Hunter-gatherers’ culture, a major attraction and hindrance to tourism development: the case of the Punan of East Kalimantan

HUNTER-GATHERERS’ CULTURE, A MAJOR ATTRACTION AND HINDRANCE TO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF THE PUNAN OF EAST KALIMANTAN Patrice LEVANG and Miyako KOIZUMITHINKING beyond the canopy Congress of the International Society of Ethnobiology Montpellier, 20-25 May 2012

Ecotourism: a way to conserve and developindigenous communities and their environment? • The concept: nature-based tourism managed by indigenous communities results in conservation of natural resources and in increased development. • Basic assumptions: indigenous groups are inherently environmentalists; they want to continue to live in harmony with nature. A major unsolvable contradiction

BorneoA major attraction:primary forests andheadhunters

Existing experiments: 30 years of Culture and Nature Tourism in SarawakMajor attractions:• Nature: pristine, virgin, untouched forests, rivers, waterfalls• Adventure: longboat ride, river safari, rapids, skulls and remnants of headhunting• Authentic culture: long houses, noble savages, exotic, primitive, traditional, untouched by the modern world, close to nature

Existing experiments: 30 years of Culture and Nature Tourism in SarawakImpacts:• Employment: river transportation, handicrafts, low qualified jobs in hotels and restaurants, cultural shows and performances, guides, porters…• Construction of an “authentic culture” that suits tourists’ expectations: no development artifacts, traditional houses and clothes…• Total control by tour operators: play the game or be put off the tourism map; always looking for more authentic longhouses…

The quest forauthenticity

East-Kalimantan:“untouched wilderness” and “traditional peoples”

East-Kalimantan: major attractions• Pristine forests• River safaris• Traditional culture• Noble savages, traditional Dayak and Punan hunter-gatherers• Etc.

Pristine forests

River safaris

Long houses

Traditional culture

Hunting

andgathering

East-Kalimantan: numerous hindrances• Bad accessibility• High costs• Absence of infrastructures, lack of comfort,• Risks, insurance, health,• No efficient tour operators

A major hindrance: Punan cultureImmediate return-systems or “Enjoy the present, tomorrow is another day”• Means no planning, no preparation, no savings…• Increasing rates, decreasing quality• The good boat is not available but we have another one• Absence of accountability• The money for the fuel is finished, give me more money• The food is finished, give me more money

A major hindrance: Punan cultureThe value of sharing… it’s natural to ask for a share from somebody who has more than you also means: Give me your shirt!

A major hindrance: Punan cultureA vanishing culture• No traditional music and dances• No loincloths but jeans• TVs, videos, HP…

East-Kalimantan: a reality far from expectation

Conclusion: Ecotourism and development?• An untapped opportunity• But a huge lack of infrastructure and capacity• An inherent contradiction : development without (visible) change• The solution: fooling the tourist, but how long will it last?• As usual, the Punan will be on the losing side

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Hunter-gatherers’ culture, a major attraction and hindrance to tourism development: the case of the Punan of East Kalimantan

by CIFOR on Jul 05, 2012

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Hunter-gatherers’ culture, a major attraction and hindrance to tourism development: the case of the Punan of East Kalimantan Presentation Transcript