Can Ocean-Based Tourism in the Pacific Region Fulfill the Objectives of a Sustainable Blue Economy?

Please note that this is a hybrid event. For online attendance please sign up to obtain the Zoom link. Access link will be delivered via email upon registration.

Join Amelia Fa’otusia for her pre-submission seminar where she will present the findings and contributions of her doctoral project on the blue economy and its implications for ocean-based tourism in the Pacific region. As ocean-based economies, Pacific nations advanced the blue economy concept in their engagements at the 2012 United Nations Sustainable Development Conference. Tonga, ‘Aotearoa New Zealand, and Fiji are in the process of finetuning their respective national blue economy frameworks, policies, and strategies for sustainable ocean management and development. These documents aim to contextualize the blue economy for each national setting in support of meaningful sustainable development outcomes that align with ocean-orientation, equity, and sustainability goals.

Tourism is a significant ocean-based economic sector in each of Tonga, ‘Aotearoa New Zealand, and Fiji, and Amelia’s research considers how and whether ocean-based tourism (particularly cetacean/whale tourism) can fulfill the objectives of a sustainable blue economy. Amelia’s project reflects on key questions including: What is the role of culture and local knowledge in defining the blue economy for Pacific countries? How can ocean-based tourism advance community-based marine conservation and development outcomes? And, what are the opportunities and challenges that the blue economy presents for tourism in the Pacific?

Speaker

Amelia is a PhD candidate with the Department of Pacific Affairs. Prior to her candidacy this year, she undertook postgraduate studies with ANU’s Crawford School of Public Policy which entailed her completion of a master’s thesis on the socio-economic implications of the blue economy concept on coastal tourism in Tonga. Amelia’s current research for her PhD now expands on that topic by delving deeper into what the blue economy entails for policy and practice in coastal ocean-based tourism, with a specific focus on ecotourism in Tonga, Fiji, and New Zealand. In 2021, Amelia was the graduate recipient of the Tiri Tiri Prize for Academic Excellence in the ANU’s Masters of Environmental Management and Development Programme under the Crawford School.