White Paternalisms, Authenticities, and Deficits: Visitor Responses to Indigenous Cultural Tourism in Australia’s Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

A study reveals that visitor perceptions of Aboriginal cultural tourism at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park are shaped by racial stereotypes, with whiteness often dictating narratives of authenticity and deficits. While some visitors hold paternalistic views that classify Aboriginal peoples in culturally damaging ways, the concept of authenticity can also serve a decolonizing purpose when it empowers Indigenous peoples to control their own cultural narratives. The research used ethnographic methods, including visitor interviews, to explore these dynamics, highlighting both the challenges and potential of Indigenous-led tourism in protected areas.

Whittington, V. (2026). White Paternalisms, Authenticities, and Deficits: Visitor Responses to Indigenous Cultural Tourism in Australia’s Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Tourism Culture & Communication, 26(3), 225–240. https://doi.org/10.3727/194341426x17720431611995