Marginal People and Marginal Places?

Abstract

Even in the most remote places tourism is becoming more important both as tourist numbers increase, as they have done on Easter Island, and because the challenges of developing other sectors of the economy have been too great - or perhaps less tempting. Countries like Brunei, once with petro-dollars and willing to stand aloof from tourism, now also seek tourists, and those where tourism has failed or faded, such as Papua New Guinea, are struggling anew to revitalise the industry. Nonetheless some of the most remote places in the region, like Niue, have literally and metaphorically failed to make the right connections, despite a quarter of a century of endeavour (Connell 2007). Other Pacific states have failed to attract significant tourist numbers mainly because of isolation: 'location, location, location' is even more appropriate than for real estate. Intervening opportunities, inadequate airline connections and ineffective marketing exclude certain places.