Lesson 9- Manipulating the Perception of Place

Question 1

Why do some groups want to change perception of places?

Answer 1

• Perception of places mainly tend to be influenced by the media
• Governments are keen to attarct trade trade and investment into their countries and a positive perception of place
• Organisations like British Council help to promote the UK through educational and cultural links with the government and monarchy are also seen to play a role in promoting international reltaions for the UK

Question 2

Actors affecting place perceptions

Answer 2

• Governments
• Corporate Bodies
• Tourist Agencies
• Community and Local groups

Question 3

Actors affecting place perceptions-Governments

Answer 3

• At both national and local level, strategies have been adopted to manage and manipulate perception of place in order to attract people and investment to place

-marketing or PR companies may be employed by national and local government to improve or create positive perceptions of place. E.g Sheffield, local governments

Question 4

Actors affecting place perceptions-Corporate Bodies (Businesses)

Answer 4

• A corporate body is an organisation or group of person that is identified by a particular name.
  -e.g: institutions, businesses, non-profit enterprises and government
  -many corporate bodies will have an intrest in place but some will want to manipulate perceptions of place

Question 5

Actors affecting place perceptions-Tourist Agencies

Answer 5

• Tourist agencies are corporate bodies which aim to ‘sell’ place to potential visitors and marketing positive perceptions of place makes this easier.

-In the UK, tourist organisations range from international are such as Vistit Britain to regional ones like Welcome to Yorkshire to the individuals responsible for promoting a specific tourist attraction

Question 6

Actors affecting place perceptions-Community and Local Groups

Answer 6

• Community and local groups may take an active role in managing and improving the perception of their place to attract investment and improve opportunity and services within the area

-this is mostly a bottom-up scheme as they increasingly include local people since they have the ‘insider’ experience of place.

Question 7

Weaknesses of the manipulation of place?

Answer 7

• Corporate bodies may wish to change the perception of place to make profit but the locals may detest this change. E.g Park Hill Flats made Urban Splash profit but was not wanted by local residents
• Perception created by tourist agncies may not be accurate and can cause ‘Paris Syndrome’
• Poorer places may not be able to afford advertisements therefore leading to certain areas being prioratised over others (North vs South)

Question 8

Positives of the manipulation of place?

Answer 8

• Profit. E.g ‘Welcome Yorkshire’ has helped generate £9bn in 2017 in the visitor economy
• Positive multiplyer effect can occur. E.g Meadowhall led to development of other retail outlets opening in LDV
• Place perceptions can be irrevocably changed to something more positive. For example, Kelham Island went from being seen as a place of deindustrialisation to a trendy place and a ‘valley of beer’