Local perspective on community based ecotourism : a case study in Ban Na in Phu Khao Khoay national protected area, Lao PDR : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Management at Massey University, New Zealand
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Date
2011
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Massey University
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Abstract
In 2002 the Lao government adopted a policy for nationwide economic growth based
on the development of tourism as a priority sector. This aims to alleviate poverty
through ecotourism and pro-poor tourism, through community based projects such as
Ban Na community based ecotourism (CBE) project. This research aimed to
investigate factors influencing household involvement in CBE projects in Laos. The
impacts of the project within the village were also identified. To date little research
with this focus has been undertaken in Laos. The findings and recommendations of
this research will provide important information to the Lao Government for the future
development of strategies and initiatives concerning community participation in rural
ecotourism. This is particularly important for Laos as they are in the early stages of
developing their ecotourism industry, especially CBE projects in rural areas. To
achieve this, a single case study was undertaken focusing on Ban Na CBE project
and field data was collected using semi-structured interviews and observations, and
additional secondary sources. Qualitative data analysis methods were used to extract
the key findings.
This research confirmed that CBE has the potential to enhance socio-cultural, socioeconomic
and environmental benefits for rural communities in Laos. In socio-cultural
terms CBE increased household awareness of the value of their traditional culture,
and in socioeconomic terms CBE allowed local households to improve their
livelihoods through financial benefits. The benefits have taken place at both
community and household levels. At the community level, public infrastructure has
been improved such as water supply upgrading. At the household level, households
actively involved have gained direct income from guiding and homestays. The new
source of income has enabled households to improve their housing conditions, to
purchase farm materials and investing in their children’s education. Those
households that have not been actively involved in CBE (that include the very poor)
also benefit from selling local products and through access to the CBE village fund.
CBE has resulted in enhanced conservation outcomes for the protected area. This is
a consequence of increased household awareness of the environment and their
impact on it. However, CBE has also had negative impacts including an increase in
solid wastes and dust and noise associated with the increasing number of tourists.
Findings from this research indicate that the majority of households can benefit from
CBE projects when the management of the project includes rules that limit the level
of participation of any one household, thereby ensuring maximum household
participation and subsequent resulting benefits. In a CBE project, there is no
requirement for all households to be involved in providing services to tourists
because it is not possible for some households to provide the types of service
preferred by tourists. Although, not all households can actively participate in CBE, the
benefits can be accessed by all those in the community. CBE has the potential to
provide benefits across the community to both households who are actively and not
actively involved in the project. This equitable benefit is a result of the CBE project
rules that ensure assistance through the community fund, spread benefits from
actively involved households and ensure those households not actively involved are
able to access benefits.
The findings from this research also illustrate that a local structure such as village
committee can manage and establish rules for CBE projects without support from
outsiders. The committee also has the potential to manage the allocation of benefits
across the community. Further, rules within CBE projects have the potential to assist
long term sustainability and ensure the equitable distribution of benefits throughout
the community.
CBE provides an opportunity for community members with different circumstances to
participate in the project due to the range and nature of ecotourism activities such as
guiding, hosting tourists and producing handicrafts. This is also the case for a
homestay option which offers women an opportunity to be actively involved and gain
direct benefits without leaving their children and household responsibilities. However,
like other community based development projects, poorer households are limited
from being actively involved as a result of lack of facilities, time, labour and lack of
awareness of the rules around the project and potential benefits as well as personal
confidence.
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Keywords
Community development, Community participation, Tourism, Effects of tourism, Laos