What does ecotourism mean for indigenous people?
Ecotourism is aimed at striking a balance with local peoples whose way of life may be affected by tourism and tourist infrastructures. On one hand, there is a need to involve indigenous people to ensure that their rights are respected, that they share in economic rewards (if they so desire), and they ultimately consent to having travelers visit their region. On the other hand, there is a need to preserve existing cultures, ensuring that tourism does not disrupt local life, exploit the people or tokenize their culture.
