The influence of tourism on the subjective wellbeing

The influence of tourism on the subjective wellbeing of host communities Robert A. Cummins Australian Centre on Quality of Life Deakin University http: //www. deakin. edu. au/research/acqol

BEST EN champion of sustainable tourism “Tourism is a well-known tool to facilitate regeneration and economic development and enhance the quality of life of visitors and host communities. ”

BEST EN Tourism is a well-known tool to facilitate regeneration and economic development and enhance the quality of life of visitors and host communities.

Questions 1. What is life quality? 2. Does economic development = improved life quality? 3. How does life quality relate to the natural environment?

How do we measure ‘life quality’? One way is through social indicators

What is a ‘social indicator’? a statistic of direct normative interest which facilitates --- judgments about the condition of -- a society. (U. S. Department of Health, Education, Welfare, 1969)

That is----The major traditional social indicators ≈ money or at least the products and services that money can buy. So, around the world, prior to 1970’s Quality of Life = GDP.

Following the Second World War, many countries experienced strong economic growth 550 500 450 400 GDP held as a percent of its 1958 value 350 Deflated GDP/capita 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1970 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1987 Year

Depletion of natural resources Western Australia's primary energy usage by fuel type (2005) 98% of WA's primary energy needs are supplied from fossil fuels

Pollution www. eslisland. com/intro/Ecology-Environment. htm

People are working longer hours each week Globalization, Black. Berries, corporate expectations and Type A personalities. www. msnbc. msn. com/id/17030672/ 2005 1983

Tourism enhances economic development. It also raises the need for infrastructure and energy consumption Does this kind of development confer a net benefit on the host population ? Are people becoming happier as a result of economic development?

Life satisfaction Since the 1950 s, surveys in many countries have included the question: ‘Considering your life as a whole, how satisfied are you with your life? ’

Economic growth and Subjective Wellbeing in Japan 550 500 450 400 Deflated GDP/capita 350 300 GDP is held as a percent 250 of its 200 1958 value 150 Life satisfaction is the actual 100 value for 50 each year 0 Life Satisfaction 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1970 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1987 (Diener & Biswas-Diener, 2002) Year

p Se ar M p Se ar M p Se 06 06 05 05 04 04 03 03 02 02 01 GDP per capita ($) In Australia 13000 GDP per capita 12000 110000 9000 8000

In Australia 13000 100 GDP per capita 95 Personal Wellbeing Index 12000 90 80 75 10000 70 65 9000 60 55 06 p Se 06 ar M 05 05 p Se M ar 04 p Se 04 M ar 03 p Se M ar 02 p Se M ar 01 p 03 50 02 8000 Wellbeing (0 -100) 11000 Se GDP per capita ($) 85

Quality of Life Objective Conditions e. g. Physical health Objective QOL Subjective Perceptions e. g. Satisfaction with health ? Subjective Wellbeing [happiness]

Subjective Wellbeing A positive state of mind that involves the whole life experience How do we measure it?

How satisfied are you with your life as a whole? The first-level deconstruction is--- How satisfied are you with your-----? • Standard of living • Health • Achieving in life • Relationships • Safety • Community connectedness • Future security • Spirituality/Religion ( Personal Wellbeing Index )

Domains: all must contribute unique variance Standard of living Health Achieving in life Relationships Safety Community connectedness Future security Spirituality/Religion β β β β “How satisfied are you with your life as a whole? ”

[Jones and Thurstone , 1955] 11 -point, end-defined scale How satisfied are you with your ----? Completely Dissatisfied 0 1 Completely Satisfied 2 3 4 5 6 8 8 9 10

Personal Wellbeing Index How satisfied are you with your-----? • Standard of living • Health • Achieving in life • Relationships • Safety • Community connectedness • Future security • Spirituality/Religion

We code all data to lie on a range from Complete dissatisfaction 0 Complete satisfaction 100

Why is subjective wellbeing important? Positive emotions build a range of personal resources as: Physical resources (health, longevity) Social resources (friendliness, social capital) Intellectual resources (intellectual curiosity, expert knowledge, ) Psychological resources (resilience, optimism, creativity)

In 2000 we linked with our industry partner, Australian Unity Purpose: to create a quarterly index of subjective wellbeing for the Australian population. As an alternative to the traditional economic indicators such as GDP

Our data are drawn from the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index Surveys Geographically representative sample N = 2, 000 Telephone interview #1: April 2001 ------#19: April 2008

