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 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 book, 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. 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. 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.

Wayne A. Babchuk is professor in the Quantitative, Qualitative, and Psychometric Methods (QQPM) program in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Robert K. Hitchcock is professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico.