Task A:

• Operations
• Resources


Brand image

2. Using some of the key concepts of sustainable development and examples from the case study, identify how the Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park can successfully manage the relationships between economics, people and the environment. 

Task B:

•  Whether you would have considered taking a souvenir of your visit - if so, would have considered returning a piece of “rock” - why or why not?
• How do you think that your cultural background, educational and life experiences would impact your decision?

2. Based on your experience and the core themes presented in Sustainable Destinations and Operations (THT2114) and using other relevant examples (including case scenarios presented in class) provide a short summary of the way that your overall attitude to sustainability and destinations management have developed and/or changed.

Answers

Task A:

1. Tourism management or destination management inclusive of tourism have a lol lot of external and internal factors associated with the resource management. The landmark destinations that act as the tourist attractions have a lot of cultural and religious values associated with the natives which the tourism management a destination management has to respect and save card while managing the operations resources and sustainability of the particular destination. It has to be understood in this context that tourism is associated with people, and it is not always possible to have a standardized impact where countless people and their actions and behaviour is associated with. Hence there are various challenges and issues associated with tourism and destination Management which can affect operations,  resources and the brand image associated with the tourism management (Albrecht, 2014).

If we start with the issues associated with a destination management of a traditional heritage the major issues that are prevalent are associated with the operational statistics. There are plenty of variables associated with tourism by the virtue of dynamic and random demands and behaviours of different people. If we consider the example of uluru Kata Tjata national park of Western Austr
alia, this particular destination holes tremendous traditional values various aboriginal native Anangu people. In case of traditional destinations with indigenous ownership there are various laws and policies to attend to while managing the tourism of that particular destination. These indigenous laws and policies can heavily interfere with the operational needs and requirements of the destination and complicate the responsibilities of the tourism management authority (Fodness, 2016).

Now if we considered a resource management of such a traditional heritage of a destination there are countless laws and policies to attest to as well. For example in case of ulura Kata tjata National Park, exploitation of any resources are completely prohibited. Hence the tourism management needs to ensure that the tourists do not interfere with or exploit the resources of this traditional Heritage with immense religious importance to the native owners. However it is not always possible to safeguard the exploitation of the resources associated with tourist attraction of such magnitude. Hence overlooking the exploitation of Tourists and also the natives of the resources of tourist destination can be a big challenge for the management company to overcome (Foxlee,  2014).

Lastly with managing a massive tourist attraction that can be issues persisting within the context of brand image Restoration as well. It has to be understood that for a traditional Heritage with indigenous ownership the management of these destinations can be tricky complying to numerous laws and policies safeguarding the resources and tradition of that particular destination and also the wishes and recommendations of the indigenous owners. Hence in most cases where is activities and exploiting Pursuit that generally attract the tourist need to be prohibited and strictly avoided which in turn can drop down the tourist satisfaction. Hence in this case the brand image of the tourism management authority overlooking the destination management can be compromised (Foxlee, 2008).

2. The key themes of sustainable development can be extremely beneficial in managing and restoring the societal economic and environmental sustainability of traditional Heritage destinations. For example in case of ulura Kata Tjata National Park, the traditions and religious values of that particular destination has ancient roots within the anangu community, and retaining the ownership of that land the traditional laws protect and safeguard the interests of the indigenous community the particular destination. However that tourism then management authority sharing the management operations of the particular path along with the indigenous community can employee key factors of sustainability development to ensure that the best interests of the indigenous communities are restored and the tourism of that particular destination is not affected as well (Lee, 2013). The major issue or challenge associated with the management of Ulura Kata Tjata National Park is the exploitation of the resources by the tourist unethically taking souvenirs from the destination. In this case introducing a souvenir shop that will allow the tourist to take away a piece of that beautiful land as a loving memory of the peace and tranquility shared by visiting the Destination park well sir the purpose of satisfying both the indigenous community and their demands and the tourist who come to visit the place. however care should be taken to ensure that the Souvenirs are not made exploiting the resources of the traditional Park but are made of recyclable material only resembling the National Park as a memory to take away home. This will not only restore the economic and social development of the national park but also will be a step towards the environmental sustainability along with it (Saraiva, 2016).

