Tourism, Development, And International Relations: Discursive Productions Of Imperialism

This thesis explores how transnational tourism and “development” practices in post-colonial spaces promote and rely upon each other, creating constant tension between expectations to “develop” and tourist requirements of authenticity/exoticism. Utilizing Foucauldian, Constructivist, and Post-Colonial scholarship, I argue that cultural and ethnic tourism in “developing” or “transitioning” countries is contingent upon the commodification of local culture and environment. Content analysis and literature reviews show that the discourse around tourism and development in international relations literature has changed over time. The following chapters substantiate and provide qualitative support for four hypotheses: H1) International discourse around “development” and “tourism” is constantly changing and being produced according to interests, norms, beliefs, and resistance. H2) Patterns of discourse around “development” and “tourism” are similar and are have been produced to achieve similar goals. H3) The tourism industry offers powerful industrialized states and corporations opportunities to continue imperialist practices of political, cultural or economic advantages over previously colonized territories. H4) Cultural and ethnic tourism in Indonesia relies upon markers of perceived authenticity and exoticism that can prevent host communities from using tourism revenue to “economically develop” as policy and discourse suggests.