{"id":5474,"date":"2019-10-28T12:47:23","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T04:47:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.ift.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/?p=5474"},"modified":"2019-10-28T12:56:47","modified_gmt":"2019-10-28T04:56:47","slug":"community-support-for-festivals-linked-to-how-much-locals-know-about-the-good-they-can-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.utm.edu.mo\/NewsPortal\/community-support-for-festivals-linked-to-how-much-locals-know-about-the-good-they-can-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Community support for festivals linked to how much locals know about the good they can do"},"content":{"rendered":"\u4e2d\u6587\u6458\u8981 \/ Summary in Chinese<\/span>\n

A study involving 2 scholars from IFT says local authorities should step up efforts to raise awareness among residents about the social and cultural benefits that hosting festivals brings to the city. Raising such awareness, the authors argue, could drive community support regarding development of festival tourism, helping to diversify Macao\u2019s overall tourism offering.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile many Macao residents realise the economic benefits that festivals have brought to the city, the socio-cultural benefits are less visible,\u201d the researchers explained. They added it was important to revise that situation as their study results indicated that locals were more supportive of hosting festivals when they perceived positive social and cultural benefits from them.<\/p>\n

The authors added that festival planners \u2013 and people in the local government responsible for managing the image of Macao as a destination \u2013 \u201cshould therefore communicate the benefits of festival development through different marketing techniques and channels, to gain residents\u2019 collaboration and support.\u201d<\/p>\n

The comments were featured in the paper \u201cIs QOL a better predictor of support for festival development? A social-cultural perspective\u201d, produced by IFT scholars Dr. Li Xiangping and Dr. Penny Wan, in partnership with United States-based academic Dr. Muzaffer \u201cMuzzo\u201d Uysal. \u201cQOL\u201d refers to \u201cquality of life\u201d. The work was published in February in the online version of the scholarly journal Current Issues in Tourism.<\/p>\n

The purpose of the study was to analyse locals\u2019 support for development of festival tourism. It sought to explore the perceived social and cultural impacts of such events plus resident satisfaction with the social and cultural aspects of their lives as well as their respective satisfaction regarding their life as a whole.<\/p>\n

The study results were based upon face-to-face interviews answered by 280 respondents. The sample comprised people holding Macao residency, all of whom were 18 years of age or older.<\/p>\n

From roadshows to brainstorming sessions<\/strong><\/p>\n

The authors suggested several ways to increase awareness among Macao residents regarding the social and cultural benefits brought to the city by the hosting of festivals. \u201cFor instance, roadshows and TV shows could be produced to highlight those social-cultural benefits to locals and to let them feel pride in hosting the festivals,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Macao Government Tourism Office could organise some activities at the festivals allowing local residents to interact more with tourists,\u201d the researchers added. \u201cDuring some festivals local residents could be given opportunities to introduce local food to tourists; or some activities and games could allow tourists and locals to form teams to win prizes or gifts. Some activities could be designed for children, enhancing the awareness of local people of the benefits of hosting festivals.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study results additionally suggested that residents were \u201cmore positive about, and supportive of, festival development when their social-cultural life quality increases and they are satisfied with their life as a whole,\u201d said the researchers.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs festivals play crucial roles in enhancing individual wellbeing and daily life socially and emotionally, it is essential for governments and festival organisers to plan, design and organise festivals for local residents that help enhance their life satisfaction and quality of life through their participation,\u201d the authors stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cFestivals should appear interesting, fun and meaningful for locals in order to draw their participation,\u201d suggested the research paper. \u201cDuring the festival design stage, organisers could collect local residents\u2019 opinions on the festivals that they are interested in hosting,\u201d and incorporate such feedback into their plans, the authors stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrainstorming workshops could be organised in each district in Macao to collect such opinions\u201d and record the interests of community members, the researchers suggested. \u201cIn this manner, local residents would be more willing to become involved in the festivals, could better appreciate the socio-cultural benefits of festivals, and eventually would show more support for festival hosting.\u201d<\/p>\n

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More info<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
The researchers<\/div>\nDr. Li Xiangping is an Assistant Professor at IFT. Dr. Li has a PhD in hospitality and tourism management from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, in Virginia, in the United States. Her research interests include sustainable tourism development, destination marketing, and tourist behaviour.<\/p>\n

IFT Visiting Assistant Professor Dr. Penny Wan holds a PhD from the University of Hong Kong. Her academic research focuses on sustainable tourism planning, heritage management, casino gaming management, and hospitality services. Dr. Wan has served as an editorial board member and reviewer for several high-profile academic journals in the field of tourism.<\/p>\n

Dr. Muzaffer \u201cMuzzo\u201d Uysal chairs the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the Isenberg School of Management in the University of Massachusetts Amherst, in the U.S. He holds a PhD from the Texas A&M University, in Texas, also in the U.S. His academic research interests include tourism development, economic impacts of tourism, and quality-of-life (QOL) research in hospitality and tourism.
\n<\/div>\n

The paper<\/div>\n– The paper
\nXiangping Li, Yim King Penny Wan and Muzaffer Uysal: \u201cIs QOL a better predictor of support for festival development? A social-cultural perspective\u201d, Current Issues in Tourism, 2019
\nhttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/13683500.2019.1577807<\/a>
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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