Chapter 4. Research Design and Methodology
4.1 Data Collection
4.2.2 Qualitative
4.2.2.5 Key Informant Interviews
Four basic themes emerged (Table 12) during these interviews: a) Support for tourism development, b) Current state of tourismand the economy, c) Barriers to tourism development,and d) Major community issues. Thistableisbasically scrude reflectionof recurringthemes articulated by the key informants interviewed,wherethe level of
agreement is represented by the frequency or numberof times the themes are mentioned. Only themes in “A”found 100% agreement.Themes in the B-C-D categories reflected different levels ofagreement,depending on the issuesand individual informants.
a) Support for tourismdevelopment
Allof the key informants interviewed were favorably disposed to tourism
development forthe economic benefits ofemployment,personal andlocal business incomes, fundingforinfrastructureand environmental improvements,and more amenities like
entertainment, shopping, andcultural activities. The women'sassociation is particularly keen to the idea ofan expanded economy providing more social and economic opportunities for youngand older women alike. Governor JohnsonElimo felt that“tourism is one of three pillars for economic development” in addition toagriculture and fisheries (personal
communication,August 9, 2017). BesidesU.S. compact funding,UnitedAirlinesmanager AnthonyMori underscoredthe importance of tourism forlocalbusinesses. This sentiment was shared by allthe KI's and reflected in these comments:
“It's veryimportant,” “theybring lots of money” - Police ChiefMike Sitile (personal communication,August 11, 2017)
“Tourism now,the way Ienvision it, is the number one priority” - Governor JohnsonElimo (personalcommunication,August 9, 2017)
“They gotthegreenstuff” - Senate President MarkMailo (personal communication,August 10, 2017)
Tourism is one of the state's “development priorities” - House Speaker Innocent Oneisom (personal communication,August 10, 2017)
Income,localgovernment revenue, and touristspending to support jobs and the local economy were the opinions of Julianne Sos (Women'sAssociation),Faustino Stephen (Wenomayor) and Mino Mori (FSM Telecom), respectively.
Despitethese tourism development benefits, however, a numberof concerns (some contradictory)were mentioned:
o Dislikefortheway tourists behave in public o Dislike scantily cladwomen in open public venues
o Touristsnot being respectful ofthelocalculture and lifestyle o Reef damage
o Theft of marine underwater artifactsfrom shipwrecks o Concern over the island's "carrying capacity"
Varioussentimentsregarding these concerns are captured in thefollowing:
“Culture shock for our people” whenthey'reseeingtouristsdo their ownwayof doing things. Most people inChuukwould“like to keep their culture or customs.”
- PoliceChiefSitile (personal communication, August 11, 2017) Mass market tourism “would disrupttheculture and way of life of people”
- Senate President Mailo
(personal communication, August 10, 2017)
The need to strike a balance because of Chuuk's “fragileislandenvironment” - House SpeakerOneisom (personal communication, August 10, 2017)
“Accept tourism to a point where itdoesnot diminish our cultural values”
- FSM Telecom Vice President Mori (personal communication, August 10, 2017)
“Sustainabilityofutmostimportance” - Governor Elimo (personal communication, August 9, 2017)
“There'salot of value in ourculture” - LocalAttorney Meippen (personal communication, August 10, 2017)
Meippen went onto say that education could help Chuuk avoid drifting away from traditional customs and values and assimilating more cash driven transactional interests. (personal communication,August 10, 2017).
Tourists don't understandthe culture, opined women's association manager Sos, stating furtherthattheyare“not respectful” of thelocalculture and therefore do notunderstand “what Chuuk has to offer” (personal communication,August9, 2017).
WenoMayorStephen was particularlyconcerned over tourist divers collecting souvenirs andartifacts from the shipwrecksthatmakeupChuuk's underwater museum. Other issues and concerns regarding tourism and the community can be gleaned from the collectiveperceptions or themes of agreement amongKI's(Table 12).
The issue of cultural sensitivity is perhaps bestillustrated by anunfortunate incident thatMr. Douglass Marar, General Manager of the state VisitorsBureau, shared with me regardinga small cultural misunderstanding going awry. What startedoutas a
disagreementon how a Chuukese father was handling a domestic dispute with his daughter, at alocalhotel bar, escalated into a verbal andphysical altercation that earned Chuuk the "unsafe forAmerican tourists" label by USfederal officials in theFSM. This incident happened becauseofculturaldifferences between anintoxicated American female tourist diver andaChuukese father who is handlinga family matter, in the accepted localcontext. Interference by the American woman, who is also an officer in themilitary,didnot go well. TheAmerican femaleofficer is from adifferentworld view and is accustomed to giving orders andbeingminded by men of all agesbecause of her rankand status. According to law enforcement witnesses (perMr. Marar) (personal communication,August 11, 2017), theAmerican female officer was belligerent,
stumbling aroundinthemelee, and injuredher face falling on tables and chairs while the police were trying to restrain her. Several doctors were called to the hospital to witness and tend to her injuries after shefiledassaultchargesonthepolice.
