Culture as a commodity? The cultural dynamics of Indigenous tourism in the Far North East of Queensland, Australia

Indigenous tourism in Australia has been cited as a potential economic development tool by the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG’s) ‘Closing the Gap’ (2007) policy. This focus on improving the economic circumstances of Indigenous people through tourism does not take into consideration the cultural dimensions and the cultural distinctiveness of Indigenous tourism. Building on the findings of anthropology and tourism studies literature, this thesis highlights the need for a comprehensive understanding of the effects Indigenous tourism has on Indigenous culture.This thesis examines the cultural dynamics of Indigenous tourism for those participating in this study that is situated in Far North East of Queensland, centred around Cairns. This thesis asks: How is Indigenous participation in tourism enterprises affecting Indigenous culture and what are the cultural dynamics of Indigenous tourism businesses? The key conceptual focus of the thesis relates to the question of commodification. Is Indigenous culture being commodified by Aboriginal participation in tourism? How is Indigenous participation in tourism affecting Aboriginal perceptions of cultural authenticity? What do non-Indigenous tourists view as authentic Aboriginal culture?This thesis draws on data collected during fieldwork in Far North East Queensland between September-November 2016 encompassing 49 interviews conducted with a mix of Indigenous research participants involved in tourism and non-Indigenous domestic and international tourists.The results reveal that cultural aspirations are as important as economic gains for those Indigenous people involved in tourism enterprise. Marketplace expectations held by tourist information centre employees, as well as these employees cultural/unconscious biases, can influence the success of an Indigenous tourism business. Touristic perceptions of Indigenous authenticity and the portrayal of Indigenous culture can affect the sense of agency of Indigenous people involved in tourism, as culture is commodified in its use as an economic development tool. These conclusions indicate that policy-makers need to take into consideration a larger range of issues than just economic gain in relation to Indigenous involvement in tourism.