Community-based Ecotourism Project Research Articles

Marginalisation of women and the predicaments of community-led ecotourism projects in the Chilika Lagoon, India

ABSTRACT Studies on women in ecotourism can be classified into two categories. First, women become empowered by participating in community-based ecotourism. Second, such projects continue to push women into gender-specific roles. Drawing from a qualitative study on community-based ecotourism projects in the Chilika Lagoon, this paper argues for a third category. Here, within the rubric of sanskritisation – social mobility and cultural factors associated with patriarchy – women are excluded from working in community-based ecotourism projects. Instead, they need to become "good wives" to uphold the community’s izzat (honour) and samskruti (culture) by dissociating themselves from "indecent" works like engaging in the ecotourism projects in the lake. The paper concludes that articulating the embodiment of honour and culture with the framework of sanskritisation can help us broaden our understanding of developmental practices in rural India and explain complex interplays of caste and gender that prevent Dalit women from entering certain labour markets.

For sustainable social impact at Mangalajodi: change processes enabled by NatWest Bank India

Learning outcomes At the macro level, the case study enables the students to appreciate the complexity emerging market economies face in achieving economic development and environmental sustainability without comprising each other. The students understand the importance of behavioural change and empowerment of communities in projects dealing with transformational social changes. Theoretically, the students learn about the change mechanisms and organisational practices market-based organisations install to drive their positive social change (PSC) projects. At the micro level, students learn about the process of setting up Mangalajodi Ecotourism Trust (MET) – that not only enthused the local community economically but also instilled it with awareness and motivation towards sustaining its ecosystem. Analytically, at macro level, it assists the students to have a lens of PSC framework to examine corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship and BoP strategies of market-based organisations to affect social change. Application/problem solving: The case study explains to the students how the PSC levers of motivation, capability and opportunity structures were applied by NatWest Bank during different phases of project execution. As management grapples with new problems, the students are encouraged to use the levers to recommend an action plan. It allows students to apply SWOT and think of competitive strategies for MET. It allows students to think of strategies that may apply for a better management of Ecotourism at Mangalajodi. Case overview/synopsis As part of its broader commitment to sustainable development and climate change action, the NatWest Group (formerly Royal Bank of Scotland Group) launched its Supporting Enterprise Programme in India in the year 2007. The project aimed at creating income-generating opportunities for indigenous and economically vulnerable sections of society living in critical natural ecosystems. The project was under the leadership of N. Sunil Kumar, a zealous nature lover, with over two decades of experience in business strategy and public affairs and a specialty in environmental sustainability. He headed Sustainable Banking at NatWest and was head of NatWest Foundation-India. The Mangalajodi project shared the problems many of NatWest’s other projects in India presented. Poor communities that relied solely on natural resources for their sustenance slid deeper into poverty as ecosystems degraded. Lacking alternative sources of livelihood and facing scantier resources, the communities helplessly caused additional damage to weak ecosystems when they drew on the resources even more vigorously. Poaching of migratory birds for supplemental income was a huge problem at Mangalajodi; it was not only rapidly altering the ecosystem to sustain the birds but also deteriorating and weakening its ecology as a whole. Measures to eliminate poaching were failing in the absence of alternate means of livelihoods and a strong incentive to protect the birds. MET was established under the project in 2009. A decade later, it had become a resounding success. A community-owned and run enterprise, MET was providing direct employment to over 100 poorest families at the tiny village and creating income-generating opportunities and entrepreneurial ventures for many others. Poaching was practically negligible at Mangalajodi, and the community was drawing huge admiration for its role in conserving the ecosystem. However, the progress of Mangalajodi Ecotourism was paradoxical, on the one hand; its popularity was rising but, on the other hand, it was becoming overcrowded and looked ill managed. Its rising commercial value was bringing in more land developers, builders and investors, but permanent concrete structures were also coming up quite unscrupulously. There were many challenges – how should growth of ecotourism at Mangalajodi be managed? What mechanisms and practices ensured that the community was empowered enough to participate in decisions of land use, infrastructure, energy and waste management at Mangalajodi? How should MET become more competitive and innovative to grow despite future challenges? Complexity academic level The case study is useful for students of Management at Under Graduate and Post Graduate Levels for understanding the following: the sustainability of fragile ecosystems; the community at the intersection of sustainable development and natural resources conservation and protection of biodiversity; knowing in detail about the planning, implementation and management of ecotourism projects; and decisions regarding community-based ecotourism projects. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 7: Management Science

Ecotourism and Rural Livelihood Nexus: An Assessment of the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary Reserve

