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The George Washington University

Publication Date

Spring 2017

Program Name

Indonesia: Arts, Religion, and Social Change

Abstract

This study focuses on the ways in which the tourism industry in Raja Ampat has contributed to local livelihoods and encouraged the preservation of marine resources, looking specifically at the case of a dive operator and a volunteer tourism operation. The study illuminates the challenges that these operators face when engaging with the local community to protect the environment, and recommends more effective strategies for improving relations between tourism operators and the communities in which they reside. The study ultimately makes the case that the legacy of colonial rule in Western Papua must be a consideration in tourism planning, as this history of extraction and domination of local communities is as risk of continuing with this new industry. Ultimately, by understanding the economic, community, and environmental impacts that tourism brings to Raja Ampat, private operators can maintain the long term success of both their own businesses as well as the communities and ecosystems on which their success depends.

Disciplines

Asian Studies | Environmental Policy | Environmental Sciences | Environmental Studies | Oceanography | Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration | Tourism and Travel

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