Page 105 - Monaco Economie 126

TOURISTS at home with the LOCALS by Suzanne Belaieff

Economic, sociological and political relations Many private and voluntary players work those passing through and those who
between residents and tourists are linked to together to this end; tourism can be at the stay come up against broader problems
their activities, specifically as far as the the forefront of projects with more global impact of cohabitation between “consuming” and
property market is concerned. “tourism strategy that has been thought “enjoying” and “living and working” in a
Indeed, it is essential to make public the up outside the box becomes a catalyst for context where the levels and players are
conflicting interests of those planning to local projects! both different and disparate.
acquire land. In fact, it is a question of As for the tourists: the movement, the “If the locals have long been the “poor cousins,”
designing something welcoming and pleasant experience, rootedness, habit, the idea thought of as second-class citizens in relation
to live in on a daily basis for the different being to break free from being locked into a to the tourist development rationale, the
times of the year, where everything functions mono-identity so as to understand the local tourism directors are increasingly appealing
in a binary mode with spacetime positioning lifestyle, even when the conflicts or different to the residents to participate in their
within the communities - temporary residents appropriations of the area between tourists promotion.
and permanent residents: “The more touristy and locals are perpetuated or redefined.v Tourism is becoming one of the fastest
a place is, the higher the price of real estate…”. growing sectors. The livelihood of a large
Is it possible to have a public policy that number of inhabitants is dependent on
Yet accommodation designed specifically for meets the needs of all? tourist spending. While heritage is about
tourists can make the area more attractive. Is the answer to management needs of all preservation, tourism is about change.
In addition to the resident population, there both ephemeral and permanent?
are also “temporary residents; the residents The forms of appropriation of space, for Tourists and inhabitants, Marie Delaplace and Gwendal Simon
are not the only people who live in tourist
areas, but this needs cash ...”. Tourists and
residents are both closely linked and in
situations of potential or real conflict, as
they are present in the city, in transport, in
living accommodation, and in public places
they need to be in synch.
It is essential to attract tourists and prevent
and resolve conflict in any tourist place, and
everything depends on how the tourists are
received. The local population needs to be
welcoming in order for the tourists and the
inhabitants to get along; complicity between
tourists and residents should avoid the
risk of conflict. Investments from which
tourists benefit and that flow over to the
resident population, chosen but not imposed
interaction, and with public spaces that
can be designed for both segments of the
population, encouraging interaction should
do the trick.
Those responsible for the development
of the tourist destination should become
involved, especially with regard to facilitating
commerce, improving living conditions and
cultural activity. Favouring tourists also
means attracting future residents. YES, if the
city is pleasant people can always think of
settling there, even of setting up in business;
each and everyone can contribute to local
development, acknowledging those who are © depositphotos/Bumble-Dee
responsible for providing the appropriate
amenities that match the cultural facilities.

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