title: Is Community-Based Tourism  beneficial to local communities?  The case of Naduang Village,  Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province, Laos

authors: Singbandith, Saysamone

subjects: Community-Based Tourism in Laos

abstract: Tourism plays a critical role in social-economic development in both developed and developing countries. Recently, Laos, a developing country, has embraced tourism as a tool for socio-economic development and launched a number of tourism projects, one of which is the Sustainable Tourism Development Project (STDP). This project was aimed at contributing towards the sustainable socio-economic development of the country, focusing especially on poverty reduction, sustainable development and protection of natural and cultural heritage. However, do such initiatives result in the long-term benefits for the host community? 
This research employs a qualitative approach to examine this question. The study focuses on four overarching themes: community participation in CBT, supply chain in CBT, benefits of CBT, and assessment of the effects of the STDP in a case study community: Naduang Village, Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province. Participant observation and in-depth interviews with 20 participants who are involved in community-based tourism activities were used.
The findings of this study reveal that local residents understand the nature of community-based tourism well. They recognise what they should contribute to and can gain from their participation in tourism. However, the involvement in the decision-making process of villagers in community-based tourism is limited, other than the Village Authority. This research also finds that the tourism supply chain in Naduang Village is largely informal, formed by internal and external stakeholders. The internal stakeholders comprise CBT groups, whose tasks make up the key components of CBT activities, while the external stakeholders consist of tourists, private tourism companies, traders, and suppliers whose activities play a part in CBT in Naduang Village and the Lao government. 
Further, the findings suggest that community-based tourism has considerable advantages to not only internal stakeholders who are directly involved but also to those in the village who are not directly involved in CBT activities. Additionally, tourism benefits the external stakeholders. More importantly, participants have claimed that the CBT activities will continue to grow even though the aid funding has stopped since they have more experience and awareness of the importance of tourism to their community. The income and other benefits from tourism are not central to their livelihoods but are a secondary source.
Nonetheless, three main points need to be addressed in order to improve CBT activities in Naduang Village, namely amenities improvement, CBT activities diversification, and improvement of financial management. 
The key contribution to literature of this research is the exploration of the gaps in literature regarding the informal economy and the supply chain for community-based tourism. The research reconceptualises community-based tourism as one element of a sustainable development system which cannot be separated from either the goods and services or the informal economy, which interfaces with the external, formal tourism industry. All are held together by the strength and power of relationships within social networks.

text: Is Community-Based Tourism  beneficial to local communities?  The case of Naduang Village,  Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province, Laos Tourism plays a critical role in social-economic development in both developed and developing countries. Recently, Laos, a developing country, has embraced tourism as a tool for socio-economic development and launched a number of tourism projects, one of which is the Sustainable Tourism Development Project (STDP). This project was aimed at contributing towards the sustainable socio-economic development of the country, focusing especially on poverty reduction, sustainable development and protection of natural and cultural heritage. However, do such initiatives result in the long-term benefits for the host community? 
This research employs a qualitative approach to examine this question. The study focuses on four overarching themes: community participation in CBT, supply chain in CBT, benefits of CBT, and assessment of the effects of the STDP in a case study community: Naduang Village, Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province. Participant observation and in-depth interviews with 20 participants who are involved in community-based tourism activities were used.
The findings of this study reveal that local residents understand the nature of community-based tourism well. They recognise what they should contribute to and can gain from their participation in tourism. However, the involvement in the decision-making process of villagers in community-based tourism is limited, other than the Village Authority. This research also finds that the tourism supply chain in Naduang Village is largely informal, formed by internal and external stakeholders. The internal stakeholders comprise CBT groups, whose tasks make up the key components of CBT activities, while the external stakeholders consist of tourists, private tourism companies, traders, and suppliers whose activities play a part in CBT in Naduang Village and the Lao government. 
Further, the findings suggest that community-based tourism has considerable advantages to not only internal stakeholders who are directly involved but also to those in the village who are not directly involved in CBT activities. Additionally, tourism benefits the external stakeholders. More importantly, participants have claimed that the CBT activities will continue to grow even though the aid funding has stopped since they have more experience and awareness of the importance of tourism to their community. The income and other benefits from tourism are not central to their livelihoods but are a secondary source.
Nonetheless, three main points need to be addressed in order to improve CBT activities in Naduang Village, namely amenities improvement, CBT activities diversification, and improvement of financial management. 
The key contribution to literature of this research is the exploration of the gaps in literature regarding the informal economy and the supply chain for community-based tourism. The research reconceptualises community-based tourism as one element of a sustainable development system which cannot be separated from either the goods and services or the informal economy, which interfaces with the external, formal tourism industry. All are held together by the strength and power of relationships within social networks.

