Silver bullet or Barbed lure? : An analysis of the Girjas verdict and its potential to stimulate sustainable tourism development in Sweden

Sammanfattning: The Sami indigenous peoples in Northern Scandinavia face ongoing pressures to maintain their traditional way of life. Today, scholars of resilience and sustainability studies have looked towards indigenous tourism to deliver income diversity and cultural preservation. However, to date, this realization has been slow. Thus, the landmark ruling on the 23rd of January 2020 whereby one Sami community, the Girjas Sameby, was awarded the exclusive rights to administer hunting and fishing licenses against the Swedish State, could present a new opportunity to achieve these goals. Against this backdrop, a mixed-methods case study was conducted within their district to investigate if this verdict translated into opportunities for sustainable tourism development. Particularly as this case sets a legal precedent, many other Sami communities are expected to follow. Twenty-four respondents from three stakeholder groups, namely the Sami, tourism entrepreneurs and tourists, highlighted challenges for sustainable tourism development due to the new exclusionary rules instituted by the Sami and still weak sustainable travel trends in the region. The data emphasizes strained relationships between stakeholders and notes an increase in conflicts subsequent to the verdict. Arguably, the most significant opportunity presents itself not in the growth of tourism but rather in the preservation of nature and the now unavoidable convergence stakeholders are forced into, which, until recently, has been limited. Presenting the prospects for building collaborative relationships, which ultimately can help break down age-old stigmas as mutual trust and respect are developed.