Research on Tourism, Indigenous Peoples and Economic Development: A Missing Component

Abstract

Indigenous tourism is a term commonly used to describe tourism that involves indigenous peoples or first nations in tourism. In recent years, research attention on this topic has broadened and expanded greatly, reflecting both increased involvement of indigenous peoples and their more active participation in controlling and utilising a widening range of tourism and economic development. This more active participation has taken tourism beyond its traditional role as a limited source of employment and economic development to a stage at which tourism is being utilised as an agent to improve the indigenous political position with respect to controlling a wider range of development and strengthening regional and national identities. The paper briefly reviews research on indigenous tourism over the past half-century, noting the increase in volume and the changing nature and role of research on tourism involving indigenous peoples, but also longstanding neglect of some elements of economic development, which are discussed in more detail It also explores current and likely future issues needing research attention in the light of changing motivations for participation in indigenous tourism, and the spread of indigenous tourism beyond traditional areas into activities more associated with metropolitan and mass tourist markets.

Transport Accessibility and Tourism Development Prospects of Indigenous Communities of Siberia

“…Experts have emphasized the importance of the tourism industry being socially responsible, not only as a commercial initiative but as a partnership in activities to protect the culture and relationship between indigenous people on their own lands [65]. For the most part, contemporary research interest in the studied topic has moved from isolated political, cultural, social, technological, and ecological issues to a tangled and interdependent set of those issues with specific scope, reflecting positions of the indigenous population and oriented to the benefit of the latter [66,67].…”

Economic Development of Indigenous Papuans: A Critical Analysis to Build Independent and Dignified Traditional Villages

“…03, No. 06, November 2022 Western economic rationale remains the main motivation for engaging in the indigenous tourism business (Butler, 2021).…”

“…The essence of this argument is that income generated through tourism represents a fair exchange of value between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. Increased economic independence will be accompanied by higher levels of self-determination and cultural pride due to the shackles imposed by poverty and low social welfare (Butler, 2021). Some examples of economic capital of indigenous peoples in Papua Province are as follows: a) Social Traditions Several community groups in Papua have social traditions for the benefit of development and activities for common needs.…”

A Bibliometric Review of Trends in Indigenous Tourism

“…Many governments and development organizations worldwide are adopting a tourism-based approach for socioeconomic development (Scheyvens, 2011;Summers et al, 2019). Indigenous tourism is a term which refers to tourism that involves Indigenous peoples (Butler, 2021). According to Butler & Hinch (2007), Indigenous tourism refers to tourism activities where Indigenous people have direct involvement, either in control or through their culture as the main attraction.…”