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Small and Vulnerable Island States: Observations from the Asia-Pacific Region
Conference paper   Open access   Peer reviewed

Small and Vulnerable Island States: Observations from the Asia-Pacific Region

I Russell, R W (Bill) Carter and V Ximenes
Development of Tourism Policy and Strategic Planning in East Timor, pp.87-94
Islands of the World Conference, Small Islands in the Third Millennium: Sharing Solutions to Common Problems, VI (Isle of Skye, United Kingdom, 16-Oct-2000–20-Oct-2000)
University of Queensland
2001
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Abstract

Tourism
Small and vulnerable states are defined in terms of the size of their population or geographic boundaries and their exposure to forces (both internal and external) that threaten the process of development. They require special consideration in development management, particularly when they are also small island states or small states sharing islands. A common characteristic of islands of the South-East Asian and Pacific Region is a strong dependency on the natural resource base for the maintenance of the livelihood of the bulk of the population. Rapid population growth and changing aspirations have destabilised (and in some cases destroyed) the traditional arrangements linking the population to the resource base sustaining their existence. In these circumstances small island ecosystems are placed under extreme stress, as the changing patterns of dependency of the population shift the focus and pressure of resource demands. Although nationhood is central to the identity and existence of many of the islands of the Asia-pacific region, both the historical and continuing flux of populations suggests the likelihood of ongoing conflict in the determination of national identity. The economic divisions between the centre and the periphery that have been the root cause of much political upheaval are exacerbated in the case of island states, with a tendency for the development of a 'capital island' and the further development of the capital city within that island. Location economies and economies of size tend to limit development opportunities to the central location, hastening population concentration and environmental degradation. Many islands face fundamental environmental limitations in the transformation of agriculture and other livelihood sustaining activities based on the utilisation of natural resources, to support growing urban concentrations. The social implications of these changes are profound. The boundaries of nationhood for island states are critical considerations in the analysis of development from a systems perspective. The demarcation of territory and peoples is but one aspect of this significance. The prospect of sustainable development, especially for small island states, requires that the system boundaries extend beyond the physical resources of islands and their maritime exclusion zones. Thus the system boundaries might extend to accommodate trade, knowledge and technology flows, access to international capital and labour markets, and development assistance. The analysis of development opportunities for island peoples requires a holistic, systemwide appreciation, wherein the national boundaries should not be confused with the boundaries of the livelihood systems of the island people. The challenge for island communities lies in the maintenance of the distinctive elements of culture and values that shape their identity and have served to sustain their livelihood in the past.

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