Sustainable Tourism or Maintainable Tourism: Managing Resources for More Than Average Outcomes

Abstract

This article explores the concept of sustainable tourism and in particular the nexus between maintainable tourism and sustainable tourism. It argues that the nexus involves an understanding of stakeholder perceptions, and applies this to the Daintree region of Far North Queensland, Australia, to determine whether tourism in the region is operating in a sustainable or maintainable manner. In order to do this, an iterative approach was taken and local people, operators, regulators and tourists were interviewed, and content analysis applied to management and strategic documents for the region. The results illustrate the importance of understanding stakeholder perceptions in facilitating sustainable tourism.