August 2009 Number 144 52044 Responsible Tourism Series TOURISM AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES - LESSONS FROM RECENT EXPERIENCES IN ECO AND ETHNO TOURISM IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN by Dorte Verner Tourism can benefit indigenous communities The trend toward new tourism niches in Latin America and the Caribbean (hereafter, Of the 54 communities participating in the Indigenous LAC) has brought benefits, but also costs Community Development Project in Argentina (see Box to the region's indigenous peoples. As 1) an impressive 40 (75%) chose to invest in tourism for the World Bank social and environmental one of the two projects financed by the project. Clearly, this majority saw benefits from tourism. As cited by Jorge portfolios in LAC1 reveal, work with Nahual, of the Coordination of Mapuche Organizations, indigenous groups has frequently favored tourism can increase community and personal income, tourism as a strategy for empowerment. At and bring empowerment and self-confidence to the same time, urban, rural development traditionally subjugated peoples. A companion En and infrastructure projects have also Breve, focused on local economic development and increased tourism opportunities, including tourism, discusses the exemplary cases of Chalalan and visits to indigenous communities. Bank Solar de Uyuni in Bolivia, where tourism has provided two indigenous communities with a means of survival experience indicates the increasing need and development. Egido Guerra, director of the FIEC for dialogue and greater understanding of Social Responsibility Institute of Brazil (see Box 2) adds the issues involved in these cases. This En the spiritual and political gains tourism can bring for Breve offers an overview of the concerns indigenous peoples. In general, the experiences in Latin generated by "ethno-tourism" and, through America have led to greater respect for the indigenous consultation with three experts who groups on the part of national and local authorities and have worked with indigenous groups in to their active incorporation in development planning for tourism as respected players. Argentina, Brazil and Colombia, proposes approaches recommended to reduce Andres Barona, delegate from the Galiván Tatatao negative impacts. EcoTourism Monitoring Program (See Box 3) points to the frequent justification for eco-tourism as a means to benefit indigenous communities without detrimental 1 Recent projects include: The Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon ­PIMA part of a rural development project social or environmental consequences and to increase in Peru, The Bio-Itza Maya Community Management incomes for tribal communities while also lowering Project in Guatemala- Peten, Indigenous Community pressure on natural resources. Barona and his colleagues Development in Argentina, Tourism Development confirm that tourism operators are becoming more for Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, and Local Economic environmentally and socially aware, and increasingly Development in Vilcanota Valley, Peru. motivated by eco-tourism. 1 But tourism also has downsides for Box 1 Tourism Arises from Empowerment of indigenous peoples Indigenous Communities in Argentina As part of its program to work with indigenous peoples, Jorge Nahuel is the designated spokesperson for the the Vice-Ministry for Tourism in Colombia consulted Mapuche in Argentina, appointed by the XIX Parliament of with the Kogi of the Sierra Nevada about developing the Mapuche people of Neuquen. He is the founder of the ethno-tourist circuits. The Kogi, who command some Coordination of Mapuche Organizations in Puelmapu, of their country's most beautiful landscapes and pre- Argentina. He is the director of Peoples and Natural Resources Colombian treasures (including La Ciudad Perdida), for the National Secretary of Environment and Sustainable flatly refused to become a tourism destination. The Development for Argentina. Jorge coordinated the World Vice-Ministry of Tourism, respecting their preferences, Bank Project "Indigenous Community Development" in six is implementing a policy to protect the Kogi from provinces in Argentina between 2003 and 2007. This project tourism. What motivated the Kogi? was not planned to develop tourism, as it supported 52 indigenous communities to discuss their own needs and to For one thing, suggests Andres Barona, the direct come up with their own development proposals. The project economic benefits from tourism are rarely as great then financed two priority works for each community, as as hoped. At the Yewae Visitor Center (YVC) in long as the community managed the purchase of materials, the Colombian Amazon, he points out, while the contracting, construction, and maintenance. communities receive around 10% of the YVC's net income as equity partners and twenty community As it turned out, a full half of the communities opted for local members enjoy full time employment, the community tourism projects, among others: a handicrafts production pays a high cultural and environmental cost. The and sales center at nature parks in Misiones, community number of visitors to YVC has doubled in the past four guide programs, home visits (bed and breakfast); a tourist years, which means more pressure on natural resources welcome program in Salta; and camping sites in Tucuman. to produce crafts and food for tourists. Visitors also The tourism investments have led to a new and sustained expose indigenous communities to a new level of source of income for the indigenous