Title: Delivering sustainable livelihoods to indigenous communities through ecotourism: insights from Western Odisha, India

Authors: Sachin C. Pujar; Nihar Ranjan Mishra

Addresses: Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha – 769008, India ' Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha – 769008, India

Abstract: This paper is set in the context of five ecotourism hotspots in the western districts of Odisha, India. The main objectives of the study are to identify the positives and negatives of conservation and development actions and outcomes from the integration of ecotourism into indigenous livelihoods in Western Odisha. The study used mixed methods research to interview 300 households representing 25 villages, service providers, and government officials at various levels. The results indicate no significant improvement in indigenous livelihoods, a lack of educational components in ecotourism, and a general mismatch between policy and practice. The paper suggests diversification of tourism activities that include local cultures and way of life to create an enabling environment and encourage local participation. The study helps to gain important insights into the social component of ecotourism using indigenous livelihoods as a focal point.

Keywords: ecotourism; sustainable livelihoods; indigenous communities; Odisha; sustainable development; India.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTA.2024.138898

International Journal of Tourism Anthropology, 2024 Vol.9 No.3, pp.181 - 200

Received: 09 Sep 2022
Accepted: 09 Mar 2023
Published online: 03 Jun 2024 *

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