Community-based Ecotourism Research Articles

Challenges and Prospects of Community Based Eco-Tourism in Maichew Cluster, a Case of Ofla Woreda

The main objective of this study was to assess the challenges and prospects of community-based ecotourism in the Maichew cluster, a case of Ofla woreda. Community based eco-tourism has become rapidly the most fundamental in-strument to meet sustainable tourism and livelihood option demand across the world at large and Developing Countries in particular. In order to achieve the objective of the study, both primary and secondary data were generated by employing qualitative (using case study, focus group discussion, in depth interview and on spot observation) and quantitative (mainly using household survey and visitor survey questionnaires) methods. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 3 CBET sites and 90 sample households respectively. The quantitative data was analyzed using fre-quency, percentage and mean when appropriate while qualitative data was used to triangulate and substantiate the study. The research investigated the challenges for developing CBET in the study area. On the other hand, the study also identified several potentials of CBET in the study area. In addition, the issues for empowering community based eco-tourism in terms of economical, social, political any psychological empowerment was identified. The result of the study reveals that several challenges for empowering community based tourism in the study area, Low level of knowledge, interest and perception of local community towards CBET; the resource ownership questions like land; capacity problems of the MCs and local level government office staff; lack of legal registration of CTEs; conflicting policies and legislations; communities expectation for immediate financial benefits; quality and standard of products and services; lack of cooperation among stakeholders; emerging challenges on marketing and booking; etc. However, several opportunities like strategic location of the sites, change of local attitude toward CBET, hospitality of local community, the potential tourism resources of the area, successful efforts on marketing and promotion, etc. are identified as a positive factor for CBETE. The issues of CE process is in its infant stage despite local communities showed high interest levels to involve in identifying problems, management, decision-making, problem solving, equitable benefit sharing and tourism operation. Thus, economical, social, political and psychological empowerments of community are not well practiced. To conclude, even if community empowerment can play central role to achieve sustainable tourism development and livelihood option, the process is very limited and in its infant stage in terms of economical, social, political and psychological empowerments.

Opportunities and Challenges for Multi-Level-Stakeholder Participation in Community-Based Ecotourism Development: The Case of the Boabeng- Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Ghana

Opportunities and Challenges for Multi-Level-Stakeholder Participation in Community-Based Ecotourism Development: The Case of the Boabeng- Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, Ghana

Host learning in community-based ecotourism in Nepal: The case of Sirubari and Ghalegaun homestays

This study investigated host learning in two community-based ecotourism homestay villages in Nepal's mountain trekking region. Homestays are an intense visitor-host contact zone, rich in learning, and important to the success of ecotourism projects. This was an interpretive case study used to interpret and test Billet's (2014) theory of workplace learning, and offer insights into a new area of inquiry in tourism studies. This theoretical lens captured the complex, contextually-based curricular, pedagogical and epistemological practices of host learning in ecotourism homestays. Findings identified a homestay “hosting curriculum” comprising: (a) environmental cleanliness, sanitation and conservation; (b) the valuing of local culture; and (c) homestay management. The study showed the complex dimensions of host learning in a time of cultural, economic and social change occurring in both villages, and how local hosts adapted their beliefs, tourism practices and identities in response to these changes.

Any Way to our Huilan Home: Building the Suhua Freeway or taking the Bali detour?

This paper explores the dynamic relationships between landscape identities and economic developments in the remote Huilan of Taiwan. Since 1990, locals and environmental groups have been battling over the proposed Suhua Freeway connecting Huilan and other cities. Through qualitative methods, it examines how locals perceive the potential ecological and cultural impacts of the freeway's construction and analyzes Bali's community-based ecotourism as examples for Huilan's own economic development. It concludes that local Huilanese should consider the small-scale eco-tourism model as an option in future economic development.

