The Rise, Fall and Future of Kokoda Tourism
The most frustrating aspect of Kokoda tourism is trying to bridge the divide in understanding between the canons of desk-bound Australian bureaucrats and remote subsistence villagers regarding the reality of operating a commercial enterprise across traditional land.
The needs of the two key stakeholders i.e., tour operators who generate the income for Kokoda tourism, and those who own the land sacred to our shared military heritage are relatively simple.
Tour operators require a rules-based environment to protect their investment while village communities require opportunities to share in the economic benefits from pilgrimage tourism.
This chapter is based on my non-academic observations and experiences over my 32 year involvement with our guides, carriers, campsite owners, and village communities.
