Title: Ecotourism enterprise and sustainable development in remote Indigenous communities in Australia

Authors: Don Fuller, Julia Caldicott, Simon Wilde

Addresses: International Centre for Financial Services, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. ' Australian Regional Tourism Research Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia. ' Australian Regional Tourism Research Centre, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia

Abstract: Indigenous Australians suffer considerable social and economic disadvantage. The challenge for Indigenous communities is to discover opportunities that will provide sustainable development. Ecotourism is seen as one sector that could provide such opportunities. However, there remains substantial debate within the academic literature regarding the main characteristics of what actually constitutes ecotourism-based activities. This paper is concerned with the theoretical propositions and associated arguments concerned with defining the term |ecotourism| as it is likely to relate to remote Indigenous communities in Australia. Only by establishing and clarifying such core dimensions of the term is it possible to evaluate the possible relevance of ecotourism activities and enterprises to the economic and human development of Indigenous communities in Australia.

Keywords: ecotourism; indigenous communities; sustainable development; Australia; economic development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWE.2006.011756

International Journal of Environment, Workplace and Employment, 2006 Vol.2 No.4, pp.373 - 384

Published online: 20 Dec 2006 *

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