Author Bios (50 Words for each Author)

Kelley A. McClinchey has a PhD in human geography. Her work draws on multiple ways of knowing and being and applies various methodologies to represent diverse voices within tourism. Her specific interest is in community place-making within the realms of media/literary narratives, festivals/events and cultural tourism, spatial analysis of tourism, heritage conservation, immigration and multiculturalism, and creative urban tourism. Her research has been published in several edited volumes and academic journals. She is a Certified Educator and is the Co-chair of the Education Study Group for the Canadian Association of Geographers, an Executive Director with Canadian Geographic Education, and the Secretary-Treasurer for the Travel and Tourism Research Association, Canada Chapter.

Abstract (150 Words)

People are central to community-based tourism, and The Bahamas is a place where locals’ creative talent and intimate stories contribute to a more resilient tourism sector. But Bahamian art and culture have been historically underrepresented and a more nuanced approach to tourism is needed. Adopting postcolonial thinking assists researchers and practitioners in critically analyzing tourism beyond the structures of mass tourism. One practice in alleviating imperialist, colonial legacies is to focus on decolonized practices of tourism such as local creative tourism and community-led place-making. Despite extensive research on creative tourism, more attention is needed on its application to small communities. An exploratory case study approach examines the ways in which The Bahamas have contributed to place-making creatively through co-creation processes, building networks, and storytelling. Diversification of mass tourism through the incorporation of creative tourism enables the economy to be less dependent on typical mass tourist markets that demand only sun, sand and sea.

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Beyond Sun, Sand and Sea: Building Resilience through Creative Place-making in The Bahamas

People are central to community-based tourism, and The Bahamas is a place where locals’ creative talent and intimate stories contribute to a more resilient tourism sector. But Bahamian art and culture have been historically underrepresented and a more nuanced approach to tourism is needed. Adopting postcolonial thinking assists researchers and practitioners in critically analyzing tourism beyond the structures of mass tourism. One practice in alleviating imperialist, colonial legacies is to focus on decolonized practices of tourism such as local creative tourism and community-led place-making. Despite extensive research on creative tourism, more attention is needed on its application to small communities. An exploratory case study approach examines the ways in which The Bahamas have contributed to place-making creatively through co-creation processes, building networks, and storytelling. Diversification of mass tourism through the incorporation of creative tourism enables the economy to be less dependent on typical mass tourist markets that demand only sun, sand and sea.