Potentials and Opportunities of Community Tourism Venture in the Wof- Washa Dry Afromontane Hotspot Forest, North Shewa Administrative Zone, Ethiopia

The Wof-Washa Dry Afromontane Hotspot Forest is one of the oldest proclaimed state forests in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The forest is endowed with mosaic of landscapes, natural and plantation forests, mosaic of cultures and traditions, the presence of historical site in the vicinity, variety of bird species, and the presence of different wild mammal species including the large body-sizedendemic gelada and Menelik’s bushbuck. All of these are top tourist attractions in the area. However, the forest is under serious human-and livestock-induced pressure that threatens the status of the natural biodiversity. The objective of this paper was to explore potentials and opportunities of community tourism venture in the Wof-Washa Dry Afromontane Hotspot Forest.To introduce and promote community-based ecotourism in the Wof-Washa Dry Afromontane Hotspot Forest, SUNARMA (i.e. Sustianable Natural Resources Management Association) has built tourist campsites at four different sites (namely: Kundi, Goshu-Meda, Mescha, and Liq-Marefya). Since Septermber 2017, domestic and foreign (i.e. international) tourists have started visiting the forest. For example, a total of 243 tourists so far visited the forest and about 97,386 ETB (i.e. equivalent to $ 3,536.91) was collected as a revenue from the visitng tourists. As per the agreement, the revenue was equally distributed to all members who belonged to the four community-based ecotourism cooperatives found around the forest. This suggests that introducing and promoting community-based conservation efforts that allow communities to derive economic benefits from ecotourism enhance forest conservation while at the same time providing an optimal solution to resource use conflicts. Ecotourism activity can also improve and diversify the incomes of the local people through creating job opportunities, such as tourist guiding services, souvenir selling, and horse renting all of which can help make community-based ecotourism economically viable in the Wof-Washa Dry Afromontane Hotspot Fores

Comparative Study on the Characteristics of Community-Based Tourism between Pentingsari and Nglanggeran Tourism Village, Special Region Yogyakarta

Community-based tourism is one of the tourism development models that effectively used as a tool to alleviate poverty through empowerment strategy of the local community. Nevertheless, many people do not have adequate understanding on the characteristics of community-based tourism, which are used as a determinant in the tourism development. This article describes the comparison on characteristics of community-based tourism between Pentingsari and Nglanggeran. These villages were chosen because Pentingsari was a tourism village that able to apply the principles ethical codes of world tourism, shown by an award from the World Committee on Tourism Ethics Code and Nglanggeran was awarded as Best Tourism Village award in Indonesia from ASEAN Community Based Tourism Award 2017.The objectives of this study is to explore the characteristics of community-based tourism applied in the Pentingsari and Nglanggeran, and to identify any indicators that could be used to indicate those characteristics. The research achieves through in-depth interviews, observation, and review of documents. There were 17 persons as informants. Further, the observation was reached by directly observing in the both study cases. In addition, the data obtained through the review of secondary data from the local manager of tourism village. Generally, Pentingsari has characteristics as a community-based rural tourism, while Nglanggeran has characteristics as community-based ecotourism.

Consequences of Ecotourism in Nepal

Ecotourism focuses on ecological resource, environmental conservation, community development and economic development by maintaining low-impact and non-consumptive use of local resources. Various forms of ecotourism have emerged globally, including community-based ecotourism, ecosystem ecotourism, cultural ecotourism, nature-based ecotourism, protected area ecotourism, and rural ecotourism. Ecotourism, which prioritizes the conservation of natural resources, biodiversity, and the sustainability of ecosystems, yields more positive impacts on the environment, society, and culture than negative ones. It fosters social cohesion and mobility, strengthens traditional cultures and hospitality, and mitigates political conflicts. Economically, it generates direct employment in hospitality sectors like hotels, lodges, and tourist restaurants, playing a crucial role in the development strategies of many nations, particularly those in the process of development. For instance, in Nepal, ecotourism contributes significantly to enhancing forest cover, biodiversity, and other environmental benefits such as alternative energy sources. Moreover, it plays a pivotal role in poverty alleviation, rural development, agricultural transformation, community enrichment, and empowering women. However, during the initial stages of ecotourism development, challenges may arise in engaging adequate private agencies and local communities in providing accommodations, food services, tour management, and other tourism activities, especially during peak visitation periods. This study focused to the study of ecotourism in Nepal and its impacts on different sectors of the Nepalese society.

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.

