Indigenous involvement and benefits from tourism in protected areas: a study of Purnululu National Park and Warmun Community, Australia

Abstract

Abstract For many protected areas, sharing benefits with local indigenous communities is an important management requirement. This paper explores indigenous involvement in and benefits from tourism, using a study of Australia's World Heritage–listed Purnululu National Park and the nearby Warmun Aboriginal Community. Interactions between the Community, the Park and tourism were explored using semi-structured interviews. The results illuminate an ongoing cultural connection to the Park providing indigenous people with intrinsic, non-financial benefits. Significant financial benefits are possible through art sales to tourists but are currently limited. Physical difficulties in visiting the Park, issues related to skills, resources and motivation, and problems with joint management all contribute to this limited benefit accrual, as well as fostering a sense of separation from the Park. The findings have broader relevance to efforts elsewhere to engage indigenous people in meaningful ways in the benefits accruable from protected areas and associated tourism. Identifying and further enhancing intrinsic benefits and addressing perceptions of separation are promising areas for attention as part of efforts to progress sustainable tourism. The paper also raises the important fact that some indigenous people may not wish to engage in tourism and that underengagement may be a part of the achievement of sustainable tourism. 保护区域的旅游中的土著参与和益处：澳大利亚Purnululu国家公园和Warmum社区的研究 对许多保护区域来说，与当地土著社区分享益处是一种重要的管理需求。该文章使用澳大利亚的世界遗产地Purnululu国家公园和附近的Warmum土著社区为例，探讨了旅游的土著参与与益处。社区，公园和旅游之间的关系在研究中通过半结构式面访来讨论。结论显示与公园间的一直进行的文化关联，并不断向土著人民提供基本的，非经济的益处。重要的经济益处通过向旅游者卖艺术品也是可能的，但现阶段是有限制的。参观公园的具体困难和技能相关的因素，资源和动机，和共同管理的问题都是造成有限益处的原因，并且造成一种从公园分离开的感觉。结论从更广的角度对其他地方提供让土著居民从保护区和旅游相关活动中以有意义的方式参与并受益。确认和进一步加强固有的益处，和关注分离度的观点，都是达到可持续性旅游的重要步骤。文章也提出一个重要的事实，那就是有些土著人民可能不希望参与旅游，因此他们的低参与度也可以是达到可持续性旅游的一部分。 Keywords: Indigenousperceived separationprotected areaPurnululu National Parktourism benefitstourism impacts关键词: Purnululu国家公园保护区旅游影响旅游益处土著理解意义上的分离 Acknowledgements This research was partly funded by scholarships from the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre, established and supported under the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centre's Program, and the West Australian DEC. The authors would like to acknowledge logistical support received from DEC and staff at Purnululu National Park, and the local communities involved in this research for sharing their views. Insightful comments and assistance from journal editors and three anonymous reviewers in improving earlier versions of this paper are also gratefully acknowledged. Notes 1. This registered claim affords legal rights to negotiate regarding the claim area and signifies that Kija claimants have successfully established the ongoing existence of traditional laws and customs relating to the Purnululu area (CitationNational Native Title Tribunal, n.d.).