How do you know it when you see it? Community-based ecotourism in the Cardamom Mountains of southwestern Cambodia

In this case study of a community-based ecotourism project in the rainforest of southwestern Cambodia, Honey’s (2008) analytical framework for “authentic” ecotourism is applied to examine the social dimensions of sustainable ecotourism. Following a discussion of the meaning of ecotourism in the literature and an overview of ecotourism in Cambodia, the study site, research methodology and findings are presented. In this exploratory case study, qualitative research methods included participant observation, interviews, focus groups and analysis of project documents. Findings for each of Honey’s seven analytical categories showed the complexity of community-based ecotourism in addressing often contradictory concerns of environmental conservation, local livelihood, and cultural preservation, and the importance of local context to management of ecotourism. The social dimension of gender, while not explicit in Honey’s framework, was also seen to be a key analytical category for community-based ecotourism and sustainable development.

► Applies Honey’s (2008) analytical framework to community ecotourism project in Cambodia. ► Examines complexity of environmental conservation, livelihood and cultural preservation. ► Social factors and local context for ecotourism are important for ecotourism management. ► Gender analysis is additional analytical category important to sustainable development.