"Hot Issue" Critical Review: The Aboriginalization of Inquiry: Tourism Research by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

Abstract

In this 'hot issues' paper, Jacobsen argues that even after decades of inquiry the level of Tourism Studies disconnect from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is troubling. He maintains that (relieved of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander voices for so long) the received literature on tourism is still dominated by non-Indigenous academics who continue to forge a discourse based on 'Othering'. The purpose of his critical review article is to substantively engage with the disconnect which seemingly plagues inquiry about tourism for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. This Jacobsen piece thereby exposes subtle, over-arching misgivings observable in the literature underscored by the presupposed 'Othering' of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as 'inferior people'. This hot issue paper therefore moves away from discourses of deficit, inertia, imposed Western-centric theorisation and superficial inquiry, towards the Aboriginalisation of research-into-tourism as inquiry which is emancipative and situated within and emanating from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander worldviews. In providing a number of outcomes from a 6-year national research programme in remote Australia, Jacobson reflects upon their value as the basis for 'leadership' and for 'future broad directions'. To Jacobsen, the Aboriginalisation of tourism inquiry must be based upon cultural integrity in order to drive the discourse of enabling, cultural ways of business and appropriate leadership. This hot issue paper thus draws attention to the urgent need for Tourism Studies practice to be genuinely committed to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, cultures, country, and knowledge.