Ethnotourism in News

Ethnotourism

Summary Tourism, conservation and farmers Possibilities and limitations of ecotourism promotion in livelihood systems 1. Developing countries have high expectations of the boom in worldwide tourism. The term ecotourism is used all over the world, but it is often used inconsistently and is identified with nature and adventure tourism. Ecotourism is different from nature tourism, which traditionally consumes many resources, in that it aims to have as little effect as possible on the local culture and the ambient environment of the holiday resort. Also, it aims to contribute to the improvement of the incomes of the local population and to the financing of the protected areas. Many forest reserves are the habitat for indigenous ethnic groups. Their social and cultural identity is the centre of attraction for ethnic tourism. 2. Ecotourism is one option to diversify the sustainable uses of tropical forest reserves and their buffer zones. Its effect on development is amplified if tourists demand locally produced goods and services from agriculture and small industries. There is a need to promote both these areas. 3. The demand for "hard-core" ecotourism seems to be limited. Therefore it often only generates seasonal, unskilled jobs for the local population. The social and cultural impacts of tourism can be serious, and they are difficult to control. 4. Clearly defined ownership and land rights, a stable social organisation and the acceptance of private initiatives within the rural sections of the population are good preconditions for the promotion of ecotourism. Planning of tourism at the national level and control by institutions for nature conservation are necessary prerequisites. 5. Village-level organisational development, consultation during the course of negotiations, safeguarding of common laws and functions to preserve resources of the villages are to be taken into account when supporting the promotion of ecotourism. To enable the local population to provide services, advisory services and education might be necessary. Complementary activities (farming, small industries) should be coordinated, promoted by corresponding advisory services and secured by negotiated trade conditions. Legal and political frameworks have to be validated on a national level. 6. A participative strategy development in five working steps is suggested. The potential for tourism is jointly assessed with stakeholder vi Tourism organisations, implementation partners and the local population. How this potential will be used as well as the distribution of rights and duties are negotiated. Consultation processes should happen before and during these negotiations within and between the villages involved. Also the roles must be clarified between tourism enterprises and projects. Negotiation and planning, implementation, evaluation and new planning mesh together in learning processes. The results of these processes should be discussed extensively. 7. The promotion of ecotourism has to be integrated into the strategies of regional and sectoral development. If there are too high expectations at the local level, "smaller solutions" will be rejected because of frustration. The promotion of ecotourism can be a balancing act between contradictory targets of the various partners and places high demands on the skills of moderation, negotiation and consultancy of the employees and partners of a project. Baca Lengkapnya Disini : www.turismrural.ro/pdf/EcoTourism.pdf