Ecotourism, biodiversity conservation and livelihoods: Understanding the convergence and divergence

Abstract

Ecotourism, natural resource conservation, and local livelihood are one of the most talked-about issues globally. It is seen as nature-based tourism that addresses two primary attributes: livelihood improvement and biodiversity conservation. The present study does an integrative literature review on ecotourism to comprehend the varied views by pinpointing the gaps for future research. The study accomplishes the research goal in two ways. First, the descriptive analysis of the research is carried out using a categorization framework containing articles published between 2002 and 2021. Second, content analysis is identified as an observational approach to systematically evaluate resources and thematic analysis is used to address the research questions. The findings demonstrate that, despite variations over the years, the overall publication trend in ecotourism is growing. The majority of ecotourism research is conducted in developing nations and the results show that they are still struggling to manage their resources. The review concludes that there exists insufficient evidence base for the actual functioning of ecotourism. Moreover, a few ecotourism studies have considered the importance of good governance, the role of tour guides, and the impact of psychological, technical, and political factors. The issue of climate change and carbon footprints are further addition to it. The study recommends maximizing the potential benefits of biodiversity conservation with the help of a “coexistence model”, i.e., community-based ecotourism (CBET). Further, measuring the carrying capacity of ecotourism sites and providing vocational training to the unskilled local community will enhance the overall efficiency of the ecotourism sector. Lastly, it would be a step ahead to build proper knowledge about the role of eco-tourist and the use of eco-certification for a successful ecotourism business.