Participatory workshops, key informant interviews and transect
walks were the main methods used for our qualitative approach to research,
which aimed to consider the impacts and benefits of tourism
from the perspectives of those who are affected by tourism. Transect
walks along the typical tourist route of Odysseia-In guests were carried
out in both case study communities. Transect walks have been defined
as: “systematically walking with key informants through an area, observing,
asking, listening, discussing, learning about different zones,
local technologies, introduced technologies, seeking problems, solutions,
opportunities, and mapping and/or diagramming resources and
findings” (Pretty et al., 1995 cited in Cornwall, 2011:116).
The participants in our study comprised two main groups: firstly
staff from Odysseia-In; and secondly the members of the two sample
communities who are directly impacted by tourism, e.g. owners and
workers of local guesthouses, restaurants, craft shops and tourist attractions,
as well as people living around the main sites of tourist interest.
Whilst participants in the key informant interviews and workshops
were selected by Odysseia-In staff and the owners of the guesthouses
they use, the transect walk allowed a more random selection of participants
from among community members who happened to be present at
the time of the walk. From the comments provided, we have no reason
to believe that there was bias or distortion due to the selection of participants.
We also believe that all participants understood what the research
was about and they felt free to share their concerns with us.