Ecotourism cultural impact analysis

Ecotourism is one of the fastest growing segments of tourism, and is sometimes situated in the natural settings of the traditional homelands of indigenous peoples. Numerous tourists have visited indigenous ecotourism destinations to appreciate indigenous peoples' unique cultures. Nevertheless, uncertain, unexpected, and undesired cultural impacts may result when tourists and indigenous people directly interact with each other. In addition, ecotourism development that does not respect indigenous values and customs or overexploits may cause undesired cultural impacts and consequently endanger the indigenous culture. Accordingly, it is crucial to understand ecotourism-induced cultural impacts and the mechanisms that work to create cultural impacts from ecotourism. But little research provides explanations for the mechanisms forming ecotourism-induced cultural impacts.;The primary problem of the study was to examine the relationships among acculturation, ecotourism, and cultural impacts to understand the ecotourism acculturation mechanism that shapes ecotourism cultural impacts. A drop-off and pick-up survey was conducted in the Saviki Community for data collection with 321 usable questionnaires (achieved 92.5% response rate). Structural Equation Modeling (using the Mean- and Variance-adjusted Weighted Least Square estimation) was employed to examine the hypotheses of relationships including direct and indirect effects among the five constructs of the study (i.e., cultural self-identification, personal cultural exposure and interaction, perceived positive cultural impact, perceived negative cultural impact, perceived conformity to principles of indigenous ecotourism and ecotourism).;Results showed that residents' cultural self-identification had negative direct and indirect effects on the residents' perceived positive cultural impact. Residents' personal cultural exposure and interaction with tourists had positive direct and indirect effects on the residents' perceived positive cultural impact. Residents' perceived ecotourism development that conformed to indigenous ecotourism and ecotourism principles positively affected the residents' perceived positive cultural impact. Residents' cultural self-identification negatively affected but residents' personal cultural exposure and interaction positively affected the residents' perceived ecotourism development that conformed to indigenous ecotourism and ecotourism principles. These findings contributed to a better understanding of the ecotourism acculturation mechanism that shapes ecotourism cultural impacts, which can be applied when devising management strategies for cultural impact protection in ecotourism destinations.;The study also examined the relationships between the indicators of the degree of acculturation and the indicators (i.e., an assimilation-related indicator, an integration-related indicator) of the definitions of the degree of acculturation. Results revealed that one acculturation indicator, ethnic identity, had a significant and positive relationship to the assimilation-related indicator. Three acculturation indicators (i.e., ethnic identity, music preference, friends' ethnic groups) had a significant and positive relationship to the integration-related indicator. These indicators reflected the definition of assimilation and integration well; hence, they are suitable to be employed to estimate the degree of assimilation and integration in future acculturation-related research.