Low Impact Tourism: Sustaining Indigenous Natural Resource Management andDiversifying Economic Development in Botswana

摘要

Low-impact tourism (LIT) focuses on establishing indigenous natural resourcemanagement through private sector investment in a rural village-based tourism business infrastructure and on training villagers and rural area dwellers to take part in the tourism business. The document examines the potential for developing LIT in Botswana, where activities would center around management of the country's abundant wildlife. The report concludes that the Government of Botswana could see an 82% increase in potential revenues from tourism in 1992 and rural Botswana could realize at least a ten-fold increase in tourist revenues from a regulated industry based on the LIT model. Government revenues would be made available to villagers through a revolving fund with payments proportional to the number of tourists that visit each region. Private sector revenues would reach villages through charges for inns, lodges, or village businesses; direct collection of user fees; investment in and direct sales of crafts, food, or services; and profit-sharing equity. Guidelines for developing demand for LIT are provided.