Producing tourism policy, democracy and marginalised local communities

Abstract

Despite four decades of tourism expansion and a rapid economic growth, the (wider) development conditions of local island communities have barely progressed in the Maldives. If tourism development is a vehicle for development and a means to achieve sustainable development, it is important to understand and question why local communities are unable to reap the benefits of tourism, in terms of economic development, and participate in national decision-making processes. This thesis brings together historical dimensions, with broader social, political, and economic processes to examine the underlying power-relations in the production of tourism development policies. In the process, the fundamental reasons for marginalisation of local communities are exposed. This analysis develops the concept of inclusive tourism development, within a SIDS context, to address this issue. The aim of study is to examine the production of tourism policy in the Maldives which has systematically marginalised and excluded local community from economic development. The research centres on a case study approach of analysing planning and policy formulation at three separate atolls in the Maldives: Kaafu Atoll, Baa Atoll and Gaafu Alifu Atoll and three distinct periods in history. This thesis argues for the importance of deliberative democracy as a platform for realising the potential of tourism development in small island settings in the early 21st century.