ABSTRACT
Island States present an opportunity to identify the social, economic and environmental impacts of tourism in a well-defined and manageable area. Conflict arises because the natural environment is both a factor of production and a source of attraction for tourists. Tourism as an economic activity is unique in the sense that no other industry has this systemic relationship with the natural environment. The relationship between tourism development and the environment is both extractive and aesthetic. The systemic approach requires the recognition of the interdependence and interrelatedness of all elements within a system. A systemic approach facilitates understanding of the interrelationships between tourism development, living standards, community attitudes and environmental conditions. Tourism Policy and the approvals process for tourism development are administered by the Cocos Islands Council. The Council, who control all land use on the Cocos, determine the scale and pace of development and the extent to which any new tourism development generates employment and income.
