Community-based Ecotourism Development: An Empirical Analysis of Latin American Cases [通常講演]
Naotaka Hirami
Second Trilateral Symposium on SDGs 2023年08月 口頭発表(一般) Kagawa University Kagawa University
The tourism industry, accounting for approximately 10% of the global GDP and population, significantly influences people and nature worldwide. The growing emphasis on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has increased expectations for the tourism industry's contribution to SDGs No.1 (No poverty), No.11 (Sustainable cities and communities), No.13 (Climate Action), and No.15 (Life on land). Consequently, a shift from conventional mass tourism to sustainable and responsible tourism is evident, with community-based eco-tourism (CBET) gaining prominence.
Although CBET aims at regional development, its growth is inconsistent. Various factors contribute to or hinder its progression, indicating an underlying mechanism driving its progression. This paper seeks to identify factors driving local communities to establish successful CBET initiatives by reviewing previous studies, clarifying CBET's position, and defining the research question: "What factors drive local community members to form successful CBET?"
Subsequently, the author formulates a hypothesis based on this question and investigates it through field research focusing on Latin American countries. This approach aims to reveal the critical factors shaping CBET development and offer insights into the practical implications and potential benefits for communities and the broader tourism industry in achieving sustainability and fostering economic growth.