Ecotourism has been envisaged not only as an alternative to mass tourism, but also as a livelihood diversification strategy for rural people. Researchers have presented mixed arguments regarding the relationship between Community Based Ecotourism Projects and rural livelihoods. This study therefore examined the link between rural livelihoods by conducting an in-depth assessment of the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary Reserve. The research employed a cross sectional design with a mixed research approach. Questionnaires were used to collect data from 214 respondents in Kpanfa, Pellinkpari, Dochere, Dornye, Talawona and Tuole. Series of in-depth interviews were also carried out using interview guides and field observation. The study found that, the emergence of ecotourism in the area caused the emergence of some new livelihood activities while some traditional livelihood activities saw a decline while others were completely abandoned due to the enactment of some conservation bye- laws. Respondents were dissatisfied with the contribution of ecotourism livelihood activities to sustainable livelihoods coupled with unequal sharing and distribution of ecotourism benefits among sanctuary communities. The study recommended for more sustainable livelihood options to be developed by the Sanctuary Management Board to help improve the situation of the poor rural farmer on who’s livelihood ecotourism activities have a direct bearing and to also develop and implement a strategic policy framework to facilitate benefit sharing among catchment communities.

Community-based ecotourism managing to fuel community empowerment? An evidence from Malaysian Borneo

ABSTRACT Community-based ecotourism in developing countries is often regarded as a rural community development tool, and its value in Malaysia has been acknowledged by the Malaysian government. This paper presents the case one of the pioneer ecotourism destinations in Sabah, called Bilit village, and its role as the catalyst to rural community development. Using qualitative research methods, this article explored the empowerment indicators gained by the local community from the economic, socio-cultural and environmental aspects, through its active participation in community-based ecotourism. The study discovered that community-based ecotourism helped improve the local community and afforded them an alternative livelihood in their rural destination. However, the sustainability of community-based ecotourism projects in rural destinations is still questionable if the relevant stakeholders fail to consider the community’s vision and aspirations. Finally, the study extends an empowerment framework with the novel concept of ‘socio-cultural empowerment’.

What a Small Group of People Can(’t) Do

A growing body of scholars in natural resources management have called for the examination of the roles of social capital and social networks in the effective maintenance of community-based projects. Yet, the role of social capital in collective action cannot be effectively understood without studying agency. The goal of this study is to examine how agents’ individual characteristics and their structural social capital, along with broader cognitive social capital elements, shape possibilities for empowerment at the community level. Drawing from an embedded comparative case study of two community-based ecotourism projects in Ghana, we employed a mixed-methods approach combining Lin’s social capital model and Krishna’s agency model to identify and characterize legitimate agents of change in each community, as well as to evaluate the structure of their discussion and nomination networks (i.e., structural social capital). Differences between communities in the network structure of agents, as well as in their types and levels of engagement, resourcefulness, visions and perceptions of socio-ecological context, exposed key barriers to social capital mobilization. Overall, our results indicate that greater community empowerment is reported where greater community trust and a greater cohesiveness of agents with access to external resources are reported. Altogether, this study adds to past efforts in illustrating how a mixed-methods examination of change agents in a CBNRM setting can surface internal opportunities for and constraints on social capital mobilization toward community empowerment.

Community-based ecotourism project in communities adjacent to the Addo Elephant National Park: Will households pay for it?

Management of protected areas (PAs) that includes previously excluded households is gaining approval from both households living in communities adjacent to PAs and PA managers globally. This article examined households willingness to pay (WTP) for community-based ecotourism (CBE) project in adjacent communities to the Addo Elephant National Park (AENP). The study adopted two-stage sampling procedure to interview 198 respondents using double-bounded contingent valuation (CV) questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews in five communities adjacent to the AENP. Quantitative data analysis was performed with descriptive statistics, pairwise correlation and seemingly unrelated bivariate probit. Findings reveal a strong association between respondent’s support for CBE implementation and WTP. The null hypothesis that WTP is independent of the first bid price is strongly rejected. It was observed that first- and second-bid prices, and seven other variables determined WTP. Lastly, households are willing to pay between R121.00 and R125.00 monthly for a period of 3 years to support development of CBE initiative in their communities.Conservation implications: This study established that households in communities adjacent to the AENP are in support of the establishment of CBE projects as long as they will be beneficial to them and their communities. This support is demonstrated by households’ willingness to pay for the implementation of community-based projects. Hence, we concluded that the implementation of a CBE project can offer a market for craft-making, village accommodation and village tours that can showcase adjacent communities to visitors and thus assist the park management in strengthening the existing relationship between the park and communities.

