Rhetorical visions and values in Fort Davis, Texas: A successful tourism site
by George, Donna, Ph.D., THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO, 2007, 164 pages; 3273459

Abstract:

This qualitative study investigates a rural community—Fort Davis, Texas—with an established heritage resource in the form of a National Historic Site. To determine what factors contribute to the success of this tourism site, the study examined the rhetorical visions in the community and their associated values.

The research methodology included ethnographic methods, Symbolic-Convergence Theory, and Variations in Value Orientations. The ethnographic data consisted of observations and analysis of four sets of data: local Web pages, interviews, essays, and posters. The essays and posters resulted from a contest held at the local elementary school in grades Kindergarten through six. Six Web pages were reviewed, six interviews conducted, six essays used, and seven posters evaluated.

The data from these four sources were analyzed using Bormann's (1985) fantasy-theme analysis, also know as Symbolic-Convergence Theory, to delineate the rhetorical visions in the community of Fort Davis, Texas. After the visions were defined, Kluckhohn and Strodbeck's (1961) Values Orientation Model (VOM), with modifications, was applied to the visions to find the values in the visions and to substanciate the visions.

This research reveals three rhetorical visions and associated values to help explain the success of this rural community's tourism site. After delineating the visions, I offer indicators based on those visions that help define what makes a site successful, including: an attractive physical location, a strong historical ambiance, a prominent cultural/state identity, an active historical preservation group, resident "buy in" to the benefits of tourism, a spirit of entreprenuership, long-term outside funding for the site, and friendly local residents who welcome visitors to their town. The indicators of a successful site can be used by other rural communities wishing to elaborate on their own heritage resources. In so doing, they can develop and promote that resource for the benefit of their local economies in what is rapidly replacing other means of income in foundering communities—tourism.

 
AdviserKaren Foss
SchoolTHE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
SourceDAI/A 68-07, p. , Nov 2007
Source TypeDissertation
SubjectsBusiness; Mass communication; Recreation and tourism
Publication Number3273459
Adobe PDF Access the complete dissertation:
 

» Find an electronic copy at your library.
  Use the link below to access a full citation record of this graduate work:
  http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl%3furl_ver=Z39.88-2004%26res_dat=xri:pqdiss%26rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation%26rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3273459
  If your library subscribes to the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database, you may be entitled to a free electronic version of this graduate work. If not, you will have the option to purchase one, and access a 24 page preview for free (if available).

About ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
With over 2.3 million records, the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT) database is the most comprehensive collection of dissertations and theses in the world. It is the database of record for graduate research.

The database includes citations of graduate works ranging from the first U.S. dissertation, accepted in 1861, to those accepted as recently as last semester. Of the 2.3 million graduate works included in the database, ProQuest offers more than 1.9 million in full text formats. Of those, over 860,000 are available in PDF format. More than 60,000 dissertations and theses are added to the database each year.

If you have questions, please feel free to visit the ProQuest Web site - http://www.proquest.com - or call ProQuest Hotline Customer Support at 1-800-521-3042.