Linkages among biodiversity, livelihood, and tourism

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among biodiversity conservation, livelihood improvements, and tourism development using the appreciative inquiry approach as a research tool. The research was conducted in three different buffer-zone communities representing different levels of tourism development around Chitwan National Park, Nepal. The results indicate that tourism helps change local people’s attitudes toward the conservation of biodiversity and reduce people’s dependence on natural resources. Tourism, particularly small-scale and locally owned ecotourism ventures, is also identified as a tool to enhance the livelihoods of people around protected areas. The linkages, however, vary with the level of tourism development. This study also developed a framework to help understand these linkages.

► Tourism helps change local people’s attitudes toward conservation.
► The degree of linkages varies based on the stage of tourism development.
► Tourism can be a tool to improve the linkages between conservation and livelihood.