Task B: Reflection:

1. Tourism is considered with expirations allowing human beings to experience the essence of different landmarks and the traditional values and religious history associated with those places. However tourists now a day’s do not only share the experience or a memory associated with the tourist destination, now it is the tourists are more interested in taking away a piece of the destination or its resources as a souvenir to keep with themselves for the rest of their life instead of just a picture or a memory. However they do not realise or try to realise how they can be exploiting or disrespecting the traditions and sacred religious beliefs of the natives associated with that particular tourist destination. In case of the Ellora Kata Jata National Park, numerous tourists have taken away pieces of places as the rocks of the religious destination as souvenirs possibly for decades in a stretch. They sometimes took the rocks from the outside region and sometimes to the rocks from the secret region which have holds extreme traditional and religious values to the indigenous owners.  It has to be understood that tourism is not about taking away pieces of places as souvenirs, but it is about making memories that stay within us for eternity. In this context I must also mention that the rocks taken away by the tourists have made their way back to the destination as sorry rocks as well, numerous tourists have taken away unethically bits and pieces of the sacred site have realise their mistakes within months years and even decades, and returned back the rock status along with an apology that has accumulated to a large collection of sorry rocks. In this context I must mention that an apology is always appreciated but it also needs to be ensure that the apology is not being addressed only as a last resort. I would like to mention that this case study has initiated distinct values within me which restrict me from taking away a secret piece of place when the destination is only provided me with tranquillity without taking away anything from within me. I would like to mention that I would not have taken a Rock away with me as a sofa Nair from that particular destination but instead I would have taken away memories of the peace and tranquillity that Majestic structure has filled me with. I might not be an indigenous or aboriginal individual with the traditional values that guide me to respect the secret site, but my educational background has facilitated me with values and principles that guide me to respect any tradition or religion that a community holes close. Hence guided by education and my own cultural background as a non aboriginal I will not have taken away a single piece of Rock from that sacred site.

2. This case study has given me an excellent opportunity to experience the challenges and issues that both the indigenous owners and the national tourism management authority is facing managing and restoring the traditions and resources of the ulura Kata Jata national park of Central Australia. Sustainable development and tourism management guide us to figure out ways and techniques to restore the natural beauty of different tourist destinations and allowing different individuals from all around the globe to have a chance to experience the Majestic beauty of these heritages. That is what has propelled the Australian tourism department to represent Ulura Kata Jata of anunga ownership as a national park open today from all around the globe to feel and experience. However there attempt at Global sustainable development and promotion of the true heritage of Australian tradition has only invited trouble for them as the tourist have an ethically and unlawfully taken away bits and pieces of the sacred Rock not only Breaking The Law but also destroying the traditions and beliefs of the indigenous communities of Anunga.  In this context I would like to mention that human values and generosity is becoming lost day by day as we associate ourselves with our greed and materialistic needs. In this fashion we have forgotten completely to stop and soak up experiences and memories rather than materials and souvenirs. This case study is just an example of how human needs and thoughtless actions are affecting the belief that the indigenous latest community plays on humanity opening up their traditions for us to experience in fascination. There are various other tourist destinations where tourist exploitation is endangering the future of tourism management and we have to take into heat how our own actions are destroying our future generation to have a glimpse of this Majestic structures that represent the beauty of nature. Hence human society needs to change its values and we incorporate generosity and respect towards everything we encounter rising above the materialistic needs that governs or every action nowadays. Exploring this case study for the sake of this assignment has changed how I see life in general and has incorporated values in me that respect the aesthetic beauty of something rather than the materialistic vision of a destination.

References:

Albrecht, A. (2014). Development of a Bachelor Curriculum in Sustainable Tourism Management for the Palestinian Areas (Doctoral dissertation).

Bringle & Hatcher, (1999). Reflection in Service Learning: Making Meaning of Experience

educational HORIZONS, Summer 1999.

Fodness, D. (2016). The problematic nature of sustainable tourism: some implications for planners and managers. Current Issues in Tourism, 1-13.

Foxlee, J (2014). Sorry Rocks issue #41 of Dumbo Feather Accessed on March 5th

Foxlee, J. (2008). Stories in the landscape: the sorry rock phenomenon and the cultural

https://www.dumbofeather.com/categories/australia/

landscape of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Thesis (Ph.D)--University of Western Sydney,

Lee, T. H. (2013). Influence analysis of community resident support for sustainable tourism development. Tourism Management, 34, 37-46.

Mowforth, M., & Munt, I. (2015). Tourism and sustainability: Development, globalisation and new tourism in the third world. Routledge.

Saraiva, G. L. (2016). Globalization, Tourism and Sustainable Development: The multifaceted impact of tourism on development and poverty alleviation in Brazil.

School of Social Sciences, 2008.

 Stefanica, M., & Butnaru, G. I. (2014). Tourism and Sustainable Development. CES Working Papers, (2), 32-45.

Xu, F., & Fox, D. (2014). Modelling attitudes to nature, tourism and sustainable development in national parks: A survey of visitors in China and the UK. Tourism Management, 45, 142-158.