Successful action in the public sphere: the case of a sustainable tourism-led community protest against coal seam gas mining in Australia. Issue 6 (3rd June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hales, Robert; Larkin, Innes
• Is Part Of: Journal of sustainable tourism. Volume 26:Issue 6(2018)
• Page Start: 927
• Page End: 941
• Publication Date: 2018-06-03
• Subjects: Sustainable tourism -- tourism impacts -- mining -- protest -- coal seam gas -- public sphere; Tourism -- Periodicals; Sustainable development -- Periodicals; 338.479105
• DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2017.1423316
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-9582

Abstract

ABSTRACT: As demand for resources grows, there is increased pressure on the places and communities in which sustainable tourism is situated. This research examined the experience of an academic and a sustainable tourism business operator who were engaged in a community protest against coal seam gas mining in Queensland, Australia. Our research used a co-constructed narrative method and a post-ecological democratic framework to understand the significance of the public-sphere action of the tourism business. Our findings reveal that sustainable tourism organisations can link with the local community to be effective in public-sphere protest because of their social relationships within communities. The tourism business engagement in the public sphere was characterised by an increase in the locus of control of the business in responding to environmental threats, reconceptualising "the environment" as a valued local place worth fighting for, and tactics that ensured the campaign was not subsumed and devalued within government administrative processes. We found that if the value basis for public-sphere action aligns with the business model, tourism businesses can engage in public-sphere action with no financial loss. Protest actions by sustainable tourism business operators can be part of a deeper sustainability movement through protest actions in the public sphere.