The Coorong Wilderness Lodge: A case study of planning failures in Indigenous
Tourism
Dr. Freya Higgins-Desbiolles, Senior Lecturer, School of Management, University of South Australia/Department of Tourism, Otago University George Trevorrow, Founder, Owner and Manager of Coorong Wilderness Lodge Syd Sparrow, Lecturer David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research, University of South Australia
Abstract
This paper presents a case study of the Coorong Wilderness Lodge (CWL) in order to highlight barriers to success that are in part derived from poor policy and planning supports for Indigenous
Australian tourism operators. This contributes to filling a research gap identified in Boyle’s scoping
study (2001) of Indigenous Australian tourism which indicated a need for research case studies to reveal the catalysts to economic success and failure. Using qualitative research methodology, this paper narrates the story of difficulties in developing the infrastructure between 1995 and 2008. This story highlights diverging views of how such enterprises should be supported which is in part explained by cultural differences, diverging expectations and poor communications across such divides. With the founder of the CWL George Trevorrow as a co-researcher in the project, the paper provides an emic perspective that offers fresh insights into this topic. Keywords: Indigenous tourism; Aboriginal tourism; tourism policy and planning; cultural differences in management
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by funding from the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre,
established and supported under the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Program.
We also acknowledge that George Trevorrow passed away in 2011 and dedicate this paper to his memory and legacy.the Ngarrindjeri community and was a respected cultural educator. He founded Camp Coorong Race Relations and Cultural Education Centre and served as Rupelle of the Ngarrindjeri Tendi and Chair of the Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority.
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Syd Sparrow is a lecturer in The David Unaipon School which is a part of The David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research. He has been with the school since 2000, after spending twenty years working within Aboriginal Affairs in community managed organisations in Australia.