Management Issues in Indigenous Australian Tourism - Literature review Example

Reflective Journals Name Institutional Affiliation Topic 5: Management Issues in Indigenous Australian Tourism Tourism plays a significant role in economic growth. It is also important to acknowledge that indigenous communities’ inclusion in the tourism sector presents a boost to the whole industry. Although this is the case, refusal of some indigenous communities to be involved in any sort of tourism hinders important aims that tourism sector needs to achieve. I personally think that the way indigenous communities have been treated in Australia contributes to this refusal. By merely recognising Aboriginal and Torres Islander people as indigenous communities and not involving them in all aspects of tourism is not enough. Many people may not see tourism as an option for engaging into due to ignorance of its benefits or communities misconception which I have encountered first hand. Management issues in indigenous tourism are many and spans across economic, social and cultural contexts. Understanding cultural background of someone may be near impossible task but it is achievable. I have interacted with many people with different cultural backgrounds and I must admit that the way they view things and situations are different from mine. Through conversations with my friends, I have realised that there are already formed opinion about indigenous communities. Indigenous tourism management provides unique problems and issues that need to be addressed through concerted efforts and special attention of all stakeholders involved in the issue. Indigenous tourism has not succeeded as anticipated and this is due to many challenges. As pointed out by Mapunda (2001), lack of training and education of indigenous people is one of the challenges. Lack of understanding for importance of an economic endeavour can be due to various reasons. Education is on top of the list and many indigenous communities’ education levels are far lower as compared to the rest of Australians (Behrendt, 2011). Due to this reason, it may take more than just persuading indigenous communities about the importance of tourism. After I read the history of indigenous Australians and the management issues tourism faces, I found out that the sector faces many challenges some I never anticipated existed. Indigenous Australians faces difficulty in adapting to the tourism industry demands which is exacerbated by lack of preparedness (Ryan & Aicken, 2005). The issue of tourism management has not been given the right attitude and support it needs by the government and all major stakeholders. Tourism perceptions and attitudes are low and as I found out through speaking to various indigenous people, sensitization should be done. In order to change the current trends, committed and high quality management in tourism sector should be instituted. I am a believer of good management practices and replicating this into indigenous tourism sector is the first step in achieving growth in the industry. One must appreciate the fact that in Australia different cultural and social practices are multiple and this can be turned into a factor that ensures indigenous tourism succeed. I love travelling a lot and one thing I have found out is that all cultures do not view the same phenomenon in the same way. Therefore, accommodating cultural and social practices is imperative in managing indigenous tourism in a successful manner. Topic 9: Conflict in Indigenous Tourism Conflict issues in tourism are diverse and cuts across social and economic contexts. Tourism can be a source of displacement for people from forests, sacred sites and beaches. Indigenous communities are the most affected as they are forced to relocate from their ancestral lands in paving way for tourism activities (Johnston, 2006). Examples are Maasai of Kenya and Sea Gypsies of Thailand. Although tourism can create conflicts, I tend to support displacement of people in creating tourist attractions sites. To me, people must be offered alternative places of living, for instance if they are displaced from forests. Conflict happens almost in any aspect that involves human beings. For me, the most important thing is recognition of conflict. Just like many other individuals, I have encountered numerous conflicts in my life as a student and in social life as a tourist. I have been able to handle these conflicts by first recognising that there exists a conflict which needs a solution. In essence, conflicts often arise between indigenous people, governments and tourism industry players. To my understanding, this is usually caused by diverging interests between the industry players and indigenous people that promote development of tourism. Reading various case studies about conflict between indigenous peoples and tourism has given me great insight into the effects that these conflicts can have. As pointed out by Weaver (2007), tourism causes cultural and economic deprivation to indigenous people as a result of conflict between them and tourism. I think it is not morally, ethically and socially okay to deprive any community of their own way of life just to create another source of income for the country through tourism. With some few exceptions, most indigenous people are disadvantaged economically compared to their non-indigenous counterparts and have endured traditional cultural erosion due to tourism conflict. In light of this, I think that indigenous people should benefit more from any undertaking of any tourism activity in their areas of jurisdiction. Tourism should act as a strategy of overcoming economic deprivation to the indigenous communities (Butler & Hinch, 2007). This is not the case probably because of their continued exploitation and lower educational level. Conflict in indigenous tourism is a topic I enjoyed studying because I learned about how conflict can arise and ways that