Personal Wellbeing Index 2001 - 2007 77 >S 11 76 >S 2, S 4, S 5 Scores above this line are significantly higher than S 1 75 Strength of satisfaction 74 73 f g h g S 8 Ju n 20 03 20 S 9 03 N o S 1 v 2 0 0 Fe 03 b S 1 20 1 0 M ay 4 S 1 20 2 Au 04 g 20 04 S 1 3 M ay 20 05 S 1 4 O ct 20 05 S 1 5 M ay 20 06 S 1 6 O ct 20 06 S 1 7 Ap r 2 00 7 S 1 8 O ct 20 07 e Au 03 02 d c 20 20 ar M ov S 6 N S 5 S 4 Au g 20 ar M S 3 Se S 2 20 02 02 1 pt 2 00 r 2 Ap S 1 Key: b 00 1 Survey Date a S 7 Major events 72 preceding survey a = September 11 b = Bali Bombing c = Pre-Iraq War d = Hussein Deposed e = Athens Olympic f = Asian Tsunami g = Second Bali Bombing h = New Industrial Relations Laws

Personal Wellbeing Index 2001 - 2007 77 >S 11 76 >S 2, S 4, S 5 Scores above this line are significantly higher than S 1 75 Strength of satisfaction 74 This represents a 3. 0 percentage point variation 73 xxxxx f g h g S 8 Ju n 20 03 20 S 9 03 N o S 1 v 2 0 0 Fe 03 b S 1 20 1 0 M ay 4 S 1 20 2 Au 04 g 20 04 S 1 3 M ay 20 05 S 1 4 O ct 20 05 S 1 5 M ay 20 06 S 1 6 O ct 20 06 S 1 7 Ap r 2 00 7 S 1 8 O ct 20 07 e Au 03 02 d c 20 20 ar M ov S 6 N S 5 S 4 Au g 20 ar M S 3 Se S 2 20 02 02 1 pt 2 00 r 2 Ap S 1 Key: b 00 1 Survey Date a S 7 Major events 72 preceding survey a = September 11 b = Bali Bombing c = Pre-Iraq War d = Hussein Deposed e = Athens Olympic f = Asian Tsunami g = Second Bali Bombing h = New Industrial Relations Laws

Why is happiness held so steady? Homeostasis Just like we hold body temperature steady Subjective wellbeing homeostasis

Homeostasis is maintained by using resources for defence Bad stuff X Major external protective resources (Money, Relationships) Subjective wellbeing Internal resources (eg. Finding meaning for the bad event) Protective resources allow people to defend homeostasis and their happiness

Homeostasis can fail Overwhelming Negative Challenges Subjective wellbeing The result of subjective wellbeing loss is depression

What are the major risk factors for homeostatic defeat? General principles Resilience (the power to defend wellbeing against sources of threat) is a balance between resources and stress 2. Both resources and threats concern the person’s whole life, not just in some life compartment (eg work).

Income is an external resource that enhances resilience 81 Total N ≈ 30, 000 80 79 78 Subjective wellbeing 77 76 * 75 * * * 78. 0 78. 3 76. 5 76. 3 74. 9 Normal Range 73. 9 74 79. 2 73. 0 73 72 71. 7 71 <$15 $15 -30 $31 -60 Median $61 -90 $91 -120 $121 -150 Household Income ($'000) $150+

Relationship support may or may not enhance resilience SWB 84 83 82 81 80 79 78 77 76 75 74 73 72 71 70 69 68 67 66 65 64 63 62 61 60 80. 4 Partner 76. 2 76. 3 Subjective Wellbeing Normative range Never married 73. 8 73. 3 72. 0 71. 4 Live alone 70. 2 70. 6 70. 1 69. 2 67. 4 62. 8 10 9 8 7 6 5 (4 + 3) Level of support from partner (2 + 1) 0

The benefit of a relationship is dependent on: 84 83 82 81 80. 4 80 79 78 77 76. 2 76 75 Subjective Wellbeing Normative range 74 73. 8 73 Never married 72 71. 4 71 Live alone 70. 2 70. 1 70 69 68 67. 4 67 66 65 64 63 80% 62. 8 62 61 (51%) (15%) (14%) 60 10 9 8 7 6 5 (4 + 3) (2 + 1) a) Choice b) Investment SWB Level of support from partner 76. 3 73. 3 72. 0 70. 6 69. 2 0

Not all opinions or feelings are relevant to wellbeing 80 Worry at interest rates 79. 0 (February 2008) 78 77. 1 76. 8 76. 0 76 76. 4 75. 2 PWI Normal range 74. 3 74. 1 73. 7 74 74. 8 73. 4 72 70 N 115 58 49 47 153 82 126 133 69 119 0/1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Level of worry If the target is non-self, gradually changing, and beyond personal control, people can separate their worry from their personal self

If the target is personal, then worry can affect wellbeing Income security 80 February 2009 78 76. 5 76 Normative range 74 72 PWI 70 68 66 18. 6% 64 62 N 60 442 201 222 161 58 108 47 64 29 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 2 -3 0 -1 Degree of certainty about income security, 0 -10 scale 73. 4

BEST EN “Sustainable tourism is - finding the right balance between the welfare of tourists, host communities and the environment, reducing conflict, recognising mutual dependency, and enhancing quality of life. ”

National Wellbeing Index “How satisfied are you with -------” 1. the economic situation in Australia? 2. the state of the natural environment in Australia? 3. the social conditions in Australia? 4. Government in Australia? 5. business in Australia? 6. national security in Australia?

