2008 v5 #2 contents

Journal of APPLIED RESEARCH IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Progressive thought and action for practitioners, researchers, civic leaders,
and other citizens contributing to the regional economic development process

executive summaries
Applied Research in Economic Development
December 2008 Volume 5, Number 3

Marfa Food Shark

Features

Call for papers

Perspectives on Applied Research in Economic Development
Mark M. Miller, editor

Research Articles

From Blues to Benton to Bluegrass: the economic impact of the arts in the South
by Sujit M. CanagaRetna

Executive Summary. The multi-faceted contributions of the arts and arts-related
activities have not fully grasped the attention of a broad cross-section of American
society. To many Americans, the arts are considered the enclave of a few high-profile
cultural institutions and their elite patrons. To the contrary, beyond the intrinsic
benefits of the arts—i.e., benefits that serve to enrich an individual’s life experiences,
standard of living and learning—there is substantial research on the crucial role
played by the arts in generating a significant level of broad-based economic growth
in practically every corner of the country. Public funding for the arts suffers
considerably during an economic downturn as governments cut back on spending,
but research demonstrates that a relatively miniscule legislative appropriation to the
arts leads to economic flows that far exceed this investment.

Identifying types of tourists for better planning and development
a case study of nuanced market segmentation in Cancún
by Rebecca Torres and Velvet Nelson

Executive Summary. Tourism typologies can assist development researchers to
analyze specific consumption patterns exhibited by different types of tourists. This
article illustrates the utility of place-specific tourist typologies by employing factor
analysis to construct a typology of visitors to Cancún, Mexico. We draw upon this
typology to examine food demand and consumption linkages in the region, revealing
a more complex examination of tourists and their consumption, in contrast to
comparisons based on broad categories such as nationality. Categories revealed
here—including “Euro-Off-Beat,” “Sun & Sand Family,” and “Business Breaker”—
all offer unique characteristics and opportunities for tourism-based E.D.

No country for old developers: the strange tale of an arts boom, bohemians, and
“Marfalafel” in the high desert of Marfa, Texas
by Michael Seman

Executive Summary. Marfa, Texas is an international arts-based tourism hotspot,
a growing artistic “haven,” and a popular location for second homes and parttime
residents. The town welcomes thousands of visitors yearly, is home to multiple
galleries and artists, and has recently hosted two high-profile Hollywood film
productions. Marfa’s rise to global prominence is unique in that it was a tiny, dying
town deep in the heart of West Texas — a remote, sparsely populated region of the
state. The town’s fortunes reversed by chance, not by design, with the 1994 death
of resident and globally recognized artist, Donald Judd. This event triggered rapid
and largely unplanned E.D. based on his legacy. By examining Marfa, one can
assess both the potential and the challenges that arts-based tourism can provide for
increasingly remote rural locations.

Exploring Nunavut: extreme tourism and development
by Janel Cohen, Steven Hannah, and Mark M. Miller

Executive Summary. When Nunavut acquired territorial independence from the
Northwest Territories, the future of E.D. appeared promising. The territory, now in a
transitional state of development with tourism at the reins, is reconciling traditional
customs with hospitality development to fully realize its commercial appeal. The
growth of Canada’s youngest territory is not only intriguing, but relevant to other
rural communities hoping to use tourism as a springboard for E.D.

Tools and Techniques for E.D. Research

The need for tourism satellite accounts: a Florida case study
by Necati Aydin

Executive Summary. This paper highlights the importance of developing a Tourism
Satellite Account (TSA) method of estimating tourism expenditure impact, using
Florida’s economy as a case study. Because tourism does not exist as a distinct sector
and its expenditures are among several sectors, it is difficult to identify its impact
on the state economy. The TSA method separates out all tourism-related activity
within gross state products (GSP). Developed by the World Tourism Organization,
the TSA method is used by over 70 countries, the Bureau of Economic Analysis
(BEA) at the national level, and a growing number of states. The paper concludes
by recommending a Tourism Satellite Account incorporated into a regional inputoutput
model, such as REMI and IMPLAN, to accurately measure the full impact of
tourism expenditures on the state economy. A TSA model should be used by the State
of Florida to more accurately assess and monitor the tourism sector, and establish
policies to mitigate problems and seize opportunities to grow tourism. TSA can
provide policymakers with more reliable information for effective decision-making to
guide the future of tourism development.

The Latest Word: Reviews of Recent Research and Thought

What do we know about retiree attraction strategies?
by Erik R. Pages

Executive Summary. What is the coming “age wave,” and what is the state of
the field of retiree attraction strategies? This paper begins with a brief look at the
numbers: the size of the coming retirement boom and what is the financial situation
facing the baby boom generation. We next look at recent retiree migration trends. We
then turn to a review of how states and localities are responding to these patterns.
We conclude by assessing the effectiveness of these programs and by providing some
recommendations for how communities can best attract, retain and engage these new
retirees.

Tourism, local economic development, and poverty reduction
by Harold Goodwin

Executive summary. It is ten years since the British government’s Department for
International Development (DFID) commissioned a discussion paper on Tourism and
Poverty Elimination; since then the language has weakened to reduction and then
alleviation. The development of the pro-poor tourism approach over those ten years
is discussed and is differentiated from ecotourism and community-based tourism.
The paper concludes with the identification of some of the key principles and lessons
learnt, case studies which provide guidance about different approaches, and some
evidence of what can be achieved.

Bird-watching as ecotourism and economic development: a review of the evidence
(including a review of The North Carolina Birding Trail website: www.ncbirdingtrail.org)
by Sheri L. Glowinski

Executive Summary. Can ecotourism development based primarily on bird-watching
provide real, sustainable job creation and E.D. for surrounding communities?
An extensive review of U.S. and international studies of bird-watching costs and
economic benefits seeks an answer to this complex question. The challenging case
study of La Tigra National Park in Honduras, which begins and ends the article,
inspired this analysis—but many rural U.S. communities are also exploring birdwatching
as a possible alternative to traditional, but declining, extractive industries.
The data to date are encouraging. Like any industry, however, bird-watchingbased
ecotourism requires careful planning, significant investment, and attentive
management.

Leading the way: growing greenways and creating economic development
(including a review of the American Trails website: www.americantrails.org)
by Kathi Boatright

Executive Summary. Damascus, Virginia—central point of five different recreational
trails—presents a case study of success in combining conservation with recreationbased
E.D. Would a greenway work for your community? This review surveys
available articles and studies on the economic contributions of greenway walking
and biking trails.

Book Review

Leisureville: Adventures in America’s Retirement Utopias, by Andrew D. Blechman
Reviewed by Lenwood Brooks

Website Reviews

A practitioner’s bookmarks: five tourism research websites
Reviewed by Chris Cotton

Travel and Tourism Research Association: www.ttra.com
Reviewed by Mary Craig

World Travel and Tourism Council: www.wttc.org/eng
Reviewed by Cassie Hicks

World Tourism Organization: www.world-tourism.org
Reviewed by Kyle Brown

Incredible India: the official tourism website of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India,
www.incredibleindia.org
Reviewed by Jennifer R. Moses