Engendering ecotourism : analysing the participation of rural women in ecotourism in Belize

Abstract

Global ecological concern has led to a dramatic increase in ecotourism development projects worldwide. Governments in indigent countries of the South are eager to capitalise on economic opportunities presented by a rapidly growing industry, while rural communities are enticed by prospects of new jobs, business opportunities, skill development, and a desire to gain control over the use and management of natural resources in their areas. Local participation in ecotourism is a means by which individuals and families can generate a livelihood in rural communities through the sustainable production of goods and services, and provides impetus for environmental protection and restoration as well as a revival of cultural traditions. Thus, ecotourism can be seen as a vehicle for rebuilding rural societies currently threatened by ecological degradation and urban migration.

While local participation in such community development ventures has become the subject of fervent debate among scholars, gender issues have been largely ignored. From a Gender, Environment and Development perspective, which recognises that women--particularly in the South--are more adversely affected by environmental degradation than men are, ecotourism initiatives should only be considered sustainable if the diverse needs of men, women and children within a community are met. This report examines local women's roles within the context of ecotourism and presents case studies conducted in four rural communities in Belize.