resolution of conflicts can be achieved. Control of tourism activities emerged strongly as a source of conflict between indigenous communities and tourist activities. Indigenous people have been historically and contemporary exploited through tourism and Non-governmental organisations have been in the forefront championing their rights and interests. Exertion of codes of conduct in educating tourists in modification of their behaviours at local communities’ tourist attractions sites is not enough for me. Having read the various conflicts that tourism brings to the indigenous peoples, I significantly advocate for concrete mechanisms to be taken in resolving these conflicts such as involving these communities in any decision which directly affects them. Resolution of conflict should also be tailored towards finding a common ground. Although Aborigines in Australia have been increasingly involved with tourism, I feel that their involvement needs to be doubled up. Topic 6: Issues in Marketing Indigenous Australian Tourism Tourism is an economic activity that needs intense marketing activities. Competition in the tourism industry necessitates identification of unique characteristics that can be marketed to tourists both locally and globally. In most adverts I studied about Australian tourism, often I come across indigenous Australian tourism adverts. The issues that affect indigenous tourism marketing are diverse and many than I earlier anticipated before I began my study on understanding indigenous Australian tourism. Aboriginal tourism has been marketed and promoted strongly due to various drivers. Tourism acts as a way of maintaining Aboriginal culture as well as enabling individuals to stay on traditional lands (Dann, 1996). The way Aboriginal tourism was marketed by the government in the past is much different from how it is marketed now. For me, the most important issue that must be addressed as far marketing issues in indigenous tourism is concerned pertains to stereotyping and perceptions. Images that are presented of Aboriginal people through promotion of tourism reinforce existing stereotypes (Ryan & Huyton, 2002). Negative stereotyping is an issue I think it must be conclusively dealt with by all tourism stakeholders. This is because it has damaging effects on the sector which can become irreversible in the future. Initially, I thought negative stereotyping do not exist in the tourism industry and more so as a marketing issue of indigenous tourism. But since I studied and analysed Australian indigenous marketing issues, I found out the problem is huge which requires immediate intervention. I have witnessed stereotyping of indigenous tourism as a tourist some time back through presentation and promotion of indigenous Australians tourism at the international trade expos. Imagery of indigenous Australians at the mainstream media also elicited negative perceptions of them in me. This negative stereotyping and perceptions could be probably because of continued casting of indigenous Australians as ‘different’ from other Australians which is perpetuated through media and trade expos. This demonstrates that more need to be done to reverse the situation and market the indigenous tourism in a positive way for the benefit of all Australians. Cultural heritage for a long time now has been cherished by many communities all over the world. Culture and traditions has become a tourist attraction to some communities. The question that has been on most peoples and tourists mind is whether they are still authentic. Craik (2001) view that indigenous tourism faces many authenticity questions on top of issues such as control, ownership and organisation which can derailed the achievements that has been achieved in promoting indigenous tourism so far. To me, authenticity of anything is something that I value so much hence I am normally keen on verifying the authenticity of traditional tourism that I attend. Indigenous tourism is one of the topics I enjoyed reading. Having read, analysed and relate my life experience as a tourist to marketing issues in indigenous tourism, I now realise that Australia has a lot to offer in terms of indigenous tourism. What needs to be done is proper marketing and management of indigenous tourism by all the stakeholders. Indigenous communities, tourism stakeholders, Australian public and the government must redress the contradictions and problems of indigenous culture that surrounds Australian life in ensuring sustainable future of indigenous tourism. I have significantly improved my knowledge on Australian indigenous tourism which has helped me in appreciating our diverse cultures and traditions. References Behrendt, L. (2012). Indigenous Australia for dummies. Richmond, Vic, John Wiley & Sons. Butler, R., & Hinch, T. (Eds.). (2007). Tourism and indigenous peoples: Issues and implications. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Craik J. (2001). Tourism: from industry policy to cultural policy. In T. Bennett and D. Carter (eds.) Culture in Australia: Policies, Publics and Programs. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 89-113. Dann, G.M.S. (1996). Images of destination people in travelogues. In R. Butler and T. Hinch (eds.) Tourism and Indigenous Peoples. London: International Thomson Business Press, pp. 349-375. Johnston, A. M. (2006). Is the sacred for sale?: Tourism and indigenous peoples. London: Earthscan. Mapunda, G. (2001). Indigenous Tourism as a strategy for community development: An analysis of Indigenous business initiatives in South Australia. CAUTHE National Research Conference, Canberra. Ryan, C., & Aicken, M. (2005). Indigenous tourism: The commodification and management of culture. Oxford, Elsevier. Ryan, C., & Huyton, J. (2002). Tourists and aboriginal people. Annals of Tourism Research, 29(3), 631-647. Weaver, D. (2007). Sustainable tourism: Theory and practice. Oxford, Routledge. Read More