Study Of Ecotourism Development Under The Target Of Sustainable Livelihoods

Ecotourism was defined by the International Tourism Society as an traveling activity which is responsible both for the environment conservation and sustaining the well-being of local people.Because of its two characteristics of protecting environment and benefiting communities,ecotourism is always applied in the projects that aim to alleviate existing or potential contradicton between nature reserves and livelihood of community residents. As a means of achieving this goal,its effect is:1)provide a more sustainable livelihood to the local communities;2)encourage community residents to participate in protection of nature resourses and environment in a more direct way.First,based on literature,this paper suggests the systems of evaluation on livelihood outcomes and livelihood assets when ecotourism is the livelihood strategy in the sustainable livelihood framework.Addopting AHP and referring fruits of previous research,the weight of each index is confirmed.Next,taking Baiyangdian Wetland Nature Reserve in Hebei Province as an example and taking various factors into consideration,this paper choose Wangjiazhai community as research object.From the perspective of household,by the means of questionnaire and interview,the paper assesses the livelihood outcomes of the households whose livelihoods involve tourism and the livelihood assets of the households whose livelihoods involve no tourism.Thus,two conclusions are arrived at:one is tourism doesn’t play its rightful role in rational income distribution between stakeholders,improving the quality of the community facilities and services,and environmental education to community residents,the other is the participation in tourism of community residents is restricted,for the shortage of financial asset,human asset and social asset.According to above conclusions,the paper put forward improvement suggestions from the view of ecotourism,which can help ecotourism in Baiyangdian Wetland Nature Reserve play a more effective role as an livelihood strategy in the sustainable livelihood of local residents.