ABSTRACT

Scholars who have addressed issues related to community-based ecotourism have observed that the top-down approach has often resulted in communities having limited power to have their voice heard or exercise choice in its implementation (Sakata and Prideaux, 2013). The empowerment of local communities to make their own decisions on participation is therefore an important issue as it is a key element in the development of locally owned ecotourism businesses (Robbins et al., 1998). In many, but not all (see Chapter 14 of this book), cases communities interested in engaging in ecotourism require assistance from a range of external organisations, including the government, NGOs and importantly the tourism industry, in particular those organisations that promote and sell ecotourism experiences.