Tourism in peripheral areas : the use of causal networks and lesson drawing as analytical methods

• Main Author: Nash, Robert
• Other Authors: Greenwood, Justin
• Published: Robert Gordon University 2002
• Subjects: 910
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.395751

The thesis sets out to evaluate the use of Causal Networks as a methodology and as a means of highlighting the problems associated with tourism in peripheral areas. Once these problems were identified through this process, the research findings are related to established literature and Lesson Drawing is evaluated as a means of comparative analysis. In attempting to utilise both Causal Networks and Lesson Drawing, three regions within Scotland were chosen as case studies. It was hoped that the selection of three regions within the same geographical propinquity would allow for Lessons to be both, imported and exported, from within the regions. The three regions chosen were Grampian; Inverness and Nairn; and Ross and Cromarty. An extensive literature search was conducted in an attempt to establish facts salient to the regions and primary research was carried out in all three regions. The primary research involved the use of an interview questionnaire. The respondents were all involved in tourism provision in one of the three case study regions. The interview data was collated and input onto conceptually clustered matrices. Causal Networks were constructed and analysed for each individual interview and for cognate groups and regions. Some tentative conclusions were drawn as a result of constructing the Causal Networks. These Causal Networks segmented the respondents into representative groups based on their functions or locations, for example commercial and non-commercial sector respondents or Grampian and Aberdeen City regional sector respondents. Using the Causal Networks opportunities for drawing lessons between the regions were highlighted. Finally, the effectiveness of both Casual Networks and Lesson Drawing methodologies were assessed in terms of their applicability for tourism provision in peripheral areas.