Diverse Geographies of Power and Spatial production: Tourism industry development in the Yamal Peninsula, Northern Siberia

• Published in: Annals of Tourism Research
• Main Authors: Gorbuntsova, Tatiana, Dobson, Stephen, Palmer, Nicola
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Masson 2019
• Subjects: Yamal Peninsula; Siberia
• Online Access: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/23926/3/Palmer_diverse_geographies_%28AM%29.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2019.03.006

This paper offers a geographical, anthropological and historical analysis of current tourism development in the Yamal Peninsula, Northern Siberia, Russia. Through qualitative research it highlights the institutional, regulatory and socio-cultural trends of the indigenous society of this marginal region. Currently the traditional economic activity of reindeer herding, which offers autonomy to its nomadic communities, is threatened by local oil and gas industry development. Whilst the introduction of tourism is being pursued by authorities as beneficial to indigenous populations, this research explores power imbalances expressed through space relating to the works of Harvey (1989), Lefebvre (1991) and Gavanta (2006). Findings illustrate conflict characterised by external forces steering local communities toward the tourism industry as an economic aspect of regional strategy.