ABSTRACT

The extent of indigenous involvement in and control of cultural tourism development is very variable, and will depend very much on the context in which development is taking place and the degree of local support. Although indigenous peoples are still rarely given complete control or ownership of tourist sites or attractions, there have been definite moves towards consultative, joint or co-operative management. Co-operative arrangements can be highly beneficial as long as indigenous peoples are treated as equal partners. However, ultimately, the majority of indigenous peoples are likely to be seeking the kind of empowerment that enables them to move towards sole ownership and management of tourism venues and initiatives. However, better support is often needed in terms of funding, education and business skills training.