Stakeholders’ perception of sustainable ecotourism development – an explorative study on Dooars region of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Purpose

This study evaluated various stakeholders’ knowledge and awareness of ecotourism development in the Dooars region to understand the local community’s attitudes and provide critical information on the influence of ecotourism and how sustainable development can be carried out in the region.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative methodology was used to evaluate the link between awareness and the need for education among stakeholders and local communities for the growth of ecotourism.

Findings

We found that the educated locals had a favorable attitude toward the effects of ecotourism and were supportive of its expansion. They had a more favorable opinion of improving facilities, image and infrastructure, promoting the region as an ecotourism destination, and preserving the environment compared with the less educated locals in the field of research.

Originality/value

The social, cultural and ecological advantages of ecotourism are seen to have a fairly high level of correlation with awareness of those benefits, while the social, cultural and environmental benefits of ecotourism are seen to have an adequate level of positive correlation with knowledge of ecotourism. In this instance, participants’ awareness of ecotourism’s advantages and views of their ecotourism expertise both grow as they see the sociocultural and environmental impact of ecotourism.

Citation

Chanda, I., Sajnani, M. and Gowreesunkar, V.G.B. (2024), "Stakeholders’ perception of sustainable ecotourism development – an explorative study on Dooars region of West Bengal, India", Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-12-2022-0199