Review on Potentials Resources and Challenges for Community Based Ecotourism Development in Ethiopia

Ecotourism is defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improves the well-being of local community. Community-based ecotourism (CBE) is a form of ecotourism in which the community has substantial control over it, and the majority of the benefits remain in the community . Ethiopia is a country having enormous potential of ecotourism resource including cultural, historical, archaeological and natural resources which are ideal for the development of sustainable community-based ecotourism projects. There are some community-based ecotourism initiatives in different parts of the country such as Adaba -Dodola, Semen Mountains National Park, Wonchi Crater Lake and Adwa. The objective of this review paper was to examine the challenges and potentials for Community Based Ecotourism development in Ethiopia. The findings from this review showed that, Lack of cooperation among stakeholders conflicts of interest over resource usage and a severe lack of trained manpower in tourism professions as being the major obstacles that hinders community-based ecotourism development in Ethiopia. Keywords: Challenges, Potentials, community-based ecotourism, Ethiopia. DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/49-01 Publication date: May 31 st 2020

Community-based ecotourism and the transformative learning of homestay hosts in Cambodia

ABSTRACT Ecotourism seldom places humans within the natural environments which serve as ecotourism attractions. Scholarship on learning and education in ecotourism has accordingly focused mostly on visitor learning about wildlife, biodiversity and adventure experiences in ‘pristine’ natural ecosystems. By contrast, community-based ecotourism (CBE) involves local and Indigenous communities living within natural environments. CBE aims not only to preserve natural environments, but also to conserve the traditional cultures of the peoples living within them. CBE involves visitors in longer term village homestays, local guides, and environmental, livelihood and cultural learning. It has also recently become an important area of study. However, while learning by CBE homestay hosts and guides is equally important, it is mostly unstudied to date. This paper reports on an empirical, interpretive case study of the transformative learning of CBE hosts in a rainforest-based CBE project in Chambok, Cambodia. Findings show that CBE hosts experienced transformations in their worldviews and self-identities in relation to three areas of transformative learning: environmental conservation, gender roles and local culture. These are three areas of learning beneficial to both hosts and communities, and key to the success of CBE. As such, they might well be encouraged in other CBE projects.

Community-based ecotourism projects as living museums

ABSTRACT Community-based ecotourism (CBE) promotes the preservation of local natural environments, livelihood and culture. Like living museums, CBE is a site rich in experiential visitor learning, but without the purposeful, curated design of learning characteristic of museums. This paper first compares characteristics of CBE and living museums using Williams [(2013) Performing interpretation. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 13(2), 115–126] four-part conceptual framework for living history museums. It then applies this framework to three case studies of CBE in Southeast Asia. Each is analyzed in terms of scenography, characterization, narrative, and collective experience. The paper concludes with a discussion of results, and proposes how local villagers might be able to more effectively plan and design their ecotourism projects as ‘living museums’, while at the same time addressing common CBE project design challenges related to cultural authenticity, commodification of culture, privacy and hosting fatigue.

The Impact of Variant Local Involvement in Community Based Ecotourism: A Conceptual Framework Approach

This study was conducted to determine the impact of variant local involvement in ecotourism and associated strengths and weaknesses of the Adaba-Dodola community based ecotourism project, in South Ethiopia. Households from CBECT program and non-program communities, focus groups of CBECT participants and nonparticipants, and key-informants from culture and tourism office and from Oromia forest and wildlife enterprise were the target respondents. The primary data were collected through questionnaires, interviews and focused group discussions. Document reviews were also made to support the study. The quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics while the qualitative data were analyzed in the form of narrations. The result of the study indicated that participants were highly benefited compared to nonparticipants due to the different level of participation and ways of involvement in ecotourism activities. Participants were benefited economically while nonparticipants enjoyed benefits associated with natural services. This led to positive perception to exist in participants than nonparticipants. As a result, the perception of communities towards ecotourism had been impacted by the difference of ecotourism support in the livelihood of participant and nonparticipant communities. In relation to this, working with community and promoting experience sharing for communities were the main strengths of ecotourism program according to participants while majority of nonparticipants stated as there were no major strengths to the ecotourism project. Subsequently, both groups identified insufficient implementation of the CBECT program as the main weakness of ecotourism in the area.

