Community participation in ecotourism benefits: The link to conservation practices and perspectives

Conservationists have increasingly turned to ecotourism to provide local economic benefits while maintaining ecosystem integrity. Research conducted in Costa Rica to examine models linking conservation and development indicates ecotourism's effectiveness as a conservation strategy has been mixed. Where ecotourism offers a viable economic alternative, tourism opportunities have induced people to abandon cultivated land, allowing forests to regenerate. Employmente in tourism, however, reveals minimal influence on conservation perspectives. Other factors, including indirect tourism benefits and education levels, show stronger associations with conservation behaviors and perspectives. Results also indicate ecotourism might be most effective as a component of a broader conservation strategy.