Review article

Culture for sale? ‘Traditional’ Practices, Institutions and Values as Commodity in Nature-based Tourism

Julia M. Wittmayer ; Faculty of Social Sciences University of Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

The Maloti Drakenberg Transfrontier Conservation and Development Project between South Africa and Lesotho is a transfrontier conservation initiative that simultaneously aims at conserving biodiversity and fostering the economic development of the
local population. This is to be attained via nature-based tourism activities. These, I argue, highlight certain practices, institutions and values of the local population while neglecting others, thereby reinventing them as part of a ‘traditional culture’ in the conservation context. Illustrated by two case studies I also argue that nature-based tourism reifies and commoditizes these elements of lifestyles by labeling them ‘traditional’, making them serve economic or environmental interests.

Keywords

nature protection; traditional culture; transfrontier conservation and development; ecotourism; South Africa

Hrčak ID:

62366

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/62366

Publication date:

14.12.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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