Can Subjective Social Indicators be used--to monitor environmental degradation? Australia is suffering the worst drought in recorded history. May 2008 was the driest May on record It has been continuously worsening during the whole time of our surveys

How satisfied are you with the State of the Natural Environment in Australia? 63 62 61 >S 5 >S 1 60 Strength of satisfaction 59 58 On-going and developing drought 57 Intense media coverage of ‘global warming’ 56 Key: 00 7 8 S 1 7 A O pr ct 2 20 07 00 6 ct 2 O 6 S 1 ay M 5 S 1 4 O ct 2 20 06 00 5 05 20 S 1 3 M ay 20 h S 1 g f 04 04 20 S 1 2 A ug ay M 1 S 1 0 Fe b 20 04 3 20 03 ov N S 1 03 20 0 ug 20 e S 9 S 7 d A n 20 03 c Ju 20 02 ar S 6 M 02 ov 20 N A ug S 5 S 4 ar M S 3 S 2 Se pt 20 20 02 01 20 01 pr A S 1 Survey Date b a S 8 55 Major events preceding survey a = September 11 b = Bali Bombing c = Pre-Iraq War d = Hussein Deposed e = Athens Olympic f = Asian Tsunami g = Second Bali Bombing h = New Industrial Relations Laws

Satisfaction with the State of the Natural Environment in Australia 63 62 61 >S 5 >S 1 60 Strength of satisfaction 59 58 Scores below this line are lower than S 1 57 Intense media coverage of ‘global warming’ 56 00 7 8 S 1 7 A O pr ct 2 20 07 00 6 ct 2 O 6 S 1 ay M 5 S 1 4 O ct 2 20 06 00 5 05 20 S 1 3 M ay 20 h S 1 g f 04 04 20 S 1 2 A ug ay M 1 S 1 0 Fe b 20 04 3 20 03 N ov 20 0 S 1 S 8 e S 9 ug 20 03 d A n 20 Ju 20 02 ar S 6 M 02 ov 20 N A ug S 5 S 4 ar M S 3 S 2 Se pt 20 20 02 01 20 01 pr A S 1 Key: c 03 b a S 7 Major events preceding survey Survey Date An Inconvenient Truth 55 a = September 11 b = Bali Bombing c = Pre-Iraq War d = Hussein Deposed e = Athens Olympic f = Asian Tsunami g = Second Bali Bombing h = New Industrial Relations Laws

Satisfaction with the State of the Natural Environment in Australia 63 62 61 >S 5 >S 1 60 Strength of satisfaction 59 58 Scores below this line are lower than S 1 57 Intense media coverage of ‘global warming’ 56 Key: 00 7 8 S 1 7 A O pr ct 2 20 07 00 6 ct 2 O 6 S 1 ay M 5 S 1 4 O ct 2 20 06 00 5 05 20 S 1 3 M ay 20 h S 1 g f 04 04 20 S 1 2 A ug ay M 1 S 1 0 Fe b 20 04 3 20 03 ov N S 1 03 20 0 ug 20 e S 9 S 7 d A n 20 03 c Ju 20 02 ar S 6 M 02 ov 20 N A ug S 5 S 4 ar M S 3 S 2 Se pt 20 20 02 01 20 01 pr A S 1 Survey Date b a S 8 55 Major events preceding survey a = September 11 b = Bali Bombing c = Pre-Iraq War d = Hussein Deposed e = Athens Olympic f = Asian Tsunami g = Second Bali Bombing h = New Industrial Relations Laws

Satisfaction with the State of the Natural Environment in Australia 63 62 61 >S 5 60 Strength of satisfaction >S 1 59 58 pr A 9 S 1 8 O ct i 2 00 8 20 07 7 00 A 7 S 1 6 O ct pr 2 06 20 5 M ay ct O 4 i 20 06 h g 5 f S 1 e 20 0 d Ju 03 n 20 0 A ug 3 20 S 9 03 N ov S 1 20 0 Fe 03 b S 1 20 1 0 M ay 4 S 1 20 2 0 A ug 4 20 04 S 1 3 M ay 20 05 02 c 20 20 ar M S 6 N ug S 5 A S 4 ar M ov 20 02 20 01 pt Se S 2 02 b 20 20 01 pr A S 1 Survey Date a S 7 55 Major events preceding survey S 1 Maximum = 60. 9 Current = 59. 1 Minimum = 55. 8 56 People adapt to slow change and only react to new perceptions of threat and danger S 8 Scores below this line are lower than S 1 S 3 57

The Citarum river near the Indonesian capital of Jakarta http: //rekkerd. org/citarum-river-a-shocking-display-of-abuse/ So, as environmental and social conditions gradually deteriorate through global warming, do not expect the population to easily react

Summary To measure the effects of tourism on life quality, we need both objective and subjective indicators. Objective Indicators Economic development Subjective Indicators Subjective Wellbeing Quality of life