Tourism impacts on an Australian indigenous community: a Djabugay case study

The Djabugay people live near Cairns, a tourist destination in North Queensland, Australia, on land to which they belong and which traditionally belongs to them. Their community is ail equity partner in the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park that features Djabugay culture. Some community members work as employees in the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park. The benefits of tourism identified by this study included revival of Djabugay culture; employment opportunities; working together with other Djabugay community members; increased cross-cultural understanding; and improved material welfare. However, disadvantages such as degradation of Djabugay culture; exploitation of the Djabugay community; minimal tourist/Djabugay interaction; and limited material improvement for the Djabugay were also revealed.