the perspective of environmental conservation, industrial economy, and social development in sustainable development, and from the perspective of local stakeholders, to construct a sustainable tourism action approach and development mechanism in Cimei Island. A qualitative research method was adopted. Various sources of data, including focus discussions and in-depth interviews with local stakeholders, textual materials, and field observations, were collected and analyzed. The results are as follows: (1) Cimei faces great threats in social, economic, and environmental aspects, which has led to Cimei Islands’ promotion of permanent development. (2) The current development of Cimei cannot effectively drive industrial development or the transformation of fishing villages. However, residents are worried that overdevelopment will impact the ecological environment and lifestyle on the Islands. (3) Cimei’s sustainable tourism development approach should be to first take inventory of the ecological environment and cultural resources, plan related environmental laws and regulations, and finally, use sustainable tourism to drive industrial development to carry out island development.

Since the mid-20th century, tourism has become a strategic activity for the economy of the Balearic Islands, causing profound social, territorial, and environmental transformations. This fact challenges local society, which must be aware of its environment to better face the future challenges posed by this economic activity. With this goal, the official curriculum has been analyzed, making it possible to ascertain the approach with which this subject is taught by the administration and what objectives are set. Furthermore, a review was carried out of the contents of geography textbooks in the third year of ESO and the second year of the Baccalaureate, which corresponds to the educational stages in which tourism aspects appear. The results obtained represent a fundamental strategic diagnosis to improve the teaching and learning of this key activity for the Balearic Islands, giving it more importance and adapting its approach to the current times.

The application of carrying capacity has the potential to protect tourist areas, both natural and cultural, and is related to the local community lifestyle and the potential of tourist destinations. The condition of the people of the Kei Islands who are still experiencing conflicts of interest in several areas leads to an unplanned development that is not according to plan or can even change or destroys the character of natural and cultural resources. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the condition of social values ​​related to the current social carrying capacity and the past 10 years. A total of 600 people from 10 community groups were involved and the primary. Primary data were obtained through filling out of a list of questions by respondents using a closed-ended questionnaire by applying the “one score one indicator scoring system”. The data were analyzed was carried out in a quantitative descriptive manner based on the average value of each indicator. A paired t-test was conducted to determine the difference between the current and the condition 10 years ago. The results showed that the local community's response to tourism development activities under both now and 10 years ago felt positive and negative impacts. The social situations that produce positive impacts were conducive situations, associations, cooperative situations, and productive collaborations, while the negative ones were dissociation, conflict, and war. This showed that communication and economic aspects must be the attention of the parties to reduce conflicts of interest and enhance the development of ecotourism in the Kei Islands.

Sustainable tourism involves increasingly attracting visitors while preserving the natural capital of a destination for future generations. To foster tourism while protecting sensitive environments, coastal managers, tourism operators, and other decision-makers benefit from information about where tourists go and which aspects of the natural and built environment draw them to particular locations. Yet this information is often lacking at management-relevant scales and in remote places. We tested and applied methods using social media as data on tourism in The Bahamas. We found that visitation, as measured by numbers of geolocated photographs, is well correlated with counts of visitors from entrance surveys for islands and parks. Using this relationship, we predicted nearly 4 K visitor-days to the network of Bahamian marine protected areas annually, with visitation varying more than 20-fold between the most and least visited parks. Next, to understand spatial patterns of tourism for sustainable development, we combined social media-based data with entrance surveys for Andros, the largest island in The Bahamas. We estimated that tourists spend 125 K visitor-nights and more than US$45 M in the most highly visited district, five times that of the least visited district. We also found that tourists prefer accessible, natural landscapes—such as reefs near lodges—that can be reached by air, roads, and ferries. The results of our study are being used to inform development and conservation decisions, such as where to invest in infrastructure for visitor access and accommodation, siting new marine protected areas, and management of established protected areas. Our work provides an important example of how to leverage social media as a source of data to inform strategies that encourage tourism, while conserving the environments that draw visitors to a destination in the first place.