Evangeline Singh

 
Evangeline Singh is a PhD candidate and Research Assistant at the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI) at AUT University. Evangeline is from Fiji and completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of the South Pacific. Evangeline’s research interests focus on sustainable tourism and agriculture development, SME growth and community building and natural resource management in the South Pacific. Much of Evangeline’s recent work at NZTRI has focussed on tourism issues in the South Pacific SIDS.

Evangeline Singh joined NZTRI in mid-Feb 2007 as a PhD student. Evangeline’s PhD study will investigate the potential to create stronger linkages between tourism and agriculture in Pacific SIDS by gaining a better understanding of the relationship between the two sectors. The core objectives are: (i) to examine the existing and potential links between tourism and agriculture in Niue; (ii) to examine how key stakeholders (farmers, small and medium tourism enterprises (SMTE), policy makers, planners and tourists) view these links and how they might be strengthened (iii) to contribute to the literature on tourism and sustainable economic development in SIDS. Evangeline’s undergraduate and masters study was completed at University of the South Pacific in Samoa and Fiji. Evangeline also contributes to the work of NZTRI as a part-time Research Assistant.

PhD Topic: Enhancing the Links between Tourism & Agriculture in South Pacific SIDS: the case of Niue

This PhD research will investigate the potential to create stronger linkages between tourism and agriculture in Pacific SIDS. The presentation begins with an overview of critical issues in Pacific SIDS and then provides a review of relevant literature, including frameworks for understanding tourism and economic development. I then outline the study objectives, the choice of method and cases, and conclude with a discussion of the possible contributions and challenges of the research.

South Pacific SIDS (Small Island Developing States) face an immediate problem of creating employment opportunities, generating income and sustaining livelihoods. Tourism is considered by governments and donor agencies to be a key force in creating future economic development. Tourism is seen as an attractive development option in part because, if well managed, it has the potential to sustain the culture and natural resources of these small nations. One way to build the economic development potential of tourism is to link it more effectively to other sectors of the economy. Linkages between tourism and the vital agriculture sector are poorly developed in Pacific SIDS. Research into the links between tourism and agriculture is imperative if we are to strengthen traditional food-systems and to improve the distribution of tourism’s benefits to rural people.