Nature-based tourism impacts in I-Lan, Taiwan: Business managers' perceptions

Nature-based tourism (NBT) is an emerging industry in Taiwan. In Taiwan's export-import oriented economy, I-Lan County has served as a leader---promoting NBT since the 1980s. Based on I'Lan's experience in NBT, this dissertation reports on research that examines the tourism business owners' perceptions of the social, economic, and environmental impacts nature-based tourism has had on I-Lan County. The framework of this study uses social exchange theory to examine perceptions of costs/benefits.; Data were collected in fall, 2005 (N=286), from fifteen types of business managers in I-Lan County. Perceptions of NBT impacts were assessed through examination of participants' socio-demographic characteristics and type and level of involvement in tourism planning.; Results indicate that 83% of respondents were raised in I-Lan and 41% operated their business between 2 to 6 years. Most business owners reported that NBT had a moderate impact on their business---contributing approximately 30% of their annual sales and 31% of customers. Participants believed benefits to the social/cultural environment were the most apparent impact in I-Lan, followed by environment and economic benefits. Environmental, social/cultural and economic costs were not considered major problems. Neither gender nor education related to participants' perception of impacts, but participants who were raised in I-Lan rated economic costs higher than newer residents.; The findings show that social/cultural benefits are the most apparent in I-Lan and these perceptions were likely shaped by I-Lan's strong commitment to NBT over the last several decades. The reviving of cultural identity and cultural recognition in the region symbolizes the struggle of local culture versus the dominant Chinese culture, which has been the mainstream culture in Taiwan since 1950s.; Another major finding in this study is that participants' perceptions of the government are more important in determining perceptions of benefits than actual interaction with the government. It indicates that the county government might change its role from top-down decision-making style to co-partnering with local business people. The county can also alleviate its own financial burden by releasing some of its tourism activities to private sectors and use private sector resources for sustainable nature-based tourism development in I-Lan.; Results show that with a better understanding of business owners' perceived impacts, county tourism planners can improve the collaborative management of nature-based tourism in I-Lan.