Alexis Bunten Speaks on Indigenous Tourism

Originally published by Sequoia Samanvaya:

In this episode of The ReMembering and ReEnchanting Podcast with host Sara Jolena Wolcott and guest Dr. Alexis Bunten, we:

- Start with history, the colonial gaze, and its impact on today's tourism and travel ‘explorations’

- Look at the dangers of "Disneylandification"

- Consider both 'sides' (the tourist and the native) experience of cultural tourism

- Go into some basic (but often not followed) things to consider when you are the one doing the tourism/traveling

- Alexis gives some suggestions for native-led tourist organizations

Timestamps:

- 1:37 - Introduction to Alexis Bunten

- 5:48 - What Alexis learned from tracing the history of tourism and how she sees those histories shape tourism today

- 15:50 - What’s the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation?

- 19:08 - What does it mean to “Explore”?

- 24:03 - Disneylandification vs. Deep Cultural Learning

- 29:44 - Tourism today vs. tourism 20 years ago.

- 46:38 - How can people engage in the native-owned tourist experience?

- 55:00 - How can tourist guides facilitate visitors in connecting with the local culture?