LA PROPIEDAD: GARANTÍA DE PERTENENCIA AL CÍRCULO LIBERAL.

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114 It has been concluded that ecotourism development in Kiet Ngong village has brought several economic benefits, both directly and indirectly, and as a consequence, produced considerable change in the purchasing capacity of household items. However, some negative economic impact was also noted, and this will be highlighted in the upcoming section.

5.3.2. Negative Economic Impact

The preceding section highlighted several economic benefits derived from Xe Pian ecotourism, both directly and indirectly. By comparison, not many local participants mentioned negative economic consequences from the Xe Pian ecotourism project during the semi-structured interviews carried out as part of this research study. The exception was those involved in the canoe ride service unit, who complained that the earnings gained from ecotourism were not distributed equally and fairly, stating, ―We receive a low income from the boat ride service compared with other tourist service units. Our boat service is seasonal. When summer season comes, we cannot run our service. Consequently, we have insufficient income for our families‖ (Boatman, personal communication, May 8, 2009). As shown earlier, their earnings were also very low overall compared with other activities like elephant rides. As a consequence, some of the boat ride service members have left the boat service. Their complaint has been passed on to the head of the tourism office at the district level through formal discussion. Thus, it could be argued that economic earnings gained from ecotourism at Kiet Ngong have been fairly limited and not all households have benefited.

In addition, informal interviews with those local people who were not involved in any ecotourism activities revealed a problematic situation from their perspective. They pointed out that:

Our living conditions have been tough since ecotourism started because we do not have any income, but the price of food ingredients sold in the village has increased considerably. At the same time, we are also banned from hunting animals for our families‘ consumption." (Local residents, personal communication, May 8, 2009)

115 In this case ecotourism has not only impacted negatively on local people‘s livelihood in terms of reducing their access to their own resources, but it also has increased the price of food sold in the village. This can be viewed as one of the negative economic effects on local people‘s lives.

5.3.3. Analysis of economic impact

Table 5.2 below presents a summary of both positive and negative effects on the local economy from Xe Pian ecotourism. This table was utilized in the process of analysing the economic impact of this venture.

Table 5.2

Summary of the Positive and Negative Economic Impact from Xe Pian Ecotourism Since it Began in Kiet Ngong Village, Lao PDR

Positive economic impact Negative economic impact

 Created tourist service jobs for locals as

trekking guides, elephant riders, elephant raisers, elephant queue organisers, tourist receptionists and boatmen.

 Increased job opportunities for locals, e.g., working at Kingfisher Ecolodge

 Provided indirect jobs for locals, e.g.,

running private shops and handicraft stores.

 Generated extra income for locals

 Increased purchasing power of residents as seen in purchases of household items such as TVs, TV signal receivers, fans, CD players, fridge, furniture, pillows, mattress, blankets, and toilets.

 Unequal and unfair distribution of tourism income

 Increase of the price of food sold in the village

 Not all villages can access ecotourism jobs

 Insufficient income from some tourist service jobs

116 Economic improvement has occurred in the village due to the creation of tourist service jobs, employment opportunities, and indirect jobs for local residents. These help to provide extra income to some families and as a consequence, the number of household items acquired by local citizens has increased significantly. However, apart from this positive economic result, there have been some negative economic repercussions as well. These are evident in the price increases for foodstuff in the village, and the claims of unfair distribution of the economic gains among various tourist service groups. As a consequence, some tourist service members have quit their tourist work. Thus, it seems that this ecotourism project does not currently generate benefits equally and fairly to all local residents.

5.4.Social Impacts

5.4.1. Positive Social Impacts

Data collected through the informal and formal interview processes, coupled with observations from walks around the village, reveal information about the social change resulting from the emergence of Xe Pian ecotourism. It appears there have been some positive changes regarding the improvement of social behaviour, infrastructure, and construction of community facilities.

A majority of the local people stressed that ever since Xe Pian ecotourism started, it has played a significant role in helping to build up local people‘s solidarity. Specifically, it has created social cohesion as villagers have worked together in a group or unit. In addition, households have begun providing assistance to each other when needed, a phenomenon hardly ever seen before ecotourism began. Particularly, during an informal conversation a local respondent asserted that:

In the past our local people‘s solidarity was weak because solidarity was seen in small groups of people living nearby each other‘s household. Also, each individual household struggled to find enough for their family‘s daily consumption. Thus, locals did not care about other people‘s obstacles. However, at the present time our local people‘s solidarity is tight in a bigger group because local people have more interaction since it brought them work and they gather together at the tourism workplace. This can create a

117 good atmosphere to exchange general ideas about everyday family life and tourist issues among the members. This can play a crucial part in creating solidarity in Kiet Ngong (Local resident, personal communication, 28 April, 2009).

Infrastructure enhancement is another positive social change seen in the area, as witnessed in the form of electricity installation, road widening (see Photo 5.5), and well digging.

Photo 5.5 Road improvement and electricity installation in Kiet Ngong Village, Lao