communities. More consumerism (`they've got NEAT STUFF'), and for better important, perhaps, as the communities include with their or worse, the economic benefits also lead to new welcome messages some instruction for the tourists in both needs: flash lights, schools supplies and "stuff". In only what to expect in indigenous communities, and in what five years the younger generations are showing a new their indigenous hosts expect of them, the programs have and marked disinterest in using the Tikuna language, also led to the empowering of the local communities who and in being or looking Tikuna. Barona cites increasing remain in charge of their visitors, and in tact. The Argentine participation in the cash economy and decreasing bio government has adopted the local-management and diversity in the Colombian Amazon resulting even from empowerment approach and has requested two major a sensitive and responsible tourism sector. follow-on projects which may build a new concept of tourism in rural Argentina. Jorge Nahual also described the tension created in Mapuche communities, whose values emphasize cosmic links and spiritual questioning, by the appearance of consumer society. The "Che", or the person in Mapuche, Jorge Nahual presents the following seven principles finds his self image diminished. In more direct terms, recommended by indigenous organizations for Amanda Stronza, Professor of Applied Biodiversity government programs and policies to ensure the at Texas A&M University, has carried out a long term sustainability of indigenous communities and minimize study of an indigenous community in Peru and its adverse impacts on them. The first and central principle self-managed tourism program. Indeed it has led to is the recognition of sovereignty for indigenous lands and an overall increase in income, but not necessarily to territories, and with that the recognition of indigenous shared income growth. Incomes are concentrated organizations as the sole interlocutors. Second, tourism now among the town's new "caciques" - tour operators should operate within a framework whereby indigenous and tour guides who no longer take part in traditional peoples can reap the full benefits of the value chain of the production. The tour operators have purchased pieces tourism industry. Third, comprehensive planning should of the protected forests to raise cattle. Thus the build tourism into the land use plans, but always under traditional tribal structure and bio-diversity have been indigenous management. Fourth, indigenous groups dealt a blow from the tourism. should also track impact evaluation and monitoring of tourism's environmental and cultural impacts. Fifth, any and all use of natural, biological or genetic resources Reduce negative impacts of tourism on from indigenous territories should be subject to a signed indigenous peoples and bolster benefits agreement signifying the consent of the indigenous groups. (In Argentina a model agreement has been Despite these negative impacts, the same experts report developed as the "Consentimiento Libre Fundamentado that positive, sustained experiences of tourism do exist, Previo".) Sixth, government should provide support as and have recommended strategies for both government, requested by indigenous groups for planning, information and communities to follow. exchange and capacity building. Seventh, and finally, the 2 national government should help to build indigenous From the Yewae Visitor Center of the Colombian Amazon, capacity to take up the key decision making role concerning Andres Barona reports the Amazonian experience has cultural knowledge and practices, and the biodiversity in led indigenous groups to urge full monitoring and indigenous territory. continued discussion of social and cultural traditions. The Yewae model emphasizes the use of the Maloka and of the Chagra (and minga), keeping traditional practices Box 2 Indigenous Support Programs turn alive beyond the tourist visits. Barona recommends to Tourism in Ceara, Brazil that any tourism program should be accompanied by strengthening cultural ties through education. Ashoka Fellow, Egidio Guerra is also a founder and director Traditions and culture should be included in school of FIEC, Federation of Industries of Ceara (FIEC),which has curriculums, for both indigenous and non-indigenous launched a series of programs for social investment in the as well. Practices shared with tourists should "maintain province of Ceara, including a broad program to promote and reinforce the use and transmission of traditional Indigenous culture, with groups from the Tremembé, the knowledge that sustains cultural identity and regional Jenipapo, Piaguary, Tapepa and Kanindé peoples. The biodiversity." program has begun by working with each ethnic group to discover marketable products. Thusfar workshops and sales Yes, Barona says, bathrooms and running water are a have been developed for products ranging from herbal positive contribution, but new technologies should be and traditional medicines (from the Tapepa) to sculpture, adopted with care. "Develop mechanisms and adopt ceramics, painting and embroidery with native materials. those for which no traditional solutions exist and which are consistent with local cultural and environmental conditions ­ for instance, safe drinking water and waste water management." Barona points to the Tikuna town of Puerto Narińo which has a visitor interpretation center, but has banned the use of wheels. He also says that women "seem to have a better perception of sustainable management," and should