Ecotourism Impacts on Indigenous Peoples

Ecotourism, defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people, has become one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The impacts of ecotourism, both positive and negative, on people in virtually every part of the planet are particularly true for Indigenous people. Indigenous people are found in over half of the world's countries and their cultures, customs, traditions, identities, and natural resource management systems are of great interest to scientists, tourists, and travelers. Many indigenous peoples reside in conservation hotspots and places with high biological biodiversity. As shown in this volume, ecotourism has both promises and pitfalls for indigenous peoples, who seek to enhance their livelihoods while conserving the habitats in which they reside and the sacredness of their traditions. Indigenous peoples have in many cases welcomed tourists in order to have access to sources of income and desirable goods. Other groups prefer to avoid tourists and the challenges and difficulties that they fear could be disruptive to their societies. Drawing on cases from South America, North America, Africa, and Asia, Ecotourism Impacts on Indigenous Peoples examines the social, economic, political, and environmental impacts of ecotourism. Attention is paid to such issues as the effects of COVID-19, the impacts of protected area development, and the societal changes that can occur as the numbers of ecotourists expand and contract. A common plea of Indigenous people is that they have greater control over incoming ecotourists and receive more equitable social, economic and cultural benefits from what they recognize as a highly complex industry with significant environmental, economic, and political effects.