Diagnóstico turístico local para el ecoturismo comunitario en San Ildefonso (Ixtlahuaca, México)

Frente a la complejidad ambiental actual, es preciso avanzar en la delineación de estrategias productivas que contribuyan a la conservación y valorización del medio natural, así como al mejoramiento de las condiciones de vida y al bienestar social de la población. En el caso de la comunidad de San Ildefonso, ubicada en el municipio de Ixtlahuaca, estado de México (México), existen recursos naturales y culturales que pueden impulsar el desarrollo del ecoturismo como alternativa económica para los actores locales soportada en el adecuado aprovechamiento de los recursos. En este sentido, el artículo analiza las condiciones para impulsar el ecoturismo comunitario en la localidad con la finalidad de favorecer el desarrollo sustentable. Para ello, se retoman las aportaciones de López (2003), para determinar la potencialidad a partir de un modelo de desarrollo turístico integrado. Con base en los resultados obtenidos, es posible identificar la existencia de recursos naturales y culturales con un potencial turístico, que pueden propiciar el desplazamiento de turistas. Además, los visitantes de la región muestran interés por conocer dicha localidad, al tiempo que la población local cuenta con disposición de participar en un proyecto de ecoturismo comunitario.

Sustainable Dynamics: A framework for creative collaborations for sustainable development in Bali, Indonesia

Communities respond to sustainable development in diverse ways. Using local wisdom and resources and accessing global networks, community members work together to sustain their economic and social wellbeing and regenerate their natural ecosystems. The Sustainable Dynamics Model captures the processes with which interdependent actors and stakeholders leverage each other's forces and capabilities to achieve their visions of a sustainable community. The exploratory study that aims to introduce and define the Sustainable Dynamics Model emanated from an observational case study of a sustainable community-based ecotourism project through the Asian Productivity Organization Workshop on Agritourism Development and Marketing in Bali, Indonesia. Later on, it evolved into interdisciplinary action research seeking to integrate sustainability solutions initiated by various stakeholders to the local community's vision of a global banjar (community). Focus group discussion and workshops, interviews and case studies propelled the gathering of information on the processes of implementing these solutions from local and international stakeholders. The main lesson that emerged from these local initiatives is that achieving social, economic and ecological balance within the community depends on the dynamics of the actors and stakeholders participating in the collaboration. Developing a sustainable community requires human-level (self) transformation: personal wellness and creative autonomy leading towards the creation of opportunities for social, economic, and environmental transformation.

Leatherback Ecotourism Development, Implementation, and Outcome Assessment in St. Kitts, West Indies

Abstract The St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network (SKSTMN) is a community-based sea turtle conservation organization operating in St. Kitts, West Indies. Four species of either nesting and/or foraging sea turtles have been recorded in the area around St. Kitts, including leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), and loggerhead (Caretta caretta). An open fishing season for sea turtles is active in St. Kitts and Nevis from 1 October through 28 February annually. In 2006, sea turtle fishers in St. Kitts were assessed by the SKSTMN through a survey process to determine the status of sea turtle stocks in the St. Kitts area and to determine the feasibility of developing a local community-based ecotourism project focusing on sea turtles. Based on the results of this survey, the SKSTMN made the decision to develop alternative livelihoods for the fishers to serve as a replacement for the harvest. These included a Sea Turtle Technician Program and a St. Kitts...

Social capital, ecotourism, and empowerment in Shiripuno, Ecuador

Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon have struggled for a sustainable, long-term development path since the entrance of large, foreign-owned oil companies to the area in the 1970s. Ecotourism may offer a sustainable development option for indigenous communities that have been exploited by extractive industry. This paper describes rapid ethnographic research carried out in the indigenous Amazonian community of Shiripuno, Ecuador. It argues that social capital, termed by some as the 'missing link' to development, was stimulated by the initiation of a community-based ecotourism project. Prior scholarship suggest a theoretical framework supported here that demonstrates how increased inter and intracommunity relationships and communication pathways provided a solid base for future sustainable development of this community. The ecotourism project's roots in an indigenous women's association offers a space for considering the connection between social capital and gender empowerment, and the potential this connection provides in machismo-dominated societies.

Ecotourism, gender and development in northern Vietnam

Community-based Ecotourism is increasingly recognized as a form of sustainable development designed to promote local livelihood, environmental conservation and culture. However, like all development projects, participation and benefits accrued are complicated by contextual factors and social structures, including gender. Using gender analysis tools commonly employed in Gender and Development research, this study investigates women’s participation in a community-based ecotourism project in northern Vietnam. Applying Longwe’s empowerment framework reveals a more equitable division of labor, increased income, self-confidence and community involvement, and new leadership roles for women. However, inequities of social class, childcare, and violence against women remained outstanding. The study concludes with recommendations for research and practice in community-based ecotourism from a gender perspective.