Table 12. Collective Perceptions (Thematic) of Key Informants by Major Topics & Categories
Category Levelof Agreement
A. SupportforTourism
• Economic benefits, more taxes
• Infrastructure improvements
• Employment, personal income
• Improved amenities, entertainment, shopping, culture B. NegativeConcerns
• Carrying capacity, small market
• Non-payment of taxes
• Emigrations, brain drain
• No exports, taxes, poor accountability
• Sustainability
• Need to promote culture & national environment
• Mismanagement of compact funds
C. Poor StateofEconomy
• Safety and security concerns
• Environmental degradation
• Youth training and antisocial behavior
• Health care, crime, and respect for local culture and lifestyle
D. Negative SupportforTourism
• Environmental impacts
• Outside decision makers and persistent U.S. hegemony
• Increased taxes
• Unfunded compact infrastructure
• Need for more hotels
• Theft of marine artifacts
100%
78.6%
71.4%
64.2%
A. HighlyunifiedAgreementamong KI's,Positive Issues
B. HighlyunifiedAgreementon Positive & Negative Issues C. GenerallyunifiedAgreement on Negative Issues
b) Current state of tourism andthe economy
There is an overall sense thatthe economyandtourism industry have been stagnant for many years and in direneed ofimprovement. Chuuk isbasically asubsistence economy and heavily dependent onCompactfunds. Reasons given forthis stagnation include high unemployment, very poorinfrastructure (roads, ports andutilities),not enoughhotel roomsfor tourists, inadequateair service, andthe inability or lack of political will toconfront difficult issues.
Governor Elimo characterized the island's economy as “substandard” when compared to other island economies (personal communication, August 9,2017);House speaker Oneisom spokeof Chuuk's “stagnant economy,” (personal communication, August 10, 2017) as didFSM Telecom Vice President Mori, who saidthathe “can safelysayits grim.” He intimatedthatmostof the economic activities are concentrated in Weno, but thatitis“stagnant” in therestof the39 inhabited islands (personal communication, August 10, 2017).However, even Weno mayorStephensaidthat“there is alot of room for improvement in developing theeconomy” (personal communication, August 10, 2017).
“The wages foremployeeshave been very low for so many years and never change”
- Police Chief Sitile (personal communication, August 11, 2017)
“Tourism and economythe same”
(personal communication, August 9, 2017)
Because of the island's political status, it is “the same economy orpoor tourism”
- Local attorney Meippen (personal communication, August 10, 2017)
The economic situation “isup or down,” based on compact infrastructure investments and spending on government operations.
- Senate President Mailo (personal communication, August 10, 2017)
In discussingthe island's tourism and economy,” I would saythatit could be improved”
- House Speaker Oneisom (personal communication, August 10, 2017)
In reference to tourism, “tourism hasnotimproved, there areno other activities except diving.”
- Women'sexecutive Sos (personal communication, August 9, 2017)
“There is a lot of room for improvement in developing the economy”and“no major increaseintourism”
- WenoMayor Stephen (personal communication, August 10, 2017)
The island's “economicstate is weakwith high unemployment”
- FSM executiveMori (personal communication, August 10, 2017)
“Just looking from the outside in or theinside out, Ifeel dissatisfied withthe present tourism.”
- NGO volunteer Hartman (personal communication, August 11, 2017)
“I think it's not getting better. Iknowthenumber has dropped, and thatthe interest in thedestination,I sense that it's also dropped.”
- Chairman Fritz
(personal communication, August 11, 2017)
Theone exceptiontothesenegative viewscame from Truk Stop hoteland dive shop owner, Bill Stinnette,whoshared that “the economy is getting better,” andthat“we're getting more businesshere” at his hotel (personal communication, August 11,2017). It is fairto say, however, that Stinnette's hotel is arguably the best (only) “tourist class” lodging
facility benefitting from an uptick in the dive market, and especially business and U.S. governmenttravel. This improvement in his business is spurred by theintroductionof Air Nuguini's weekly service to Port Moresby andAustralia. This new service restored
connectivity to the dive market in Australia which was previously served byUnitedAirlines. United terminated this market's indirect, butconvenient, access through Guam in 2012.
“Ithink it'sgetting better, because the locals arebeginning to understand and have a greater appreciation for the value of tourism, and so there's an effortto support it.”
-Hotel owner Stinnette (personal communication,August 11, 2017)
c) Barriersto tourism development
Governor Johnson Elimo isespecially concerned overthe difficulty of attracting investors because ofland ownership issues (personalcommunication, August 9, 2017). A contentious environmentwhere traditionalnorms of inheritance isdisappearing, and where individuals areassertingauthority over propertyonce heldin common, are at the heartof much litigation tearing lineagesapart and discouraging investment capital. This issue is discussed more extensively by Hezel (1994).
Other barriers include limited seats and high costof air transportation, lack ofnatural and skilled labor resources,conflictingregulatory policies betweenstate andfederal governments,laidback lifestyle, community apathytoward tourismdevelopment, and lack of hotel rooms andtourist facilities.
“The local labor is shrinking.Education is not good”
- Hotel owner Bill Stinnette (personal communication,August 11, 2017)
Indeed, “the high cost of transportation” for goods and services in a “small market” werereasonsHouse Speaker Oneisom recognized as impediments (personal communication, August 10, 2017). Aninabilityto attract foreign investors due to conflicting state and FSM regulations, and the lack of coordination between state and federal officialstoensure unified regulatory administration,werefactors cited by Senate president Mailo. Otherspecific comments associated with barriers:
“Only one airlinefor years and cost of air travel”
- Local attorneyJohnny Meippen (personal communication,August 10, 2017)
Twobarriersthat an informant“wouldsay cause alot of disarray in the economy” are“little” leadership withrespectto conflicts of interest,andthe“falling aparteducation system”
- Women's Association Chairman Fritz (personal communication,August 11, 2017)
Thesignificance ofair service as animportant “barrier” to development isillustrated by two examples proffered byhotel owner and dive operator Bill Stinnette (personal
communication,August 11, 2017):
1) A hotelguest“could notgetaflightfromPohnpei to here,” said Stinnette, a distance 560 miles away and aboutan hour's flight. Stinnette continues,the guest “wound up catchingAirNuguini to Papua New Guinea (1338 miles), from Papua New Guinea to Manila (2441miles),from Manila to here (2136 miles) see?” (personal
communication,August 11, 2017). Totaldistance coveredforthis itinerary is nearly 6,000 miles and twodays.
2) Because of limited seats,Stinnette'sgranddaughterwasnotable to returnhomefrom an August5thwedding on Guam two years ago untilthe first available seat opened upmorethantwo weekslater on August 21.
“Lack of strategic planning and mismanagement of compact funds”
- Weno MayorFaustino Stephen (personal communication,August 10, 2017)
Hotel owner Stinnette's assessmentofthe island's human capital problem is quite revealingintermsofthe“unintended” consequenceofUSpolicy (personal communication, August11,2017):
“The biggest barrier, and itisaseriousissue, is labor.The Compact of Free Association allows any person who wants to get on anairplane and go to Guam, Honolulu
soon as they getaskill,poof. They're on an airplane and they leave. AndtheFSM community in Guam, in Honolulu, in theUS, is getting bigger and bigger and bigger.
I mean, I'mvery serious about this issue and going to dosome writing and stuff,but I've had verylong-term talented staffget pulled intothe US to be a babysitter for afamily, see, so they don't have to have ajob.There'sstaff in our hotel right now who are really, really good, and we've invested in them and they will say, “Oh, you know, my sister wants me to come and staywith her. Oh, my brother here there.”
Sothe local laborisshrinking.Education is not good. So we've got locals, we need people to work for us. Those thathave some Englishskills and have any interest in working at all, they leave ona regular basis. Then in concert with thishappening,theopposite side is thatthe national governmentis making the employment of the foreign laborers,
specifically the Filipinos, extremely difficult.
May 25th of this year, they issuedamemorandum that saidthatifa foreign worker does
notshow up intheisland where they've been hired to work within 60 days of the issuance of their work and entry permit, they'llbe denied entrance, and there's no reason for thatto take place.
And see, since9/11,theUSimplemented this visa thing. So theprocess:30-dayjob announcement, then we submit a package locally, it circulates here for seven to 10 days, goes to Pohnpei, seven to 10 days, then ithas to go to the Philippine Consul in Guam for this redribbonbusiness,whichtakes10days to twoweeks, then itgoes to thePhilippines, to the worker. He then calls the Embassy for transit visaappointment.It's five weeks.Andthey don't care. They don't care. They're just throwing uproadblock, hurdle, roadblock.
So as businessesare created that require some sophisticated staff, then it's hard to find them locally.Thegovernmenthascreatedan artificial wagecompensation package, because like you were supposed to seesome people today, their boss left town, so they stopped showing up.It's a common common thing.”
