Overview
The book's focus shifts from global and comparative concerns to the political, economic and cultural context of national policy formation, investigates the regional story of tourism growth in Kandy, and examines the roles and relationships which exist in the so-called "informal sector" - the large arena of somewhat "shaddy" activities beyond the control of national tourism authorities which characterises this industry throughout the Third World. The rhetoric of the industry image-makers is studied, and contrasted with how tourism is perceived by a range of other social groups, such as those running unlicensed guesthouses, municipal officials, the younger generation about to leave school, and individuals trying to make a living from their encounters with foreigners on the streets of Kandy. From these portraits, international tourism in Sri Lanka emerges as an arena of conflicting, ambivalent and ambiguous voices.
Resplendent Sites, Discordant Voices is a detailed examination of the deve