Abstract
M.A.
Ecotourism in the Ingwavuma Region is closely linked to the natural environment: ecotourism being the revenue earner and the natural environment being the resource provider. Ecotourism is, in essence, the bridge between conservation, tourism and local communities. This finely tuned interdependence should be properly managed to ensure that ecotourism does not become a self destructive process, destroying the very resource on which it is based. The value of ecotourism as a catalyst for development has long been
recognised. This study, then, investigates how local people benefit from ecotourism. Ecotourism is not the answer to development, but can well be used to achieve development. Development studies is a very dynamic and changing field of study. A better understanding of the ecotourism phenomenon will go a long way to facilitate its use as a development tool. Ecotourism has a definite role to play within the larger context of rural development. Mounting pressure from governments in developing countries is forcing nature conservation to become financially independent of state grants. Ecotourism
provides the most viable solution towards achieving financial independence. However, the long-term sustainability of ecotourism is dependent on the involvement and support of the local communities. Ecotourism does therefore strive to manage the finely tuned dependence between tourism, conservation and local communities. It is within this context that this study was initiated. In order to facilitate future ecotourism planning and management, the study investigates various perspectives in relation to the ecotourism phenomenon in Southern Africa and the Ingwavuma region specifically These perspectives, in turn, are used to make suggestions regarding ecotourism planning and landuse.