Protected Areas and Tourism in Lao PDR : Policy Note
Conservation and tourism contribute to greener economic growth in many countries. Although protected areas have often been viewed as land excluded from economic development for the purposes of environmental conservation, many countries have realize...
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| Format: | Policy Note |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Vientiane
2021
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/885591616734268983/Green-Growth-Advisory-Program-for-Lao-PDR-Protected-Areas-and-Tourism-in-Lao-PDR-Policy-Note http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35345 |
| Summary: | Conservation and tourism contribute to
greener economic growth in many countries. Although
protected areas have often been viewed as land excluded from
economic development for the purposes of environmental
conservation, many countries have realized their powerful
economic potential through tourism and visitation. In fact,
tourism has been an integral part of protected area
management since the beginning of their conception. If
appropriate policy and technical capacity are established,
most protected area professionals argue that both ecosystem
protection and tourism development can be implemented
concurrently without undermining the objectives of either
activity. Lao PDR policy makers have recognized the economic
potential of protected areas and seek to develop these sites
as a focus of the NSEDP 2015-2019 and the 2030 National
Green Growth Strategy, given the globally unique natural
heritage of Lao PDR. Not only does tourism in protected
areas provide employment opportunities to youth and ethnic
peoples, but tourism is also one of the few sectors with
high female labor participation above parity (including in
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand).7 Many jobs
in protected area management and tourism operations often do
not require high levels of education, providing lower
barriers to acquire employment for poor communities with
properly supported with policy and regulations. Furthermore,
these jobs and incomes can often be more sustainable than
those in mining or timber activities due to boom and bust
cycles from extractive industries. Finally, tourism jobs are
often safer than comparable extractive jobs. |
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