Note for an anthropology of tourism development

Anthropologists, somewhat unconsciously, remained for a long time in the position of conservative culture camp commandants—overseers of a pickled-in-aspic view of ‘the native’ that was not far removed from colonial explorer adventure safari or, at best, pastoralising advocacy and brokerage. In contemporary anthropologies—for example such as the anthropology of tourism when it becomes too close to tourism management studies—we can see clearly that heritage still has has some part to play in hesitations to take up such a gate-keeping role, yet it is undeniably still there and to overstate the naivety of local communities is a mistake. And why shouldn’t such communities seek to make a dollar where they can, but do they need anthropo-advisors? Sheesh, give them research grants already? Why shouldn’t someone—ie., them—write about this for others to read? It would be cute if we could believe the hype about how the longer term study that is the hallmark of anthropology really does best suit…