Reconciliation Tourism: Tourism Healing Divided Societies!

Abstract

This article provides a preliminary examination of the capacity of Aboriginal tourism experiences to contribute to the achievement of reconciliation in Australia. This analysis situates reconciliation tourism as a special type of volunteer tourism and places both of these under the umbrella of tourism as a force for peace. It begins by exploring the foundations for the concept of tourism as a force for peace and understanding as seen in international documents, institutions, case studies, and tourism research. The focus then moves to Aboriginal tourism in Australia and the current status of the reconciliation movement. The experience of the Ngarrindjeri community of South Australia through their tourism and educational facility, Camp Coorong Race Relations and Cultural Education Centre, is then utilized for a case study of reconciliation tourism. This analysis is then followed by a look at the future of reconciliation tourism in Australia and an outline of possible future research agendas in reconciliation tourism.