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Community-Based Ecotourism in Laos: Benefits and Burdens Sharing Among Stakeholders

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Community-Based Ecotourism in Laos: Benefits and Burdens Sharing Among Stakeholders Community-Based Ecotourism in Laos: Benefits and Burdens Sharing among Stakeholders Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor rerum socialium oeconomicarumque (Dr. rer. soc. oec) at BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna. Prepared in the framework of the Doctoral School of Sustainable Development II (dokNE II) by Kiengkay Ounmany Vienna, October 2014 Supervisor ao. Univ. Prof. Dr. Andreas Muhar Institute for Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning, BOKU Vienna Co-supervisor ao. Univ. Prof. Dr. Marianne Penker Institute for Sustainable Economic Development, BOKU Vienna Reviewers Dr. Xavier Font International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism and Hospitality, Leeds Beckett University, UK Prof. Dr. Boike Rehbein Institut für Asien- und Afrikawissenschaften, Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin This thesis is dedicated to my father, Chanh Ounmany 1939-2013, who could not wait to see it. Acknowledgement I have insatiable desire for new knowledge and the desire is always moving forward. When I was studying at a high school, I told myself that the highest scholarly objective of mine was earning a master degree. After completing an MBA in 2007, my goal shifted upward. My dream was undertaking a doctoral study. Now my dream comes true, but this does not imply that I will quit searching for new knowledge. Rather completing the PhD study is a starting point for me to enter a full scientific career. There are a number of organizations and individuals, who contributed to realize my dream. Foremost I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Erasmus Mundus EURASIA 2 for funding this research. Three years of studying in Europe is the most fruitful time of my life. The study programme enhanced my scientific knowledge as well as developed professionalism, which allow me to work better in sciences and with other stakeholders outside academia. I believe that I have contributed to the fulfillment of the Erasmus Mundus EURASIA 2’s objective of ‘promotion of the European system of higher education worldwide’ since the beginning of the programme. The research would not be realized without guidance and support from my advisory team, ao. Univ. Prof. Dr. Andreas Muhar, the supervisor and ao. Univ. Prof. Dr. Marianne Penker, the co-supervisor. I would like to express sincere thanks to Andreas who provided careful guidance throughout the whole period of the research. In particular, Andreas trekked more than four hours up and down hills to instruct me during the interviews in the communities in Nam Ha NPA in Laos. Special thanks go to Marianne for continuous feedback and comments during a series of long meetings. Importantly Marianne introduced me to the concept of Common Pool Resources and the Institutional Analysis Development (IAD) framework, which laid solid foundation for this research and further studies in the future. I would like to thank the Doctoral School of Sustainable Development and the Institute of Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning, both at BOKU Vienna, for providing excellent research facilities. Special thanks also go to the fellow students at the doctoral school for assistance and great friendship. I feel like at home throughout the period of the research. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Xavier Font and Prof. Dr. Boike Rehbein, two external reviewers, who sacrificed valuable time to read the monograph, despite a short period of time. The research received additional financial support from New Zealand Aid in Laos to organize two stakeholder seminars in Luang Namtha and Ban Na. These settings allowed me to coproduce knowledge with various stakeholders, especially local residents, to solve complex problems, which involve a large number of people with different interests. iii Special thanks go to the following individuals and organizations: Mr. Soun Manyvong, Mr. Thaviphet Oula, Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism; Ms. Acksonsay Rattanavong, New Zealand Aid; Ms. Phongsith Davadeung, Sustainable Tourism Development Project; Mr. Souksan Pakasy, Mr. Sivilay Pankeo, Louang Namtha Department of Information, Culture and Tourism; Mr. Saikham Panyanouvong, Bolikhamsay Department of Information, Culture and Tourism; Dr. Klaus Schwettmann, Green Discovery Laos, Ms. Phouangmaly Southivong, Faculty of Social Sciences, National University of Laos. The research also involved a large numbers of people and organizations, whose names could not be mentioned here. Without this support, the research would be difficult to accomplish. Finally, thank you my beloved family members for love and inspiration and, who always encourage me to do more. Vienna, October 2014 Kiengkay Ounmany iv Abstract Ecotourism has been promoted as a tool for economic development and nature conservation in remote areas, yet successful project are rare. The aim of this research was to examine benefits and burdens sharing among ecotourism stakeholders and how ecotourism contributes to nature conservation in two protected areas in Laos. The research was conducted in three villages in the Nam Ha National Protected Area, Luang Namtha Province, and in two villages, located in the vicinity of the Phou Khao Khouay National Protected Area, Bolikhamsay Province. Mixed case study research methods were applied in the study. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using techniques such as participant observation, semi-structured interviews, life history interviews, questionnaire surveys, and stakeholder seminars. From the analysis of the two cases, this study argues that the participation of local people ensures the long-term operation of ecotourism enterprises. By allowing local people to control the design of the rules of the game of ecotourism development, local communities manage to make more benefits from tourism, but it is more effective only for better-empowered communities. For disadvantaged communities, donor organizations and the public sector should play facilitating roles to empower the communities to negotiate with actors outside communities. An involvement of the private sector sustains ecotourism operation in the long run, yet the allocation of benefits and burdens between the private sector and local communities must be balanced. The conditions of the protected areas can satisfy visitors’ demand; however, service quality needs improvement. Also tourists voiced concerns over possible negative impacts to local communities. As long as ecotourism generates only a marginal income for the local communities, ecotourism in its current form, might not achieve long term nature conservation objectives, as alternative income options such as rubber plantations might have negative impacts on conservation. Keywords: community-based ecotourism, benefits and burdens sharing, ecotourism stakeholders, Lao National Protected Areas v Zusammenfassung Ökotourismus wird als Instrument für wirtschaftliche Entwicklung und Naturschutz in peripheren Regionen propagiert, erfolgreiche Projekte sind jedoch bisher selten geblieben. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, die Verteilung von Nutzen und Lasten zwischen Stakeholdern sowie den Beitrag von Ökotourismus zum Naturschutz in zwei Naturschutzgebieten in Laos zu untersuchen. Die Studie wurde in drei Dörfern im staatlichen Naturschutzgebiet Nam Ha in der Provinz Luang Namtha und in zwei Dörfern in der Nähe des staatlichen Naturschutzgebietes Phou Khao Khouay in der Provinz Bolikhamsay durchgeführt. Die Analyse dieser Fallstudien stützt sich auf ein Mixed Methods Design. Mittels teilnehmender Beobachtung, teilstrukturierter ExpertInnen- Interviews, biographischer Interviews und quantitativer Befragungen der Bevölkerung sowie Stakeholderseminaren wurden qualitative und quantitative Daten erhoben. Die Analyse der beiden Fallstudien zeigt, dass durch die Partizipation Einheimischer ein langfristiger Betrieb von Ökotourismus-Projekten gewährleistet werden kann. Wird der Lokalbevölkerung die Möglichkeit gegeben, die Entwicklung von Ökotourismus selbst zu bestimmen, so können vor allem Dorfgemeinschaften, welche aufgrund ihres Bildungsniveaus und anderer Ressourcen stärker befähigt sind, vom Tourismus profitieren. Für benachteiligte Gemeinschaften müssen Entwicklungsorganisationen sowie die öffentliche Hand in Verhandlungen mit außenstehenden Akteuren eine unterstützende Funktion übernehmen. Die Einbindung des privaten Sektors erhält den Ökotourismus- Betrieb langfristig, sofern die Verteilung von Nutzen und Lasten zwischen den Dorfgemeinschaften und privaten Unternehmen ausgewogen ist. Die Beschaffenheit der Naturschutzgebiete entspricht der Nachfrage der Besucher, auch wenn hinsichtlich der Dienstleistungsqualität noch Verbesserungsbedarf besteht. Touristen äußerten außerdem Bedenken hinsichtlich möglicher negativer Folgen für die örtlichen Gemeinschaften. So lange der Ökotourismus lediglich einen marginalen Teil des Einkommens der Dorfgemeinschaften darstellt, kann er in seiner derzeitigen Form nicht zu den Zielen eines dauerhaften Naturschutzes beitragen, da alternative Einkommensmöglichkeiten wie Gummiplantagen negative Auswirkungen haben könnten. Stichworte: gemeinschaftsbasierter Ökotourismus, Verteilung von Kosten und Nutzen, Ökotourismus Stakeholder, Naturschutzgebiete in Laos vi Table of Contents Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................................... iii Abstract.........................................................................................................................................
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