Sustainability and Indigenous Tourism

Dear Colleagues,

During the last quarter of the 20^th century, we witnessed the escalation of a sector in the tourism industry referred to as Indigenous tourism. While academic debate pertaining to what constitutes Indigenous tourism continues to thrive, for the purpose of this special edition, Indigenous tourism can be defined as tourism activity in which Indigenous peoples are directly involved in tourism operations either through control and/or by having their culture serve as the essence of the attraction (Butler and Hinch, 2007).

After approximately sixty years of slow but consistent growth, in 2019, Indigenous tourism now extends to all corners of the globe and increasingly, facilitates a range of opportunities on both the supply and demand side of Indigenous tourism. These opportunities include (among other things), the enhancement and sustainability of socio-cultural environments, place identity and the socio-economic well-being of Indigenous peoples. Importantly, the business and human rights agenda has evolved significantly in recent years and there is now global recognition that business, including Indigenous tourism businesses, are vehicles for the promotion and realisation of human rights. Tourism has also gained credence for presenting opportunities for the exploration of Indigenous knowledges and in particular, drawing upon traditional ecological knowledge for the sustainable co-management of country.

Arguably, the growing realisation that the world views, knowledges and cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples provide human kind with invaluable opportunities to live more harmoniously with our planet and contribute to the attractiveness of seeking and participating in Indigenous tourism experiences. Concomitantly, the engagement of Indigenous peoples with the economy while remaining true to culture, traditions and knowledges and connection with ancestral lands also contribute to the on-going growth of a sustainable Indigenous tourism sector. Yet alongside the multitude of opportunities presenting to Indigenous tourism operators around the globe, there are an equal amount of challenges arising as the Indigenous tourism sector continues to carve out a sustainable niche in the global tourism industry. 

This Special Issue is a vehicle to identify and discuss new opportunities, challenges, trends and developments in sustainable Indigenous tourism development around the globe. Therefore, I extend an invitation to researchers to submit original papers that include conceptual, empirical, analytical, or design-oriented approaches.

Topics of interest may include, but are not limited to:

• Indigenous tourism and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals
• The role of tourism in the preservation and maintenance of Indigenous language
• The relationship of land rights and Indigenous tourism development
• The impact and role of technology in Indigenous tourism development and implementation
• Climate change and Indigenous tourism
• The role of Indigenous tourism in education, knoweldge sharing and the co-production of knowedge
• Community development and Indigenous tourism
• Indigenous tourism and the circular economy, micro finance and social enterprise
• Tourism and Indigenous entreprenuriship
• Supply and demand of sustainable Indigenous tourism
• Cultural authenticity and the disconnect between contemporary Indigenous peoples and the public perception of Indigenous peoples.
• Indigenous tourism, employment and sustainability
• Policy and the politics of the co-production of Indigenous tourism
• Indigenous tourism and cultural heritage, cultural capacity and cultural awareness and culturally appropriate development.

Bibliography

Butler, R., and Hinch, T. 2007. Tourism and Indigenous Peoples: Issues and Implications. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinmann. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-7506-6446-2.50001-6.

Edmonds, J.  2017. Conclusion, In M. Whitford, L. Ruhanen & A. Carr, (eds), Indigenous Tourism: Cases from Australia and New Zealand. Oxford: Goodfellows.

Langton, M. 2018. Welcome to Country. A travel guide to Indigenous Australia. Australia: Hardie Grant Travel.

Prof. Dr. Michelle Whitford
Guest Editor

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