year: 2016

title: Drivers’ response to speed warnings provided by a smart phone app

authors: Starkey, Nicola J.

abstract: The distractive effects of mobile phones are well documented, but the recent development of mobile phone apps that provide speed advisory warnings raises the possibility that this technology may be used to improve driver safety in older vehicles. We examined the effects of an intelligent speed advisory (ISA) app on driving performance in a simulator. One hundred and four participants (mean age = 35.52 years; 52 male) were allocated to complete the drive with the ISA app in one of five modes: active audio visual (n = 22), active visual (n = 22), passive audio visual (n = 21), passive visual (n = 21) or control (n = 18). Another 19 participants (mean age = 27.53 years; 8 male) completed the study wearing eye-tracking glasses. Participants drove a simulated 26.4 km section of rural road which incorporated typical hazards and three speed compliance zones (100 km/h, 80 km/h and 60 km/h speed limits). The app led to good compliance with the posted speed limits, particularly during the 60 km/h road segment, where the control group drove at significantly higher speeds than the groups with the ISA app. No significant differences between the four versions of the ISA app were observed, either for speed compliance or the number of speeding alerts received. Across the entire simulated drive there were relatively few glances at the app with an average glance duration of 190 ms. The ISA app did not lead to any negative effects on driving performance; lane keeping was maintained and it did not impede participants’ ability to overtake vehicles. These findings suggest that when properly configured ISA apps have a demonstrable safety benefit and do not produce adverse distractive effects. The greatest challenge may be encouraging drivers’ to use them appropriately and consistently.

text: Drivers’ response to speed warnings provided by a smart phone app The distractive effects of mobile phones are well documented, but the recent development of mobile phone apps that provide speed advisory warnings raises the possibility that this technology may be used to improve driver safety in older vehicles. We examined the effects of an intelligent speed advisory (ISA) app on driving performance in a simulator. One hundred and four participants (mean age = 35.52 years; 52 male) were allocated to complete the drive with the ISA app in one of five modes: active audio visual (n = 22), active visual (n = 22), passive audio visual (n = 21), passive visual (n = 21) or control (n = 18). Another 19 participants (mean age = 27.53 years; 8 male) completed the study wearing eye-tracking glasses. Participants drove a simulated 26.4 km section of rural road which incorporated typical hazards and three speed compliance zones (100 km/h, 80 km/h and 60 km/h speed limits). The app led to good compliance with the posted speed limits, particularly during the 60 km/h road segment, where the control group drove at significantly higher speeds than the groups with the ISA app. No significant differences between the four versions of the ISA app were observed, either for speed compliance or the number of speeding alerts received. Across the entire simulated drive there were relatively few glances at the app with an average glance duration of 190 ms. The ISA app did not lead to any negative effects on driving performance; lane keeping was maintained and it did not impede participants’ ability to overtake vehicles. These findings suggest that when properly configured ISA apps have a demonstrable safety benefit and do not produce adverse distractive effects. The greatest challenge may be encouraging drivers’ to use them appropriately and consistently.

year: 2020

title: Waiwharangi

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: Haka. Lyrics/Musical score composed by Te Kahautu Maxwell. Performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti (Kapa Haka group) (4mins)

Waiata: Tira Aroha
Whakaeke: Haere mai rā
Mōteatea: Te Pātere a Te Turuki
Poi: Iarararararī
Waiata ā ringa: Taku Mana Māori Motuhake
Haka: Waiwharangi
Whakawātea: Āio

text: Waiwharangi Haka. Lyrics/Musical score composed by Te Kahautu Maxwell. Performed by Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti (Kapa Haka group) (4mins)

Waiata: Tira Aroha
Whakaeke: Haere mai rā
Mōteatea: Te Pātere a Te Turuki
Poi: Iarararararī
Waiata ā ringa: Taku Mana Māori Motuhake
Haka: Waiwharangi
Whakawātea: Āio

year: 2020-02-06