Sustainably changing small traders' harassment behaviors – A theoretical framework

Abstract

h i g h l i g h t sA model for sustainably reducing small traders' harassment behaviors was proposed. The framework was based on established theories of behavior modification. The framework was used to analyze Jamaica's visitor harassment mitigation program. Jamaica's program had clear learning gaps which compromised its long-term success. a b s t r a c tThe goal of the paper was to put forward a theoretical model for sustainably changing small traders' harassment behaviors and to apply it to a destination that has been grappling with the problem for decades. One hundred and eighty-one newspaper articles, 37 annual tourism reports, and 20 other government documents were reviewed to determine Jamaica's visitor harassment mitigation initiatives and activities from 1957 to 2013. Also, seven leaders from 14 of the island's craft markets were interviewed to determine the effects of these programs on their constituents' harassment behaviors. The archives and interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The case analysis revealed that while Jamaica had initiatives likely to discourage their small independent traders' engagement in harassment behaviors, the initiatives developed to strengthen their knowledge of the desired less aggressive trading behaviors had deficiencies likely to limit their engagement in these behaviors. The framework had implicationsfor how measures to curtail visitor harassment are developed and tested.

A qualitative cognitive appraisal of tourist harassment

“…Thus, from the legal perspectives, the common aspects of harassment (other than unwelcomed behaviors) involve systematic and repeated discrimination. However, harassment toward tourists is significantly nonroutine, nonsystematic, and not necessarily repeated (Hall, ; Nicely, Day, Sydnor, & Mohd Ghazali, ; Pratt & Turanovic, ; Wen & Li, ). In many instances, tourist harassment occurs in plain sight and without risky or repeated indulgence on the part of tourists (Ajaguna, ; Badu‐Baiden, Adu‐Boahen, et al, ; Boakye, ; Carnegie, ; Chepkwony & Kangogo, ; de Albuquerque & McElroy, ; Kozak, ; McElroy et al, ; Nicely, ; Pathirana & Athula Gnanapala, ; Pratt & Turanovic, ).…”

Mitigating Aggressive Small Trade at Tourist Destinations Through Cognitive Restructuring

“…According to researchers, one effective way leaders can drive a target population's unlearning is by emphasizing the benefits of the alternative (Ahmed, Loh, & Zairi, 1999;Antonacopoulou, 2006;Baldwin, Danielson, & Wiggenhorn, 1997;Barkley & Bianco, 2000;Buzan, 1991;Heap, 1996;Kline & Saunders, 1993;Morris et al, 2006;Reineck, 2002;Wiethoff, 2004), suggesting that for traders to shun their aggressive trading behaviors and embrace the proposed nonaggressive alternative tourism leaders should put more resources and energy into communicating the benefits of the desired selling behaviors and less on informing them of the consequences of the undesired aggressive ones. For the most part, scholars and tourism leaders alike have been doing the opposite, emphasizing the latter and giving limited attention to the former (de Albuquerque & McElroy, 2001;Griffin, 2003;Kozak, 2007;Nicely et al, 2015). Before, the above can take place a clear distinction must be made as to what constitutes aggressive and nonaggressive trade.…”

“…Before, the above can take place a clear distinction must be made as to what constitutes aggressive and nonaggressive trade. For some time, there has been a lack of clarity among traders across a number of jurisdictions, such as in Barbados, Jamaica, and Turkey, as to the difference between the two (de Albuquerque & McElroy, 2001;Nicely et al, 2015).…”

“…It has resulted in: tensions between beach traders and hotel staff in Sri Lanka (The Travel Foundation, 2013); visitors remaining on hotel properties and refusing to visit local markets in Jamaica (Skipper, 2009); and visitors not wanting to return or recommend Marmaris, a famous tourist destination in Turkey (Kozak, 2007;The Travel Foundation, 2013). Aware of the challenges aggressive small trade poses, leaders in these and similar territories have responded with a plethora of initiatives, some are described in the studies and report cited (Crick, 2003;de Albuquerque & McElroy, 2001;Griffin, 2003;Kozak, 2007;Nicely, Day, Sydnor, & Mohd Ghazali, 2015;Skipper, 2009). While there are studies that looked at mitigation strategies used by tourism leaders, there is limited academic discourse on requirements for such solutions to be effective.…”

Visitor (Trader) Harassment Further Explained

“…First, before the drivers of harassment can be understood and effectively addressed, the behaviors that constitute the phenomenon must first be known. In fact, not knowing the behaviors that constitute TH may be a key reason why many destination-level treatments fail (Nicely et al, 2015). Second, its findings could help researchers create more precise measures for TH and TH intensity at destinations.…”