Comment on ‘To climb or not to climb? Balancing stakeholder priorities at an iconic national park’ by Erica Wilson, Noah Nielsen, Pascal Scherrer, Rodney W. Caldicott, Brent Moyle & Betty Weiler

Abstract

ABSTRACT Stakeholder theory provides a means of addressing and formulating responses to challenging issues in managing tourism in sensitive areas. In the case of a stakeholder study at Mt Warning National Park, the views of a key Aboriginal ownership group towards climbing the mountain were not included and their omission misrepresents Aboriginal attitudes to tourism in the park biasing the study outcome. A limitation of stakeholder theory is that significant gaps and policy outcomes emerge if key stakeholders are not consulted. The lack of formal connections of some Indigenous groups with official bodies in Australia makes it difficult to ensure ALL relevant voices are heard.