University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) not publicly available

Blue Lagoons and Coconut Palms: The Creation of a Tropical Idyll in Australia

Version 2 2024-09-17, 02:06
Version 1 2023-05-16, 17:28
journal contribution
posted on 2024-09-17, 02:06 authored by CA Pocock
The Great Barrier Reef is regarded as an 'Australian icon'. It is an internationally recognised World Heritage site managed for its 'natural' values. However, it is a location where visitors rarely enjoy Australian landscapes. This paper contrasts the sensuous engagement of past visitors with contemporary tourist experiences. Analysis of historic and contemporary visual and written materials suggests that tourist landscapes of the Reef have been transformed significantly during the 20th century. In particular, experiences of Reef islands characterised by Australian bush have been displaced by those of a generic Pacific location. The coconut palm, as a symbol of earthly paradise, has played an important role in realising both an imagined landscape and the physical transformation of tourist locations. Whereas the tourism industry is often regarded as responsible for the promulgation of such generic images, this study suggests that they are the product of a shared imagination to which both the tourism industry and tourists subscribe.

History

Publication title

Australian Journal of Anthropology

Volume

16

Issue

3

Pagination

335-349

ISSN

1035-8811

Department/School

Management

Publisher

Australian Anthropology Society

Publication status

  • Published

Place of publication

Sydney

Socio-economic Objectives

189999 Other environmental management not elsewhere classified

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC