On being community members: exploring psychological mechanisms of community identity construction through Community-Based Tourism

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17983
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
• Principal Investigator: YOUN SeungHo 立命館アジア太平洋大学, アジア太平洋学部, 准教授 (80804757)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2025-03-31
• Keywords: Community Based Tourism / Social identity / Identity component / identity construction

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In 2021, the researcher focused mainly on the literature study of social identity and the concept of community-based tourism. The details are as follows.
1) Review of relevant literature: The researcher collected and reviewed books and articles in the area of social, community based tourism (CBT) and local tourism resilience were also reviewed. Through the review, philosophical paradigm in approaching community members’ identity construction and CBT could be derived from a transactional position within social psychology. Key identity-related theories in social psychology, such as a sense of identity, the process of identity construction, motivations and components of identity) have important implications for a sense of community members’ identity. The research confirms the potentials of CBT that play a part in community members’ sense of community identity by giving rise to multiple psychological motivations.
2) Preliminary data collection: To understand the current ways local citizens engage in CBT and tourist participation in the CBT programme, the researcher firstly reviewed programmes provided by locals and conducted a preliminary study with tourists who participated in the programme of CBT in Hiji village Oita Prefecture. The preliminary study highlighted the importance of CBT in both community members and tourists.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

This research investigates the relationship between CBT and the construction of community identity in different cultural contexts (i.e. Japan and Korea). Due to COVID situation, field studies and data collection were significantly limited. On the other hand, drawing on identity theories in social psychology, the researcher built a concrete theoretical framework. For field studies next year, the researcher has contacted professionals in the area of local tourism associations and CBT. In Japan, local tourism associations in Oita Prefecture has been targeted for field study next year (e.g. Hiji tourism association). The researcher has communicated online with professionals in CBT in South Korea to design field studies in the next year.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

Due to COVID, most research activities in the first year have been carried out using secondary data. In the second year, the research sets two major objectives: 1) elaboration of theoretical framework and 2) field study. To elaborate the theoretical framework of the research and research methods (e.g. interview questions), the researcher plans to collaborate with international researchers in the area of social psychology and tourism study (e.g. University of Surrey, UK, Kyonggi University, South Korea). Additionally, field studies and interviews with relevant stakeholders in target local communities in both Japan and South Korea will be planned. Finally, the research progress and achievement will be disseminated through conference presentations and the submission of journal articles.

Causes of Carryover

Due to COVID, the research fund for the first year (AY2021) has not been fully executed as planned. The researcher was unable to travel to local villages where community based tourism initiatives have been employed in South Korea and Japan as planned in AY 2021. Therefore, any field studies and preliminary data collection on the sites could not be conducted as planned in AY2021. Hence, the researcher intends to execute the funds to conduct this field study and preliminary data collection in AY 2022 to carry out the following research activities: observation, interviews with relevant stakeholders (e.g. community members, community leaders) in local communities, collecting secondary data, etc.