Factors influencing Indigenous engagement in tourism development: an international perspective

Indigenous participation in conservation and tourism development: A case of native people of Sabah, Malaysia

“…The life of indigenous people in Sukau village is heavily dependent upon the land and forest. Therefore, the protection of their land and environment is of the utmost importance to them (Bulan, ; C. Fletcher et al, ). Residents who perceive more positive environmental impacts tend to be more motivated to participate in the process of conservation and tourism development.…”

“…For the indigenous people, the forest is considered a living entity, with its own soul and spirituality. This belief transcends generations, thus making it difficult for the local community to understand the short‐term social, political, and bureaucratic interests of government and the private sector, which are often at odds with indigenous peoples' conceptualization of what constitutes moral rights (C. Fletcher et al, ; Subramaniam, ). In a country that accepts discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, the rights of indigenous communities—vis‐à‐vis their culture, language, economic, and educational opportunities—are not recognized.…”

“…Indeed, indigenous people pay a high price for tourism (Chang, ); in their desire to capitalize on the profits of tourism, governments (especially in the developing world) and transnational corporations have disregarded the interests of indigenous peoples (Wu et al, ). The effects have been devastating: Indigenous people have been evicted from their traditional lands, and their control and access to their natural resources compromised (Dyer et al, ; C. Fletcher et al, ). They have suffered social degradation brought about by foreign influences and the commercialization of their culture (Chang, ).…”

“…Indigenous communities that maintain their traditional culture and lifestyle are often a major source of attraction for international and local tourists alike and can significantly influence a destination's competitiveness (C. Fletcher, Pforr, & Brueckner, ). However, the sustainability of such destinations must necessarily incorporate indigenous voices and knowledge in their planning, policy, and development (Butler & Hinch, ; C. Fletcher et al, ). Therefore, public sector agencies at all levels, as well as private sector operators, should be sensitive to the needs, preferences, and priorities of indigenous communities (Carr, Ruhanen, & Whitford, ).…”

“…Differences in the values, culture, and social roles can present a barrier to indigenous people and conservationists reaching a mutual understanding (Carr et al, ; Chicchon, ). In most cases, although the stated goal of the relationship between indigenous people and outsiders is one of mutual respect, this relationship usually starts with mistrust, which is often the product of an unequal exchange of land favoring the other and/or recognition on the part of indigenous people that these relationships/exchanges do not benefit them (Carr et al, ; Chicchon, ; C. Fletcher et al, ). Therefore, in addition to explicitly stating the objectives of conservation as early as possible, efforts should be made to understand the objectives of indigenous people and to incorporate their perspectives into biodiversity/land conservation planning (Chicchon, ; C. Fletcher et al, ).…”