Transformative Tourism: Introducing the Experiential Cultural Tourism Model as an Innovative Means to Cultivate Resilient Ends for COFA Nations

This chapter explores the origin and application of the experiential cultural tourism model (ECTM), a novel perspective on tourism that aims to create immersive, community-based, sustainable, and meaningful experiences for travelers. The author uses the Bikini Atoll, a once nuclear testing site, as an example of how the ECTM can transform sites of destruction into opportunities for learning and engagement. The ECTM can also address the environmental and economic challenges faced by the Compact of Free Association (COFA) nations, which are three sovereign countries in the Pacific: The Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. The ECTM integrates the RICE Framework and CBED WEBB, two tools emphasizing community empowerment, equity, and cultural sensitivity. The author proposes that by applying the ECTM, the COFA nations can leverage their unique nuclear heritage, preserve their cultural heritage, and enhance their resilience while offering travelers a memorable and transformative experience.