The Role of Ecotourism in Conserving the Environment and Enhancing the Status of Host Local Communities in Developing Economies: The Case of Mtema Ecotourism Centre in South-Eastern Zimbabwe

Abstract

Ecotourism has been regarded as a form of tourism that is expected to boost conservation and socio-economic development in the rural communities (Chiutsi et al 2011) of developing economies, for example, those of many African countries. Comprehensive literature review on the ecotourism concept and discourse has revealed that there is no consensus on what constitutes ecotourism. As such, ecotourism has been defined in a myriad of ways. What remains certain, however, is the fact that ecotourism should help conserve the natural environment and enhance the socio-economic lives of the host local community members. In line with this understanding, most developing economies have embraced and adopted ecotourism as a key development strategy with the potential to benefit mostly their local disadvantaged and marginalized communities living near or around tourist areas. Yet, while ecotourism has the potential to positively contribute towards growth of these economies, some scholars have been skeptical as to whether ecotourism should be considered a panacea to the multiple challenges bedeviling the economies of developing countries. In order to examine the contribution and impact (negative or otherwise) of ecotourism to host economies, this paper undertakes an in-depth analysis of ecotourism in developing economies and adopts Mtema Ecotourism Center (MEC) in south- eastern Zimbabwe as a case study. MEC being an ecotourism centre in developing Zimbabwe, it represents others centers with similar situations. Key words: Ecotourism, host local community, developing economies, MEC, Zimbabwe.