be the guardians of tourism projects. The program plans to build on this first phase to assure indigenous participation in all the linkages supporting an indigenous tourism business. Three cultural centers are planned for indigenous communities along with a National Culture Fair for Indigenous Crafts. Long term, the program hopes to develop an integrated framework for sustainable "social tourism" bolstered by formation of leaders among the indigenous groups and built on sustainable communities, and economic creativity, as the diagram shows Egido Guerra urges a five point methodology for working on tourism programs with indigenous groups. First, he cites the words of Paulo Freire, "Pautada no principio dialógico", In this Amazon setting, the Tikuna peoples are rediscovering themselves through tourism. to focus the need on continuous dialogue. Second he cites the need to understand and appreciate different knowledge groups. In dialogue with each ethnic group Box 3 The Tikuna Experience with he stresses the third point to bring out, share and keep Eco Tourism a constant reminder of each one's needs and anxieties. Fourth, any project requires equal partners to build Andres Barona one of the founders of Fundación Entropika, together ­ defining together the lines of action in in Leticia, Amazonas, Colombia, graduated from Los tandem with the profile of each ethnic group. Finally, Andes University in Colombia as a biologist. His interest in Guerra says, "Celebrate the results together." ethnobotany, drew him into the Amazon region where he 3 Tread with care has worked with local, indigenous communities, and has participated in the monitoring of the Calderon River and World Bank specialists in socially sustainable development in surveys of the Amacayacu National Park in Colombia. have concluded that tourism can benefit indigenous He reports on the 20 years of Amacayacu experience with communities when it is well-managed, and when the tourism, and with its native Tikuna community. following guidelines are respected: Following the destruction of the last Tikuna malokas in the 1. Project scale ­ keep the project small, the Amacayacu National Park in the Colombian Amazon and community should stay in control; the onset of the drug bonanza in Colombia during the mid 2. Project type ­ stress participation in community to late 1970's, the Colombian government recognized the activities - eco tourism will bring in more Tikuna rights to their territories in the National Park. In 1985 "responsible tourists"; the government and the Tikuna joined forces to initiate an 3. Market tourism by relating directly to conservation ecotourism program in the protected area. The construction efforts and to sustainable biodiversity; of the YEWAE visitor center following the design of a 4. Develop tourism as part of a livelihood strategy traditional Tikuna maloka, set the trend for an ecotourism for individuals and for the community; program with the indigenous communities. Indigenous 5. Develop tourism hand in hand with the interpreters were promoted and trained to organize revitalization of indigenous culture; ecotourism activities in the park. In 2004 the Gavilán Tatatao 6. Assure management and control of tourism monitoring program began tracking impact on biodiversity throughout the region by indigenous and on local culture, with the objective of defining the organizations; and carrying capacity for each ecotourism activity in the park. In 7. Consolidate indigenous demands of territory, the subsequent five years the number of annual visitors rose identity and autonomy in any and all tourism from 4,575 to 8,857, and the number of tour operators in the projects. area from 16 to 28. As the Mapuche say, "The forest is of no use without the knowledge of its inhabitants.... If the forest is gone, all will In 2005, the YAWAE center came under the management of be lost" the country's largest hotel chain (Decameron) and largest travel agency (Aviatur), but agreements have assured that in the long term YAWAE ecotourism services will be operated entirely by the local indigenous communities. On the one hand, the local communities are counting the benefits of the tourism boom in terms of running water and sanitation, school supplies for children, construction and maintenance of the malokas for Tikuna tradition, and for sharing with tourists. On the other hand the population boom, coupled with ballooning numbers of visitors, have increased pressure on the area's ecosystems. About the Author Crafts, foods, shelters, mean cutting down more trees and increased hunting and fishing. Barona's experience makes a Dorte Verner is a Senior Economist working in the clear case for monitoring the impact of tourism on the local Sustainable Development Department of the Latin environment, and on the local cultures. America and the Caribbean Region. About En Breve... "En breve" is a regular series of notes highlighting recent lessons emerging from the operational and analytical program of the World Bank's Latin America and the Caribbean Region. In this special series on Responsible Tourism, we present the lessons learned by the different sectors in their various tourism-related projects regarding socially responsible and environmentally sustainable tourism. Forthcoming notes in this series will include:(I) An overview on tourism; (II) Crime, violence, at-risk youth and tourism; (III) tourism and indigenous peoples; (IV) local economic development and 4 tourism, (V) Macro-Economic Impacts of Tourism ­ ­ A Case Study from Panama, and (VI) Tourism's Energy Challenge.