Community-Based Ecotourism Management: The Case of a Cooperative in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico

AbstractNature-based ecotourism has been a growing trend, especially in rural areas where balance with the environment is desirable and it turns into a driver for economic and social development. An ecotourism cooperative operating in the “El Verde Camacho” Sanctuary, is an example of collaborative work between the government experts and the community. The cooperative was created with the support of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP, in Spanish Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas), developed and funded by this government office, it involved the advice of experts in ecology as well as cooperative’s management and residents of “El Recreo” community. This study aims to describe the involvement process and community management as well as the benefits derived from ecotourism according to the reviewed literature; a case study with a qualitative approach was defined in the Sanctuary in this regard. Semi-structured interviews were used to discover community members’ perception of management involvement and benefits of ecotourism. The findings show positive opinions of community residents.

ASSESSING THE EXECUTIVE SUCCESS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY-BASED ECOTOURISM PROJECTS: A CASE STUDY OF MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY (MNS) WITHIN ORANG ASLI COMMUNITY AT ULU GEROH VILLAGE, GOPENG, MALAYSIA

Many Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have been participating in ecotourism development with their own agenda, especially where tourism is linked with local communities and the environment. Community-Based Ecotourism (CBET) considers not only environmental but also economic and social goals. This study assumes that NGOs focus more on environmental conservation rather than other aspects of CBET while implementing CBET projects for rural communities. To this end, the aim of the study is to assess the success and shortcomings of NGOs in executing CBET projects by performing an inclusive research on the performance of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) as the main NGO implemented the CBET project for Orang Asli community at Ulu Geroh village using the triangulation method. Considering all aspects of CBET is the best way to distinguish and implement it; therefore, it is essential to recognize the indicators forming CBET. Regarding literature review, 63 tentative CBET indicators under 6 main criteria were established following the Delphi technique to solicit expert opinion on the most essential indicators for CBET to succeed. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was subsequently applied to rank the 6 main CBET criteria which emphasized the importance of other CBET aspects over environmental aspect. However,  the findings from fieldwork proved the basic assumption of this study by demonstrating that environmental conservation dimension has been given greater emphasis since other CBET dimensions have been restricted.

MANGROVE PADDLE-BOAT ECOTOURISM: CONSERVING CENTURY-OLD GROWTH FOREST AT CABAYUGAN, PUERTO PRINCESA CITY

Community-based ecotourism (CBET) has emerged as a popular tool for biodiversity conservation. The Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour (MPBT), a CBET located in the village of Sabang, Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa City, is a strategy to protect and conserve the century-old mangrove forest along the Cabayugan River, which is part of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) reservation.

Performance evaluation of community-based ecotourism: a case study in Satun province, Thailand

ABSTRACTThe objective of the study reported in this paper was to assess the performance of community-based ecotourism (CBET) management at tourist destinations in Thailand. The importance-performance analysis method was applied to evaluate tourists’ perceptions of the importance and performance of CBET management in Satun province. Analysis was based on data collected using a questionnaire administered to a sample of 530 visitors. Semi-structured and focus group interviews were also used to collect data from various key informants: executives of government agencies, local administrators, leaders of networks of community-based tourism, experts in tourism management, and local residents regarding four dimensions of ecotourism management: environmental area, management, activities and learning processes, and stakeholder participation. The findings indicate that the tourist destinations in the areas have an abundance of natural attractions and cultural traditions relating to the local Muslim lifestyle which have the potential to be exploited under CBET. However, a number of important aspects needed to be improved including management and participation. Additionally, it is necessary to enhance the economic benefits of local stakeholders which would encourage natural conservation and the participation of local communities in CBET management.

Capturing Tourists’ Preferences for the Management of Community-Based Ecotourism in a Forest Park

The development of community ecotourism will require the integration of experience, culture, and information for management decision-making. We use a choice experiment to build a community ecotourism preference model incorporating aspects of profound experience and economics in a forest park, test the tourists’ heterogeneity by using a random parameter logit model, and estimate the values of various community ecotourism programs. The empirical results reveal that: (1) Tourists’ preferences for community ecotourism will increase with the inclusion of a mini tour, experiential activities, and the opportunities to taste local dishes and stay at a distinctive bed & breakfast (B&B); (2) The variety of tourists’ social backgrounds and recreational experiences resulted in the heterogeneity of the attributes; (3) The best combinations regarding community ecotourism were a small group size, profound or in-depth experiences, and experiential activities in a forest park. This pilot study generates useful information by demonstrating possible community ecotourism programs in the forest park, along with suggestions for a quality improvement program.

