Author(s)

B. MacKenzie

Abstract

The parameters of ecotourism require inclusion of local communities in the development and operation of ventures. This requirement resonates with the literature on health improvement, which shows that enabling individuals and communities to increase control over their lives – and the change in power relationships that is entailed – is health enhancing. An implication of this approach is that the successful development of ecotourism ventures will need to replicate the approach set out in the WHO’s Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion: ensuring a supportive policy environment; community action in developing activities; creating supportive, sustainable environments for tourist activity; increasing the personal knowledge and skills of those involved; and reorienting resources from the ‘curative’ end of the environmental perspective (i.e. fixing the damage done) to the preventive (not doing the damage in

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