Growing up in a tourist destination: developing an environmental sensitivity |
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Authors: | Antonia Canosa Anne Graham Erica Wilson |
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Institution: | 1. Centre for Children and Young People, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Southern Cross University, Coolangatta, QLD, Australia;2. antonia.canosa@scu.edu.au;4. School of Business and Tourism, Southern Cross University, Coolangatta, QLD, Australia |
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Abstract: | AbstractThis paper explores how the socio-cultural milieu of a community may foster a sense of environmental stewardship among children and young people. Ethnographic fieldwork, carried out in a popular tourist destination in Australia, revealed that the overt impacts of tourism activity such as littering provoke negative feelings among children and young people; these perceptions can in turn translate into a sensitivity towards the environment. While debated in some circles, a Significant Life Experiences (SLE) lens is useful in understanding children and young people’s lived experiences of – and sensitivity to - environmental issues in the communities where they are raised. SLE is employed in this article to explore how a sense of stewardship towards the environment is developed among children and young people growing up in a tourist destination. Findings suggest they actively contribute to protecting the environment in a variety of ways from regular beach clean ups and educating visiting tourists to participating in rallies and anti-development protests. |
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Keywords: | Environmental sensitivity environmental stewardship significant life experiences children tourism childhood studies |
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