Challenges of Biopiracy: Implementing Community Based Eco-tourism (CBET) in the Sri Lankan context

Protecting the right of the local community/country to use their own genetic resources available in a particular area is an important element of environmental and biodiversity conservation. However, one of the main biodiversity conservation challenges in Southern peripheral countries is biopiracy. Community based ecotourism (CBET) is a well-established concept and its implementation is an important component for many regional development strategies. This research argues that though CBET which originated as a Western concept was successfully applied in number of projects, it generates biopiracy challenges in its implementation since CBET operates within different geo-political, economic and cultural contexts. This research examines such challenges in CBET initiatives in the Sinharaja world heritage site, Sri Lanka. A qualitative-inductive research methodology has principally guided this research to examine the socio-cultural, socio-economic and geo-political context of biopiracy issues. A total of 293 participants have informed this research including 193 interviews (115 individuals, and 15 different focus-groups totalling 78 people) and 100 questionnaire respondents. A critical discourse analysis (CDA) method is used to examine both primary qualitative data collected through participant and direct observation, interviews and secondary data. One of the main findings is that despite plans being developed at a community level, in wider context, biopiracy challenges related to superimpose capitalism contest the CBET ideologies. Superimposed capitalism results in individualistic and competitive behaviours that undermine collaborative and responsible community approach. Presently, smuggling out of Wallapatta plant (Gyrinops walla) and gathering Spotted towfinger gecko (Cyrtodactylus triedra) an endemic nocturnal reptile species, have become profitable in Sinharaja world heritage site and a growing number of biopirates venture into here. Local community of this site take risks in forest genetic resources smuggling because it provides them with the means of earning much money within a short period. Regardless of all prevalent laws and regulations against bioprospecting, biopiracy, biological resource and wildlife smuggling, authorities have still failed to control these activities in this site because of the support given to bio-pirates by the local community. The research concludes that CBET is an appropriate pathway for tourism development in Sri Lanka but recognition of biopiracy issues associated with superimposed capitalism is required and needed to be addressed. A well-defined monitoring system and an effective legal framework to control adverse effects are important for achieving CBET goals while confronting biopiracy. Keywords: Biopiracy, Community based eco-tourism, Superimposed capitalism

Potential of Ecological Resources and Ecotourism Destination Management: A Case Study in Koh-Mak Community, Southern Thailand

Conserving the biodiversity richness is the paramount of the development of sustainable ecotourism and destination management. In Southern Thailand, Koh-Mak Community is one of well-known ecotourism destinations within Phayun District within Phattalung Province. Local people livelihoods in Koh-Mak community based on the quantity and quality of fishery and agriculture production including their community-based ecotourism (CBE) ventures. This study aimed to assess the potential of ecological resources within the Koh-Mak ecotourism destinations for providing the practical guidelines of the sustainable ecotourism practices. The mixed research methods were applied in this study by using questionnaires by quota sampling of the total 337 research participants with semi-structured questions for obtaining their opinion of CBE ventures, and using the potential assessment and weighting score equation for evaluating the contributory factors of ecological resources. Researchers found that the consistency willingness of local community engagement in CBE ventures is a vital key of sustainable tourism development in long-term. The results of potential assessment shown that the Koh Mak community areas held the total biodiversity richness at 3.4, which is consisted of the highest value of aquatic ecological resources at 4.4, local vegetation species at 4, and the aquatic bird species at 3.7 by respectively. Community leader suggested that the needs of CBE improvement are reliability collaboration management and equity benefit sharing among the related stakeholders and Koh Mak community members. Community members also recommended that the establishment of the newly ecotourism routes have to consider the continuity of the sustainable management practices to maintain the potential ecological resource as well as conserve their traditional knowledge of fishery and local cultures. Therefore, the continuity of good governance is needed to develop the existing CBE ventures towards the sustainable development.

