Online heritage: Accommodating interpretation of a living Aboriginal heritage site (2025)

NAI IC 2010 proceedings

Community involvement in tourism infrastructure—the case of the Strahan Visitor Centre, Tasmania

Tourism Management, 2003

This paper presents a case study of the Strahan Visitor Centre, Tasmania, Australia. We surveyed 252 on-site visitors using a structured questionnaire to determine who used the Centre and their assessment of the facility. Eight key informants with direct experience in Tasmania's tourism industry, or the design, management and operation of visitor centres, were interviewed to elicit their opinions on the Centre and the associated interpretation. The case study results, together with the qualitative, semi-structured key informant interviews, are used to discuss the main elements supporting sustainable visitor centres. This research identifies that it is not enough to only assess a visitor centre's sustainability by its popularity with visitors. It is also important to consider the needs of managers, operators, and local and cultural communities. Recommendations include adopting a consultative approach and involving stakeholders when planning, designing and operating visitor centres and valuing community, cultural and social capital when constructing new facilities.

BEST PRACTICE INTERPRETATION RESEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM Framework for a New Research Agenda

Heritage and hermeneutics: towards a broader interpretation of interpretation

Current Issues in Tourism, 2009

This article reexamines the theoretical basis for environmental and heritage interpretation in tourist settings in the light of hermeneutic philosophy. It notes that the pioneering vision of heritage interpretation formulated by Freeman Tilden envisaged a broadly educational, ethically informed and transformative art. By contrast, current cognitive psychological attempts to reduce interpretation to the monological transmission of information, targeting universal but individuated cognitive structures, are found to be wanting. Despite growing signs of diversity, this information processing approach to interpretation remains dominant. The article then presents the alternative paradigm of hermeneutics through the works of Schleiermacher, Dilthey, Heidegger and Gadamer, to provide a broader interpretation of interpretation. This not only captures the essence of Tilden's definition but construes heritage interpretation as a more inclusive, culturally situated, critically reflexive and dialogical practice.

Enhancing the ecotourist experience at Shongweni Reserve through the use of appropriate interpretive strategies

The current biodiversity and extinction crisis has ignited global concern for human and planetary well-being, culminating in the declaration by the United Nations of 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. Concomitant with these developments has been the steady ascent of the ecotourism industry, a subset of the travel and tourism industry that holds some promise for the conservation and enhancement of natural areas. A third strand that may be added that weaves them all together for mutual benefit, is the use of interpretation as a communication strategy that enhances the travel experience for the visitor, stimulating interest and enriching their knowledge of local natural resources. This study examines the role of interpretation within one of the largest protected areas in the Durban area, Shongweni Reserve. Rich in faunal and floral diversity, the reserve hosts a range of active and passive recreational pursuits for local and international visitors. This study examines the ...

Effectiveness of Interpreter Training in the Japanese Interpretive Context and Opportunities for Improving Interpretation

Journal of Interpretation Research, 2019

This exploratory research examined a four-day interpreter training program in Japan for impacts on participants’ self-reported increases in knowledge and skills. Pre-, during-, and post-training open-ended questionnaires were administered to all 17 participants. Results showed the training program was effective at increasing knowledge of interpretation’s definitions, principles, and goals. Participants indicated extended opportunities for understanding the profession as a whole, as well as how to operationalize interpretation and develop strategic outcomes would increase the overall effectiveness of trainings. Future training programs could use a strategic reflection process to emphasize skill development in the design and delivery of interpretation. Results derived from this empirical research provide a guideline for developing a training framework contextualized to the practice of interpretation in Japan.

Great Barrier Reef Indigenous Tourism: Translating Policy Into Practice

National Environmental Science Programme, 2020

This report examines barriers and opportunities for Indigenous coral reef tourism, with a particular focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses operating in the Great Barrier Reef region of Australia. The report includes a study of best practices and recent trends in Indigenous reef tourism around the world; an analysis of the national and regional policy environment in the GBR as well as the structure of the tourism industry and its impacts on Indigenous tourism; outcomes of new research that assesses Indigenous tourism engagement and experiences along the Reef; and recommendations to address opportunities and barriers for Indigenous tourism in the GBR region that address Traditional Owner groups, mainstream tourism stakeholders and enterprises, industry bodies, and regulatory and government management authorities. It also includes a section addressing the impacts of novel coronavirus COVID-19.

The Devil Made Me Do It: Influence of Values on Interpretation and Behaviors for Tasmanian Devils

Journal of Interpretation Research, 2019

Zoos are becoming more intentional about embedding messaging in their interpretation to promote pro-conservation behaviors, essentially acting as agents of social change. Values theory suggests that, be effective, interpretation including these pro-conservation messages needs to broadly align with visitors’ values. Using the Schwartz value system, this study modeled the relationships between visitors’ values, perceptions of interpretation, emotional connectivity to Tasmanian Devils, and behavioral intent, including a comparison of different types of on-site and post-visit pro-conservation behaviors. Most visitors held moderate to strong conservation values, which were predictive of positive perceptions of interpretation, emotional connectivity, and proconservation behaviors. However, the results suggest that while visitors’ values align with their perceptions of interpretation, they are only weak predictors of behavioral intent. Visitors’ perceptions of interpretation and behavioral intent aligned more strongly with 64 journa l of int erpre tat ion rese arch emotional connectivity than with their values. Overall, behavioral intentions were low for all pro-conservation behaviors. Liking a Facebook post about the conservation of Tasmanian Devils was the behavior most likely to be performed.

Heritage interpretation as a catalyst for sustainable ecotourism in protected areas: A systematic literature review

Studia Periegetica

This paper adopts a systematic review approach to explore heritage interpretation as a catalyst for sustainable ecotourism in protected areas. Premised on the importance of protected areas as a strategy for the conservation of the natural environment, the study seeks to unpack the nature, breadth and trends that predominate contemporary scholarly discourse on the concept of heritage interpretation in protected areas. Based on an in-depth exploration of notable scientific databases (Sabinet, Scopus, Emerald, ProQuest, Taylor & Francis Online, and journals’ websites) 129 scholarly publications were extracted and screened, with 57 publications meeting the ‘relevance’ criteria. The data analysis followed a characterisation, content analysis and thematic extraction. Key outcomes highlighted most of the studies emanating from the Global North, with themes reflecting the role of interpretation in protected areas, interpretation planning, management and evaluation, environmental interpretat...

Fun with fungi in the forest: making tourist experiences more sustainable with quality interpretation

2019

For many years tourism has been criticized for its negative impacts on the natural and built environment; impacts that range from pollution, litter and erosion to habitat destruction, wildlife disturbance and graffiti. Yet tourism has also been championed as a way to increase public awareness of environmental issues and enhance people’s commitment to adopting sustainable practices both at tourist sites (Brown, Ham & Hughes, 2010) and in their daily lives (Ballantyne, Hughes, Lee, Packer & Sneddon, 2018; Ballantyne, Packer & Falk, 2011; Walker & Moscardo, 2014). While some attention has been paid to managing the negative environmental impacts of visitation, little attention has been given to using visitor experiences as a way to encourage greater sustainability beyond the site (Moscardo & Murphy, 2014; Walker & Moscardo, 2014). This paper seeks to direct attention to this issue by describing the design of a more sustainable set of tourist experiences at Binna Burra Lodge in Australia...