Participation, Power and Racial Representation: Negotiating Nature-Based and Heritage Tourism Development in the Rural South

Abstract

Nature-based and heritage tourism development provides a potentially valuable tool in the distribution of benefits to rural counties in the southeastern United States. However, tourism planners often fail in their efforts to incorporate culturally diverse populations in planning processes. This study examines African Americans' role in nature-based and heritage tourism planning in Hamilton County, Florida. While public officials have solicited community involvement, African Americans, who comprise over 40% of the county's population, continue to be underrepresented in public planning initiatives. This study uses qualitative ethnographic methods to account for African American residents' opinions regarding participation in county decision making and their role in the emerging nature-based and heritage tourism industry. It highlights issues that can impede efforts at cross-cultural collaboration and points to the need for addressing historic power relations in approaching future collaborative strategies.

Keywords:

• African American representation
• environmental justice
• ethnography
• tourism planning

We thank the 24 residents of Hamilton County who generously donated their time and valuable insights to this study. Also, this project would not have been possible without the assistance of Allen Tyree, Hamilton County Extension Director. This research was funded by the University of Florida's School of Forest Resources and Conservation and Center for Natural Resources and supported by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station. The authors also thank Lisa Seales and Lindsey Eidner for editing the manuscript as well as the journal reviewers for their comments and suggestions, which helped to substantially improve the article.