TABLE OF CONTENTS Kelly S. Bricker
Margaret J. Daniels
Barbara A. Carmichael
The continuing sacraband of struggle and compromise nearly obliterated the last of the ancient Forests in the Pacific Northwest, precipitated the alarming loss of wetlands everywhere in the country, reduced the nation s reserves of true wilderness, impaired the natural qualities of national parks, accelerated the extinction of species, destroyed the financial base and quality of life in human communities, and weakened the fabric of biodiversity. And so it has tended to go: while the principles get lost in the dust clouds of conflict over policies, proposals, and programs, the overall abundance and quality of natural habitat is steadily diminished. (Nelson, 1994, p. xiii)
Nelson s (1994) commentary on the diminishing state of public lands ( i.e., national parks, wildlife refuges, hotspot areas, etc.) pertains not only to land development in general but also specifically to tourism development, planning, and policy. The first purpose of Chapter Ten is to detail how powerful individuals and organizations with significant resources often make tourism development decisions that serve their own interests rather than considering the community as a whole. An extended analysis of 263 case studies will then be used to illustrate the benefits and limitations of sustainable tourism development practices in terms of constituency building, local economic benefits, and conservation funding. The chapter will conclude by tying together issues of quality tourism experiences, power, and land use and development by considering a case of contested spaces and casino development on Native American land.
