Title: Alternative or mainstream? Foreign settlers on a Canary Island

Authors: Donald Macleod

Addresses: School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow, Crichton Campus, Dumfries, DG1 4ZL, Scotland

Abstract: This paper characterises foreign settlers living in a Canary Island fishing settlement as alternative due to their derivation from non-mainstream tourism and difference to the indigenous community. It argues that alternative foreign settlers have specific and profound impacts on the indigenous community because of their propensity to become involved with local people and activities, and it focuses on the business economy and attitudes towards the natural environment. A history of the foreign settler community is given with individuals mentioned illustrating their importance in the development of the destination. The research is based on ethnographic fieldwork, undertaken at various intervals over two decades.

Keywords: anthropology; alternative tourism; mainstream tourism; foreign settlers; Canary Islands; migration; development; cultural capital; entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship; migrants; indigenous community; migrant impact; business economy; natural environment; ethnography.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTA.2012.052536

International Journal of Tourism Anthropology, 2012 Vol.2 No.4, pp.267 - 281

Received: 12 Jul 2012
Accepted: 09 Nov 2012
Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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