File(s) not publicly available
Blue Lagoons and Coconut Palms: The Creation of a Tropical Idyll in Australia
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 17:28 authored by Pocock, CAThe 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 AnthropologyVolume
16Pagination
335-349ISSN
1035-8811Department/School
TSBEPublisher
Australian Anthropology SocietyPlace of publication
SydneyRepository Status
- Restricted