Financial Benefits and Income Distribution of Community-based Tourism: Nammat Kao and Nammat Mai, Lao PDF, Journal of GMS Development Studies, Vol. 3, pp. 57-68
Oula, Thavipheth | July 2006
Abstract
A survey, covering October–December 2002, was made of the sources and distribution of income and its expenditure in two remote villages, Nammat Kao and Nammat Mai, that operate ecotourism activities in the Nam Ha National Protected Area in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic northwestern province of Luang Namtha. The villages offer three-day trekking tours in the protected area. Ecotourism formed a significant proportion of total income, mainly from guiding services, accommodation, food, and selling handicrafts. Ecotourism income was skewed, however, with the wealthiest households taking the majority of the revenue, resulting in Gini Coefficients of 0.41 and 0.35 for Nammat Kao and Nammat Mai, respectively. There seemed to be no adverse cultural effects of ecotourism. Recommendations include involving villagers in all tourism planning, monitoring and evaluating tourism activities, and determining the tourism carrying capacity of the area to avoid environmental damage. Ways to improve ecotourism income distribution among villagers are also suggested
Citation
Oula, Thavipheth. 2006. Financial Benefits and Income Distribution of Community-based Tourism: Nammat Kao and Nammat Mai, Lao PDF, Journal of GMS Development Studies, Vol. 3, pp. 57-68. © Asian Development Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/11540/1740. License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.Citable URI
http://hdl.handle.net/11540/1740Metadata
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