Social Impacts Of
Ecotourism in Dominica
Who Are the Stakeholders Involved:
Island Communities
Farmers
Hunters
Fishermen
Foresters
Government Agencies
Environmental Agencies
National Park Management
Tourism Agencies
Business Owners
Community Limitations
Prior to national park establishments, the land served communities with resources
such as soil, timber, hunting, and fishing (Wright, 1985). During the time of park establishment, as the government laid protections and restrictions across territories, these entities became less available to surrounding communities. This has created tension between citizens' cultural values of the landscape and the government's motives to use the landscape for an increase in ecotourism.
If government could collaborate with the effected stakeholder groups, they may be
able to identify areas by which locals can fish and hunt sustainably. Putting boundaries and laws on these areas may be necessary to protect them for cultural value and future use. Some agricultural and most forestry practices may not be able to move forward because of environmental capacity and degradation effects.
Community and Economic Opportunity
The island’s banana industry which drove the economy has crashed and forestry
practices have caused detrimental damage to the ecosystem resulting in extreme erosion and landslides (Sarrasin et. Al, 2012).
Creating these parks and expanding ecotourism has potential to invite locally
sustained business-development, provide an opportunity for increased employment and re-strengthen Dominica's economy (Sarrasin et. Al, 2012).
The Government has been working to influence banana farmers to diversifying crops
or entering into the ecotourism business. Some responses have stubbornly refused and some have found great success in entering a more sustainable market (N.A., 2009/2015).
If Government could involve a facilitator to help interpret successful results and
effects of ecotourism to the effected stakeholders- communication and outlook on changing the market economy of the island may be strengthened.
Culture Enchancement and Culture Degradation
The goal of ecotourism is to enhance culture through education and awareness to
others (TIES, 2015). Some locals are concerned that an increase in the tourism market could stray Dominica away from the identity that the island holds with not being a tourist hub in contrast to surrounding islands in the Caribbean (Sarrassin et. Al, 2012).
Ecotourism must be managed to sustain the environment and government should be
aware of specific limitations that may be necessary for the tourism market of Dominica. This may mean putting limits on numbers of visiting cruise ships a month and limits on visitors per day at certain sites.
If the market is managed following the principles of ecotourism, it could lead to
opportunities of cultural enhancement through the education and interpretation brought into the ecotourism programs. In this situation local stakeholders would benefit.