Research On The Tourist Ethical Paradox (TEP)

In the aftermath of the Second World War, the ethical issues in tourism theoretical development are getting increasingly prominent, attributed mainly to the internal structural ethical paradox in tourism itself. The theory "Tourist Ethical Paradox"(TEP) has not been extensively studied at home and abroad. Generation and diffusion of which are affected by both the self-restraint of tourists and the situation of tourism. Based on the analysis of the Disaster Tourist Ethical Paradox (DTEP) in terms of diachronism and synchronic, the essay inquires into the embryological mode of the Disaster Tourist Ethical Paradox (DTEP) as well its internal ethical relationship evolution via a case study of disaster tourism, which typically represents the Tourist Ethical Paradox (TEP), and further investigates the nature of tourism and the method for the diffusion of this paradox.Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation (No.41271158and No.41271157), under the guidance of theories of sociology, anthropology, ethics, tourism, psychology and on the basis of personal observations and depth interviews, theoretical and practical researches, induction and deduction, the combination of mode summarization and practical cases, and by the method of qualitative research, text analysis etc., the author focuses on the issue of the Tourist Ethical Paradox(TEP), takes a deep analysis of the most typical Disaster Tourism Ethical Paradox(DTEP), investigates the embryological mode of the Disaster Tourism Ethical Paradox(DTEP), discusses the tourism subject and therefore, suggests several solutions for such issues as image-selection of disaster tourism, appropriate formalization of behavior, etc.Major issues the essay probes into are analysis of the significance of the research on the Tourist Ethical Paradox(TEP), summarization of the current progress of the research on this issue, the primary analysis of the Tourist Ethical Paradox(TEP), introduction to disaster tourism cases, two basic hypotheses on the Tourist Ethical Paradox(TEP), analysis of the Tourist Ethical Paradox(TEP) on condition of disaster tourism from the aspects of diachronism and synchronic, investigation of the relationship between tourist himself/herself and other people, also the establishment of the embryological model of the Disaster Tourism Ethical Paradox(DTEP) and the evolutionary pattern of ethical relationship.Major conclusions are achieved as follows:(1) Tourists are motivated by self-improvement in terms of the disaster tourism ethical perspective.The definition of tourism should have the connotation of self-improvement and the extension of external technical conditions like being temporary and spatial differences. The technical definition of tourism is for easy statistics, which should include some marginalized tourism patterns such as disaster tourism, business tourism, and spiritual connotation such as self-improvement and completion should be emphasized.(2) Tourism is an exploration for the external circumstances by oneself, and a method one uses to get acquainted with the world.Tourism is the self-exploration for the outside world, and the way how a man knows the world, the result of which is not the change of the world but the man himself. The reason for the appearance of tourist ethical paradox as well the material gain and cultural invasion results from the failed recognition of the relationship between oneself and others, or preceding tourists over others. Being temporary, having spatial differences, personalized experiences and mass reception are external conditions accountable for the occurrence of tourism ethical paradox.(3) The generation of the caring and responsibility in disaster tourism is a response to and a recognition method of others by oneself.The generation of the caring and responsibility is one’s response to others. In other words, one acquaints himself with others through caring and being responsible, and discovers himself in the mirror of others. Caring rises from the differentiation not the similarities of others. Tourism, to some degree, is a process in that one builds up the responsibilities and obligations for others. Therefore, tourists as major roles are not pre-existent but created amid the responsibility-ethic relationship. Caring and responsibility contributes to tourists’self-identity, improves local environment, society and culture, which, in turn, benefit tourists themselves.(4) Tourists employ "ethic self-consistence" and "evasion of ethical trap" to diffuse ethical paradox. Tourist ethical paradox is diffused, despite tourism forms, through tourist "ethic self-consistence" and "evasion of ethical trap". The latter is decided by the former. The method to form certain roles is used to attain "ethic self-consistence", while "evasion of ethical trap" results in many problems such as the disputable rebates and the matter of tips. Different situations turn the "evasion of ethical trap" into diverse forms, like providing properly ethical excuses, supplying hosts-and-guest exchanges with buffer zone through moderate formalization of behavior. A pretty situational plan ought to contribute to self-consistence, leaving tourists in the dilemma between morals and interests. Thus, the sound development of tourism industry should rely on this situational power of policies rather than the personal moral standards or the ethical self-restraint.Based on the depth personal observation and interviews and case studies, the essay puts forward several innovations concerning the tourism ethical paradox and the disaster tourism ethical issues as follows:(1) Based on analysis of theories and practical investigations, the project probes into the basic conditions for the build-up of the tourist ethical paradox and its epistemological source, occurrence mode and digestion process, deepening the research on tourism ethics.(2) It broadens the realms of current tourism ethical research by raising the assumption that caring and responsibility in disaster tourism results from knowing others by oneself.(3) Tourists are motivated by self-improvement in perspective of the disaster tourism ethical theory and practical analysis, theoretical exploration.(4) Starting with the ethical issues, the project brings forth new ideas on disaster tourism by deeply investigating the generation and diffusion of the disaster tourism ethical viewed from the diachronism and synchronic.In future, the author is expected to do further research on the ethical paradox issues concerning other stakeholders in tourism, and make deeper analysis of the relationship between demographic characteristics and tourism ethics.