The Development of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile 1967-2001

In the fall of 1999, I became a graduate student at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, under the supervision of Dr Douglas Porteous and began work on a Master's Degree in Geography, focusing on contemporary development issues on Easter Island. To date, little research has been conducted in this particular area. The majority of the literature has focused on the prehistory, archaeology, anthropology, and ethnology of the island. Thus, the purpose of the research is to produce a historico-geographical account of the social, economic, and political development of Easter Island since commercial air travel to the island began in 1967 and to examine future development visions for the island. This study first addresses how Easter Island has been managed since 1967 to 2001. Secondly, and more specifically, it analyzes future development visions concerning the island, held by international, national, and local stakeholders. More importantly, this study will fill a gap in our knowledge of the island's contemporary development issues.