ABSTRACT

This chapter will analyse the growth of indigenous cultural tourism in a range of environments, focusing in particular on fragile or remote locations. It is clear that cultural tourists are becoming increasingly interested in the culture, traditions and lifestyles of indigenous peoples, tribal and ethnic groups. Cultural tours or treks involving visits to or overnight stays with tribal peoples or villagers are becoming more and more popular, especially in some of the emerging destinations of the world such as Southeast Asia and Central America. Those tourists who venture in search of traditional and ethnic cultures in remote locations are often motivated partly by an anthropological desire to learn more about communities under threat from global forces, but also to satisfy their need for cultural experiences of a diverse nature. The impacts of this increasingly widespread form of cultural tourism are significant, both for the communities who are the object of the tourist gaze, and for the local and national economies that stand to benefit from tourism development. The inevitable consequence of increased tourism is often the gradual erosion of the social fabric, acculturation, and irreversible destruction of natural habitats. This form of tourism can easily become a kind of cultural voyeurism in which the local indigenous population is reduced to little more than a human zoo. However, if managed carefully, indigenous cultural tourism has the potential to benefit local communities considerably. Cultural tourism may be seen as a means of increasing the profile of indigenous peoples and to bring economic benefits. It can also lead to a renewal of cultural pride and community cohesion if managed carefully. This chapter aims to discuss ways in which the potential benefits of cultural tourism can be maximised for indigenous communities.