Community preferences for participating in ecotourism: A case study in a coastal lagoon in Colombia

Abstract

Ecotourism is grounded in the concept of socio-environmental sustainability. However, the literature needs more clarification on the determinants of ex ante determinants for community participation in ecotourism in coastal lagoon ecosystems. This paper aims to analyze community-based ecosystem management through participation in ecotourism. After a case study design, a survey-like method was used to identify the social willingness to engage in ecotourism and the benefits that the participants preferred as a result of participating. The results show that most respondents believe that ecotourism would promote environmental conservation in the area and also considered their participation essential to ensure the success of ecotourism. Therefore, this research emphasizes the importance of identifying local perceptions of ecotourism before its implementation, evaluates the willingness of locals to participate in this strategy to highlight community agency, and investigates how participation could be achieved. These results are useful for future research and studies on the willingness to take part in ecotourism studies and the understanding of the relationship between society and ecosystems.