Abstract
Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is a form of sustainable tourism that is managed and/or owned by the community and intended to convey direct benefits to the community, promoting their well-being (Dangi and Jamal, 2016; Giampiccoli and Mtapuri, 2019; Murphy, 1988). However, despite its potential advantages, CBT has been widely questioned due to the limited potential in unifying a large number of community actors, with diverse interests. This limitation has meant that CBT has been found to more often lead to stakeholder conflict and lack of trust, rather than community unification and wellbeing (Curcija et al., 2019; Ndivo and Cantoni, 2016; Nunkoo, 2017; Reed, 1997). Stakeholder collaboration has been highlighted as one of the most effective means to address these challenges (Dredge, 2006; Jamal and Getz, 1995; Moscardo et al., 2017). Yet, greater understanding is required regarding how to promote stakeholder collaboration, within communities with complex relationships and varying levels of trust. This research, therefore, aims to provide a critical understanding of how stakeholder collaboration might be facilitated within communities with complex relationships and varying levels of trust, through examination of the concepts of social capital, trust and resilience within a CBT project, Tour Dure, in South Korea.
The research was conducted through mixed methods over two research phases that included: Phase 1. qualitative research utilising semi-structured interviews with members of community businesses and intermediaries between locals and governments in the CBT project; and Phase 2. quantitative research employing questionnaires with also community members and intermediaries. Findings concluded that bridges between different stakeholders was crucial; and facilitators and community members developed bridging social capital over time. It means long-term immersion of members and facilitators in the project, allowed them to build invaluable networks that would be difficult to access otherwise, developing social capital and trust over time. The most impactful social capital dimension in collaboration and community resilience was cognitive (shared vision, solidarity, and empowerment) social capital than structural (networks) and relational (trust) social capital. The importance of cognitive social capital suggests that it is necessary to create, be aware of and share a common vision or goal between stakeholders, to ensure stakeholders are willing to contribute time and money to a CBT project, perceive one’s own empowerment and be more resilient. This thesis contributes, theoretically, by showing the effect of complex relationships among stakeholders and varying trust levels on collaboration; and practically, by highlighting ways through which policymakers and managers may facilitate stakeholders’ social capital to generate collaboration within communities with complex relationships and varying trust levels.