Young Farmers’ Perceptions about Forest Management for Ecotourism as an Alternative for Development, in Puebla, Mexico

The incorporation of young farmers’ perceptions about ecotourism is important for decision-making. This was an exploratory and descriptive research project aimed at understanding young farmers’ views of a community-based ecotourism (CBE) project. Q methodology was used on a population of young adult farmers, of a small community in the state of Puebla. Three factors reflected their views: There was a group of people who wish to stay in Mexico to pursue the ecotourism project, but lack capabilities. A second group included young farmers who perceive ecotourism as a conservation project, but want to migrate to the United States. The third group was composed of people who envision ecotourism as a source of income for the community’s women. The analysis elicited an important inquiry in relation to environmental inter-generation: what kind of development are future generations pursuing?

Benefits and Challenges of Community-Based Ecotourism in Park-Fringe Communities: The Case of Mesomagor of Kakum National Park, Ghana

Community-based ecotourism (CBE) is seen as a viable model for achieving conservation and improved livelihoods for park-fringe communities. In view of that, many communities in Ghana, including Mesomagor, have embraced the concept. Yet, most studies have employed quantitative methods and failed to examine the challenges of community participation in ecotourism development. Therefore, this study employed qualitative methods to analyze the benefits and challenges of CBE in the Mesomagor community of the Kakum National Park. This involved key informant interviews of 15 stakeholders using a semistructured interview guide. The results of the study show that though the community had made some modest economic gains, especially in infrastructural development, the project was confronted with a number of challenges including apathy towards participation, limited employment and revenue-sharing opportunities, lack of local capacity to manage the project, and destruction of farms by stray elephants from the park.

DISCOVERY OF A POTENTIAL SITE FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM IN THE SUNDARBANS RESERVE FORESTS, BANGLADESH

Abstract Conservation of biological diversity is a pressing need and protected areas are the cornerstones for conserving remaining flora and fauna. However, forest dependent livelihood in countries like Bangladesh making this task very critical. In the case of the poor and forest-dependent livelihood in the Sundarbans area of Bangladesh, an eco-friendly ecotourism may provide an alternative livelihood, which may reduce the overexploitation from the valuable Sundarbans forest ecosystems. Furthermore, this initiative may also serve to aware people on the value of this unique ecosystems. Therefore, this study discusses the scope, benefits and challenges for developing sustainable ecotourism within the protected area. It focuses on the development of a potential site for sustainable ecotourism inside the Sundarbans Reserve Forest. Developing sustainable tourism spots inside the wildlife hub has a high demand among tourists and it is also necessary for the socio-economic development of the local community, moreover, the approach of community-based ecotourism (CBEM) is a suitable strategy for conservation of protected areas.

Challenges in Developing Ecotourism in The Region of Lake Sentani Papua

The concept of community-based ecotourism is one of the sustainable development concepts suitable to be applied to traditional regions with nature tourism potential. Differences in culture between traditional communities and the outside world are not an obstacle in developing the region because with their local wisdom traditional communities can participate in protecting and managing their natural surrounding and at the same time become an attraction for other communities. However, outside societies can influence the culture of the traditional communities that originally tends to be oriented on biocentrism to shift towards anthropocentrism. This can eventually hamper the continuity of ecotourism development. This can be seen from the traditional communities at Lake Sentani, the case study of the author. The study is based on literature and secondary data and used descriptive analysis. The traditional communities of Sentani do not yet fully participate in the development of tourism in its surroundings. Their involvement in tourism development is more focused on ceremonial activities such as can be seen at the Lake Sentani Festival which is organized every year by the government. Besides this, after coming into contact with modern life the traditional communities of Lake Sentani rarely perform their daily activities based on local wisdom aimed at natural conservation of the lake. The development of urban areas in the surroundings also influences changes in land use in the Lake Sentani region which then causes among others erosion, sedimentation, and pollution of the lake water. Socio-economic and cultural changes in the traditional communities of Sentani and the growth of development also contribute towards ecological change in the area of Lake Sentani, the place they live in.

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.