Abstract
Significant challenges exist for Indigenous people in identifying suitable economic and commercial development opportunities directed at enhancing economic and human development within their communities. Ecotourism is seen as one sector that could provide such opportunities. Don Fuller and his colleagues examine the importance and implications of Indigenous culture for ecotourism developments in remote Australian Indigenous communities, in order to evaluate the potential of ecotourism ventures as a possible contributor to economic and human development within remote Indigenous communities. In addition to examining the influence of culture, the paper suggests important strategies for Indigenous success in operating ecotourism enterprises. These include the importance of consultation and planning processes, the availability of suitable education and training to Indigenous business owner-operators and the availability of joint-venture partnerships with actors in the mainstream economy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blamey, Russell (2001) ‘Principles of Ecotourism’, in David B. Weaver (ed.) The Encyclopedia of Ecotourism, Wallingford: CABI.
Cater, Erlet (1994) ‘Introduction’, in Erlet Cater and Gwen Lowman (eds.) Ecotourism: A sustainable option?, England: John Wiley & Sons.
Christie, Michael J. and Bill Perrett (1996) ‘Negotiating Resources: Language, knowledge and the search for “Secret English” in northeast Arnhem Land’, in Richie Howitt, John Connell and Philip Hirsch (eds.) Resources, Nations and Indigenous Peoples, Oxford: OUP.
Cowlishaw, Gillian (1983) ‘Blackfella Boss: A study of a Northern Territory cattle station’, Social Analysis 12 (May): 54–69.
Fuller, Don, Jeremy Buultjens and Eileen Cummings (2005a) ‘Ecotourism and Indigenous Micro-Enterprise Formation in Northern Australia: Opportunities and constraints’, Tourism Management 26 (6): 891–904.
Fuller, Don, Myles Howard and Jeremy Buultjens (2005b) Indigenous Community Development and Self Employment: With case studies in ecotourism in North Australia, Rockhampton: Central Queensland University Press.
Fuller, Don and Lee Parker (2002) Indigenous Economic Development in Northern Australia: Opportunities and constraints, Rockhampton: Central Queensland University Press.
Goodstein, Leonard D., Timothy M. Nolan and J. William Pfeiffer (1993) Applied Strategic Planning: A comprehensive guide, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Hiatt, Lester Richard (1998) ‘Aboriginal Political Life’, in W.H. Edwards (ed.) Traditional Aboriginal Society, South Yarra: MacMillan Education Australia.
MacDonald, Gaynor M. (1998) ‘Continuities of Wiradjuri Tradition’, in W.H. Edwards (ed) Traditional Aboriginal Society, South Yarra: MacMillan Education Australia.
McRobie, George and David Ross (1987) ‘What is Community Economic Development?’, Feasibility Study for Centre for Community Economic Development at Simon Fraser University. Burnaby, BC: Simon Fraser University.
Samovar, Larry A., Richard E. Porter and Nemi C. Jain (1981) Understanding Intercultural Communication, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Smith, Benjamin R. and David Claudie (2003) ‘Developing a Land and Resource Management Framework for Kaanju Homelands, Central Cape York Peninsula’, CAEPR Discussion Paper No. 256. Canberra: Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Australian National University.
Stern, Caroline, James Lassoie, David Lee and David Deshler (2003) ‘How “eco” is Ecotourism? A Comparative Case Study of Ecotourism in Costa Rica’, Journal of Sustainable Tourism 11 (4): 322–347.
Sussmann, Silvia and Catherine Rashcovsky (1997) ‘A Cross-Cultural Analysis of English and French Canadians’ Vacation Travel Patterns’, International Journal of Hospitality Management 16 (2): 191–207.
Tonkinson, Robert (1998) ‘Mardujarra Kinship’, in W.H. Edwards (ed.) Traditional Aboriginal Society, South Yarra: MacMillan Education Australia.
Triandis, Harry (1972) The Analysis of Subjective Culture, New York: Wiley Interscience.
Trudgen, Richard (2000) Why Warriors Lie Down and Die, Darwin: Aboriginal Resource and Development Services.
Vodden, Kelly (2002) ‘Sustainable Community Economic Development in a Coastal Context: The case of Alert Bay, British Columbia’, The Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development 3 (1): 58–75.
Young, Elspeth (1988) ‘Aboriginal Economic Enterprises: Problems and prospects’, in Deborah Wade-Marshall and Peter Loveday (eds.) Contemporary Issues in Development’, North Australia: Progress and Prospects, Volume 1: 182–200. Darwin: North Australian Research Unit.
Additional information
Examines the importance and implications of Indigenous culture for ecotourism developments in remote Australian Indigenous communities
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fuller, D., Caldicott, J., Cairncross, G. et al. Poverty, Indigenous Culture and Ecotourism in Remote Australia. Development 50, 141–148 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.development.1100368
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.development.1100368