Beggars–tourists' interactions: An unobtrusive typological approach

Abstract

h i g h l i g h t sThis paper explores Goffman's public space interaction in the case of begging. It draws on unobtrusive research methods. It provides a typology of beggars and tourists based on their interactions. a b s t r a c tWhile the perennial phenomenon of begging exists in many historical cities, where tourists tend to concentrate, the topic has not been examined in depth in the context of tourism. By using Goffman's (1955Goffman's ( , 1963Goffman's ( , 1971) dynamics of public space interaction and taking as a case the historical center of the city of Heraklion (Crete), this study draws on unobtrusive research methods (written records, nonparticipant observations and photographing), to shed further light on beggarsetourists' encounters by exploring not only the strategies beggars adopt to ensure almsgiving from tourists, but also to provide a typology of beggars and tourists based on their interactions.

A qualitative cognitive appraisal of tourist harassment

“…Emotional responses reflect perceptions rather than reality (Beeho & Prentice, ). However, studies exploring emotional responses from tourists in relation to harassment are limited albeit some works have initiated this inquiry (Andriotis, ; Nicely & Armadita, , b). The broader victimology literature records three types of emotional responses to unethical destination incidents: anger, contempt, and disgust (Breitsohl & Garrod, ).…”

Encountering begpackers

“…This begging might involve the pretence of selling small items or musical or nonmusical performing, in return for financial compensation that may have little to do with the value of the item (Brito, 2013;Simpson, 2011). Andriotis (2016) provides a useful typology of beggars, and of tourists' interaction with beggars. He classifies beggars into three categories: classical beggars, who wait passively for alms, usually in the one place, without performing; table-to-table beggars, who venture from place to place selling small items for money; and performing beggars who play a musical instrument or perform a drama for money.…”

“…They will often provide a donation, but refuse any further communication with beggars. Qiao et al (2017) also develop a typology of beggars, based on others' work (Andriotis, 2016;Henry, 2009;Lozanski, 2013). The types of beggars can be summarized by three factors: demography (older, adult, children); approach (passive, aggressive); and technique (story-telling, sitting, selling items, disability, performance).…”

Visitor (Trader) Harassment Further Explained

“…Though privacy, soliciting sex, and verbal abuse (De Albuquerque & McElroy, 2001;Alrawadieh & Alrawadieh, 2019;Chepkwony & Kangogo, 2013;Kozak, 2007;Skipper, 2009). However, in 2014, as new sub-streams of VH research began to emerge, harassment behaviors by particular groups at destinations, such as microtraders (Nicely & Mohd Ghazali, 2014) and beggars (Andriotis, 2016), began to appear in the scholarly literature on tourism. The most common type of VH that occurs at destinations is the harassment of visitors by micro-traders (De Albuquerque & McElroy, 2001;Kozak, 2007;McElroy et al, 2007), hence the focus on this form of VH.…”