The hegemony of US influence is alsoan issue in two aspects: 1)TheUS dollar as legal tender in alow wage unskilled labor environment, and 2) Enduring TSA, andUScustoms and immigration procedureswhile transiting Guam on travel between FSM domestic destinations.
d) Major community issues
ReductioninCompact funding is abigconcernforthe state's operationand infrastructureimprovements. The problem of idle youth getting into trouble from rising alcohol related criminal activity is alsoa major community concern, adding tothe negative safety and security image problem thatis gaining traction outside Chuuk. The altercation from that small culturalmisunderstanding mentioned above, regular media reports ofyoung Chuukesemen arrested for variouscrimes on Guam, andtherecent Air Nuguini crash in Wenohave all combinedto paint Chuuk's unsafe image. Chuuk is apopularwreck diving destination amongAustralians, and the Australians government's latest travel advisory (December12, 2018) for the island include the following:
“More crime happens in Chuuk than in other states. Theriskof being
involved in anincident increasesat night. Alcoholplays a major role in most crimes, especially assaults.”
Theadvisoryfurther cautionsagainst going outalone at night or being alone in isolated locations, “including beaches.”
TheU.S. State Department TravelAdvisoryfor Micronesia (November30, 2018) also announced that:
“Crime rates are significantly higher in Chuuk than in theotherstates, and incidents in Chuuk have recently includedassaultsonU.Scitizens.”Further,the advisor cautioned, “Do not attempt to intervene in disputes between local citizens.” This last adviceis clearlypertinenttothemisunderstandingthat went awry in the example shared by CVB managerDouglass Marar.
Leadership and education are the biggest communityissuesfor NGO volunteer Mori (2018):
“The leadership doesn'thelp much to educate thekids” and “They make tourists seem like moneystiff, not peoplestuff”
“We just learn math and all the courses, butzero on relationship and especially the culture, we missed all of that, there'sa lot of value in our culture.”
“Clean up, safety, our old way ofbeinghospitablepeople”
“If they(leaders) would just be serious about their responsibilities. Zeroin on disciplining and makingpeople do things.”
Police chiefSitile feels thatthe island's bad image is overblown, andthat thisoutside image is a “misperception” of “things nottrue” (personalcommunication,August11, 2017). On the otherhand, United Airlines managerAnthony Mori felt thatlocal crime and public safety areabigissue (personal communication,August 9, 2017). Crime, healthcare and educationwere other top issues broughtup by the KI's.
Attorney Meippen felt that themost important issues currently are“number one is education and number two is safety” (personal communication, August 10, 2017). In his view, education isimportantfor Chuuk and FSM tounderstand and carry out their responsibilities andgovernmentrolesunderCOFA. Education is alsothe key to restoring the island's hospitalityspirit from an increasingly “transactional” interaction with tourist to a much more personal relationship between host andvisitor(as in the past). Through
education, thegovernment can encourage residentsto extend the hospitality spiritto visitors andnot just view them simply as a “source of cash.”
The issue of crime andpublic safety is a sentiment reflected inthefollowing comments:
“Education is where itstarts,” Senate President Mailo said inalluding to the violence and lack of youth involvement in community affairs (personal communication, August 10,2017). After gradeschool, many go to 9th grade in high school andthendo nothing.
“Toomany young men and women doing nothing,” “they go out and live in thecommunities and cause problems for folks.”
- Senate President Mailo (personal communication, August 10, 2017)
Women'sassociationmanager Julianne Sos felt that public safety isanimportant community concern afterthe need to clean up andbeautifythetrash ridden island (personal communication, August9, 2017). For Weno mayorStephen, building more roads to open up
arablelandfor agriculture and reduce capital leaks through import substitution offoodstuff makesthe island more self-reliant. Keeping the money circulatinginthelocal economy can improve quality of life and public safety. Increasedtaxes, youth education, HR training programs, and healthcare round offthediversity ofimportantcommunityissues mentioned by KI's interviewed.Thislistof community concerns reflects thediversity of KI opinions, and can bethe focus of futurestudy. But themost compelling concerns raised centered on the Chuukese culture.
A major communityissuefor FSM Telecom Vice President Mori is preserving Chuuk's culture. Despite being amatriarchal society,thereisdeep respect afforded men folks asdescribed by Telecomexecutive MinoMori (personal communication,August 10, 2017):
Mori remembers his mother admonishing his older sisterstopay respect tomenin the family whenever they pass them. Thisis done by walking overtothemen, hunched and bent over, beforeproceeding on their way. This culturalpractice is still done intheouter islands. However,islands inthe lagoon have becomemore westernized and are often remindedthat“God created dents in your body, so you can bow and respect your brothers and walk over.”The essence of this custom and cultural traditionisthat women cannot simply walk past themen without first acknowledging and giving due respect.
The importance of, and concerns over,the islandsculturalintegrity hasalready been mentioned in theKI's supportfor tourism development.