English

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent of community participation in the Community-Based Ecotourism Projects in the Brong-Ahafo Region. The sample of the study was 281 respondents and these were randomly selected. Also, opinions of 14 leaders were purposively selected for the in-depth interview. Data were collected using both questionnaires and interviews.  The study utilized a multi-stage sampling procedure to select respondents. The findings showed that effects of community participation on tourism development involved environmental protection, conflict resolution, employment and time consuming. Barriers to community participation in the projects were religious beliefs, lack of government support, funds, appropriate knowledge in tourism and lack of co-operation by some residents. In general, there was no significant difference in barriers to community participation among the socio-demographic characteristics of residents in the projects. It was recommended that the government through the rural banks in the area should initiate a special tourism related micro-finance scheme for the communities. Finally, the government should support the local communities by improving infrastructure and providing enough security to the projects in the region.   Key words: Barriers, community participation, tourism development, residents.

English

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent of community participation in selected Community-Based Ecotourism Projects in the Brong-Ahafo Region. The sample for the study was 281 respondents including 14 opinion leaders. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. The findings showed that residents were involved in the decision-making, implementation and monitoring of the Community-Based Ecotourism Projects. In general, socio-demographic characteristics of residents in the projects did not significantly have impact on community participation. Barriers to community participation in the projects were religious beliefs, lack of government support, funds, appropriate knowledge of tourism and lack of co-operation by some residents. It was recommended that the government through the rural banks in the area should initiate a special tourism related micro-finance scheme for the communities. Additionally, the government should support the local communities by improving infrastructure and provide enough security to the projects in the region.   Key words: Community participation, tourism development, residents, Brong-Ahafo Region.

The “Ecotourism Curriculum” and Visitor Learning in Community-based Ecotourism: Case Studies from Thailand and Cambodia

Visitor learning is a basic component of community-based ecotourism (CBET), yet has seldom been the subject of research. This study examines how local environmental, cultural and livelihood knowledge comprise the ecotourism curriculum in two CBET projects located in southern Thailand and Cambodia, respectively. Following an accounting of local ecotourism curriculum content and teaching pedagogies employed at present in the two projects, recommendations are made for enhancing visitor learning in CBET. These include curriculum development, which recognizes and incorporates the particular forms of local knowledge present in a given CBET community, and the application of pedagogies of experiential and transformative learning in the teaching of this curriculum.

How do you know it when you see it? Community-based ecotourism in the Cardamom Mountains of southwestern Cambodia

In this case study of a community-based ecotourism project in the rainforest of southwestern Cambodia, Honey’s (2008) analytical framework for “authentic” ecotourism is applied to examine the social dimensions of sustainable ecotourism. Following a discussion of the meaning of ecotourism in the literature and an overview of ecotourism in Cambodia, the study site, research methodology and findings are presented. In this exploratory case study, qualitative research methods included participant observation, interviews, focus groups and analysis of project documents. Findings for each of Honey’s seven analytical categories showed the complexity of community-based ecotourism in addressing often contradictory concerns of environmental conservation, local livelihood, and cultural preservation, and the importance of local context to management of ecotourism. The social dimension of gender, while not explicit in Honey’s framework, was also seen to be a key analytical category for community-based ecotourism and sustainable development.

TRAVEL AGENCIES AND TOUR OPERATORS THAT MARKET PAN-AMAZON ECOTOURISM DESTINATIONS: POSITIONING MAMIRAUÁ AND GATHERING INFORMATION FOR AMANÃ.

Travel agencies and tour operators have a role in mediating the marketing of a tourism destination between supplier and end consumer. Knowing the characteristics of such agencies and operators and how they operate is essential for existing community-based tourism (CBT) destinations and for those under planning. Several national and international travel agencies and tour operators market package tours to Uakari Lodge, which is the only place for accommodation and visitation of the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve - SDR Mamirua. In turn, the neighboring Amana Sustainable Development Reserve - SDR Amana is the subject of a study to analyze the feasibility of implementing a community-based ecotourism project. This study investigates the occurrence of Uakari Lodge in tourism distribution channels websites in order to measure how it ranks in these distribution channels, as well as to identify key competitors to Mamiraua. Also were analyzed hereby, the number of guests to Uakari Lodge between 1998 and 2009 as well as the proportion of visitors who bought package tours through travel agencies and operators in this period, thus allowing to identify the most important commercial partners. The 30 most frequent tour operators were considered key informants and they were sent a questionnaire about Amana. The results thereof will help update Mamiraua’s marketing strategy and plan for tourism in Amana.