Authenticity and Tourism in Kazakhstan: Neo-nomadic Culture in the Post-Soviet Era

Goal and objectives of the dissertationGoalThe overall aim of this study is to investigate the perception of authenticity in Kazakhstani tourism practices through the lenses of visitors, community members, policymakers and tourism developers involved in the development of eco-cultural tours. Using two embedded case studies in Central and South Kazakhstan, the study aims to advance theoretical and empirical understandings of various stakeholders' perceptions of authenticity in the comprehension of destinations' cultural heritage. The research explores new directions in which to apply the concept of authenticity in eco-cultural tourism by theorising the link between both the perception of authenticity and the access to higher levels of cultural penetration and as a basis for interaction and social exchange within the host-guest relationship.Objectives1. To critically discuss models and dimensions of authenticity in the Kazakhstani tourism destination context.2. To record and review various stakeholders' perceptions of authenticity in Kazakhstani eco-cultural tourism practices.3. To examine in what ways a deeper understanding of authenticity can be used to inform the planning and future development of tourism.4. To evaluate the contribution of grounded theory methodology when exploring various stakeholders' authentication positions in ecocultural tourism practices.MethodologyTaking into account the exploratory nature of doctoral study and the limited amount of existing academic literature surrounding the subject of authenticity in Kazakhstan, grounded theory was considered an appropriate methodology to adopt for this research. Grounded theory is a proper design to use when a theory is not available to explain a process (Creswell, 2007), like understanding various stakeholders' perceptions of authenticity in a tourism destination that has not been researched before. Using grounded theory, the researcher elaborated around a central phenomenon which included the concept of authenticity in tourism studies, causal conditions, strategies for eco-tourism development, the Kazakhstani socio-cultural context and consequences for the local tourism industry.Empirical research is based on in-depth semistructured interviews conducted between August 2011 and May 2012 which were carried out with various stakeholders including visitors, community members, policymakers, tourism developers and specialists in nomadic culture. At the first qualitative exploratory stage, the study used twenty four in-depth semi-structured interviews with different tourism stakeholders involved in the development of eco-cultural tours in Kazakhstan, comprising local government officials, tourism operators, home-stay providers, NGO coordinators and experts in nomadic culture. At the second qualitative stage, a total of twenty five semistructured interviews were undertaken with visitors during the 'Kyzylarai' tour in Central Kazakhstan and the 'Tulip' tour in South Kazakhstan. As part of the informant triangulation and theoretical sampling strategy, twenty nine Free Independent Travellers FITs were additionally interviewed.ResultsThe study reveals various perceptions and conceptualisations of authenticity in Kazakhstani tourism practices through the lenses of visitors, community members, policymakers and tourism developers involved in the planning and development of eco-cultural tours in Kazakhstan. By reflecting on the multiple stakeholders' perceptions of authenticity of various topic areas in Kazakhstani cultural heritage, the study provides a depth of understanding of various stakeholders in the process of authenticating neo-nomadic culture and their perceptions of authenticity; and focus on identifying indicators of the authentic/inauthentic heritage experiences.The study details that three themes authenticated by tourism providers can contribute to an authentic eco-cultural tourism experience for visitors: the geographical imagination (nomadic cultural landscapes), crafts purchased by tourists, and performative spaces (nomadic home-stays and nomadic food). …