Introduction

In this concluding chapter, I begin by refuting the problematic image of residential tourism as a place-wrecking force by discussing some of the positive changes and progressive developments that it has spawned in the case of Boquete. I also begin a segmented discussion regarding the ultimate socio-spatial impacts that residential tourism is creating for Boquete, a discussion which I resume at the conclusion of this chapter. Next, taking into consideration all of the findings regarding residents’ experiences of Boquete, their patterns of social interaction and the overarching sociospatial implications of residential tourism growth and development, I briefly explore three theoretical scenarios for the future relationship between Boquete and residential tourism. This section then flows into a theoretical exploration of a particular subtype of the residential tourist identity, who demonstrates highly mobile, footloose behavior in his nomadic quest for distinctly ‘authentic’ landscapes of residential tourist paradise as they sporadically emerge and deteriorate around the globe. Towards the conclusion of this chapter, I offer some broad guidelines for future research into this line of inquiry before closing with some final thoughts on the main ideas presented in this work.

Rethinking Residential Tourism

Reflecting on the notion of nostalgia Raymond Williams rhetorically ponders: ‘Is it anything more than a well-known habit of using the past, the “good old days”, as a stick to beat the present’ (1973: 12)? When change occurs, the instinctual human response is to seek out what is being lost, what will be missed. Change generates uncertainty, and uncertainty generates fear. The overwhelming response to residential tourism by native Boqueteño informants in the previous chapter is no exception. This is partially justifiable, as residential tourism irrefutably has created a number of significant negative consequences for the Boqueteño community; consequences which are likely to be compounded as residential tourism growth and development pursue a path of progression towards saturation.