Tourism is often promoted in protected areas to support conservation, economic development, and community wellbeing, but it can also create environmental pressure and social and cultural impacts.

Hieu Nguyen, a researcher with the University of Queensland recently completed her PhD on Locals’ perceptions of tourism impacts on their quality of life and implications for their attitudes toward tourism: A K’gari case study.

Part of a partnership between the University of Queensland and Ecotourism Australia, Hieu’s thesis explored how communities living on and around the K’gari World Heritage Area in Queensland perceive tourism and how these perceptions affect their quality of life and attitudes.

The study focused on three groups with different relationships to place: residents living on K’gari (particularly the community of Happy Valley), residents in nearby gateway communities (the community of River Heads), and the Butchulla Traditional Owners. Using in-depth interviews and surveys, the study examined tourism’s influence across multiple quality of life domains, including material, social, environmental, spiritual/emotional, and health and safety.

The research found that economic impacts are the most visible and frequently discussed aspect of tourism. Many participants acknowledged tourism’s contribution to local businesses, employment opportunities, and improved infrastructure and services. Concerns about overcrowding, pressure on the natural environment, cultural disrespect, reduced lifestyle amenity and reduced lifestyle amenity were also common across the different communities.

While the three communities shared some common benefits and concerns, they also experience these impacts in different ways. Non-Indigenous residents tend to emphasise economic and lifestyle effects, while Butchulla people place stronger focus on cultural continuity, the wellbeing of Country, and their responsibilities as Traditional Owners. These differing perspectives demonstrate that local communities are not homogeneous and that relationships with place shape how tourism is experienced and evaluated.

Although economic benefits were dominant aspect of local perceptions of tourism impacts, non-material domains, such as environmental and social wellbeing aspects were the most influenced. Across all groups, these non-material aspects strongly influenced how people felt about tourism and whether they supported or opposed its future development. Residents’ emotions and attitudes were shaped less by economic benefits than by whether tourism was perceived to protect the environment, respect local culture, and preserve community lifestyle.

The research also found that local communities actively develop different strategies to cope with tourism impacts. The coping strategies range from acceptance and avoidance to more active approaches such as cultural tourism development and calls for greater Indigenous governance. These diverse responses demonstrate that local people are not passive recipients of tourism impacts but actively negotiate ways to balance tourism opportunities with the protection of their environment, culture, and quality of life.

Overall, the study highlights the importance of moving beyond economic indicators when planning tourism in protected areas and the need for inclusive, place-based and adaptive tourism planning that respects cultural values, protects environmental limits, and meaningfully involves local communities in decision-making. A copy of Hieu’s 12-page research summary is available here.

Article submitted by Dr Hieu Nguyen, University of Queensland