Spiritual and environmental well-being: Factors supporting adaptation of Pacific peoples during pandemic times
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Date
2024-08-01
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Victoria University of Wellington and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd
Rights
(c) 2024 The Author/s
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Abstract
Most Western models of well-being focus only on social, mental, financial and physical well-being. Collecting data on how tourism-dependent communities in the South Pacific had adapted to the dramatic impacts of the pandemic, we became aware of the significance of spiritual and environmental dimensions of well-being. We also identified several Pacific well-being models that incorporate these dimensions. This article thus examines how COVID-19 lockdowns influenced the spiritual and environmental well-being of Pacific peoples living in tourism-dependent areas. It demonstrates that many people were able to adapt well despite dramatic changes in their financial situation and restrictions on their mobility. They often showed deep appreciation about having more time for religious practices and to care for others in their communities, and they enjoyed working more with nature, on the land or in the ocean, and looking after the environment. We conclude that if the tourism industry can rebuild in ways that support spiritual and environmental well-being, this could mean tourism will be appreciated more by resident communities as something which compliments – rather than competes with – their culture and way of life.
Description
Keywords
Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, tourism, Vanuatu, well-being
Citation
Scheyvens R, Movono A, Auckram J, Faaiuaso L. (2024). Spiritual and environmental well-being: Factors supporting adaptation of Pacific peoples during pandemic times. Asia Pacific Viewpoint. Early View.