Factors influencing Indigenous engagement in tourism development: an international perspective

Abstract

Indigenous tourism products, attractions and activities can offer a point of difference for tourism destinations, and consequently the role of, and opportunities for, Indigenous people in providing these tourism experiences have been recognised increasingly by government and industry alike. This paper reviews and discusses the factors influencing successful Indigenous tourism development and provides a global comparison of best practice to inform future decision-making processes in achieving sustainable Indigenous tourism development. Data was derived from interviews with key government and non-government organisations, and Indigenous tourism organisations and operators were analysed as a means of critically engaging with the sustainability problematic of Indigenous tourism development. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of international case studies focusing on Indigenous accommodation provision was carried out to complement the research, as were observations during site visits. By offering a framework for the Indigenous tourism development process, we contribute in a positive and flexible way to the complex, and evolving, discourse on Indigenous tourism practice. It is argued that the effectiveness of governance structures and the level of involvement of Indigenous stakeholders as well as the selection of legislative and policy instruments are key to ensuring a more sustainable approach to Indigenous tourism development.

Indigenous peoples and tourism: the challenges and opportunities for sustainable tourism

“…The initial papers in the special issue synthesize and review common issues in Indigenous tourism research (Whitford & Ruhanen, 2016) and provide international case studies with implications for best practice (Fletcher, Pforr, & Brueckner, 2016;Pereiro, 2016;Reggers, Grabowski, Wearing, Chatterton, & Schweinsberg, 2016;Whitney-Squire, 2016). Other contributions present research that ranges from visitors' experiences of Indigenous events (Higgins-Desbiolles, 2016) to reflections on how policy-makers or managers can influence the recognition of Indigenous cultural manifestations and values within tourism settings including protected natural areas (Hillmer-Pegram, 2016;Shultis & Heffner, 2016;Walker & Moscardo, 2016).…”

“…The shared global experiences of Indigenous businesses are explored by Fletcher et al (2016). Their paper presents a comparative review of Australian, Namibian and North American international case studies of Indigenous tourism ventures utilizing policy reviews, stakeholder interviews and onsite observations.…”

“…Contributors also posit research questions that are the outcome of direct collaboration with Indigenous peoples (Espeso-Molinero, Carlisle, & Pastor-Alfonso, 2016; Holmes, Grimwood, King, & the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, 2016; Reggers et al, 2016;Whitney-Squire, 2016). Several papers were longitudinal ethnographic studies spanning many years (Fletcher et al, 2016;Holmes et al, 2016;Pereiro, 2016;Reggers et al, 2016) whilst others were conducted as more focused analyses of products and visitor markets (Abascal, Fluker, & Jiang, 2016;Espeso-Molinero et al, 2016;Higgins-Desbiolles, 2016).…”

Research in Sustainable Tourism: A Longitudinal Study of Articles between 2008 and 2017

“…From the name of this cluster, the articles involved are mainly concerned with the proposition of various policy instruments, such as the subsidiarity of tourism governance [73] and pro-poor tourism policy [74]. Policy has also been validated as important for the development of indigenous tourism [75,76] and the industry's response to environmental change [77]. Hall establishes a typology of governance in tourism that helps analyze tourism policy [78], while Yuksel et al believe that the statement of ministers is a useful instrument for presenting sustainability in tourism from the policy perspective [79].…”

Tourism and the Sámi in transition: a discourse analysis of Swedish newspapers, 1982–2015

“…The current position of Sámi tourism development can be seen as corresponding to Stage 5 in Weaver's model. However, the historical-geographical setting of Sami tourism and the above-mentioned situation where Sami do not suffer from marginalization to the same extent as other indigenous peoples implies most likely that development patterns diverge from Weaver's normative stage model, which is acknowledged not least for highlighting the process of empowerment within indigenous tourism (Fletcher, Pforr, & Brueckner, 2016;Higgins-Desbiolles, Trevorrow, & Sparrow, 2014;.…”