Introduction

The term ecotourism has received much attention in recent years, and there is considerable debate over what the term means, and what it should mean. Some authors suggest that ecotourism is a form of tourism which focuses on contributing to the preservation of natural and cultural resources while promoting economic contribution to local communities.

The benefits of ecotourism include an enhanced appreciation of natural environments both in terms of their intrinsic and economic worth for protection and conservation; the educational value of exposing visitors and locals to nature and conservation; and the potential of ecotourism to motivate the designation of additional natural areas for conservation and protection.

Many rural communities view tourism as a major vehicle for addressing rural economic decline, but several studies suggest that its growth can bring negative social impacts. There have been many studies that suggest an increase in the levels of tourism development in a community, may lead to negative resident attitudes towards it.

The purpose of the research was to determine, through semi-structured interviews, how the local residents of Labundobundo have been affected culturally since Operation Wallacea arrived, and to determine if an ecotourist approach has been taken. In addition, the research set out to establish how much friction there is between other villages regarding Operation Wallacea’s presence, and how these residents view tourism without the influence of Operation Wallacea.

Aims

The aims of the project were to determine the knowledge and understanding of the local residents regarding Operation Wallacea since they established themselves in Labundobundo and to establish the current perceptions of the local residents regarding an increase of tourism since Operation Wallacea started researching in the area. The project will also aim to determine the potential economic benefits of the local residents with an increase of tourism and what, if any, adverse social / cultural impacts have occurred since Operation Wallacea established themselves in Labundobundo. The project will also establish whether any adverse environmental impacts have occurred since Operation Wallacea established themselves in Labundo-bundo and whether there is any friction present from surrounding villages due to Operation Wallacea’s presence.

Methodology

Four sites were decided upon for the purposes of this study. These were Labundobundo where Operation Wallacea has based its research and three surrounding villages, Lawele, Kakenauwe and Toruku. The population sizes of each village vary from 60 families to 400 families, and surround the Lanbusanga and Kakanauwe forest reserve.

In order to meet the above aims a semi-structured questionnaire was designed to determine the attitudes of the local residents towards tourism. The questionnaire was designed in such a way so as to allow extra questions to be asked when appropriate during the interview, depending on the respondents answer. Two questionnaires were designed, the first directed at Labundo-bundo and the second at the three remaining, Lawele, Kakanauwe and Toruku.

The first questionnaire was designed to cover six main points, which were as follows:

• respondents awareness of Operation Wallacea and their feelings of its presence and the increase of visitors;
• respondents awareness of change within the village since Operation Wallacea arrived;
• how much resentment there is from other villages with regard to Operation Wallacea’s presence;
• how an increase of visitors has affected the residents economically;
• how an increase of visitors has affected the residents culturally; and,
• how aware the residents are of the environment and, to establish the extent to which they have been educated in the past.

The second questionnaire was designed to cover three main points, which were as follows:

• to determine the extent of knowledge of Operation Wallacea in the area;
• how the respondents feel they could increase their economic potential with an increase of visitors in the village; and,
• to determine the residents opinions on how tourists could affect them culturally and environmentally.

Fifteen interviews were completed at each of the four sites with each interview lasting approximately thirty minutes in total. The sample size was as it stands due to time restrictions, however more samples may have been useful. Sampling was done at random and each interview normally consisted of up to three respondents with a dominant interviewee, usually the male. However, women were interviewed individually as well so as to get a wide range of results.

Other methods of research used was a small group discussions with some of the women from Lawele and Kakanauwe, this consisted of ten respondents. The idea behind this method was to establish a general idea of the respondent’s opinion on tourism and its benefits. This also allowed the project to determine what women’s groups are present and how they are organised within their village, so as to note how that may assist in making decisions if tourism grew at that site. A group discussion allowed more answers to be given at one time, and having a small group persuaded others to talk who may not have otherwise done so.

Women employed by Operation Wallacea in the kitchen at Labundobundo were also interviewed in order to establish what employment they had before their current job and how they benefit from their current employment. In addition, they were asked if they were aware of the purpose and aims of Operation Wallacea.

Initial findings

Except for education, the study found no significant effects on the respondent’s attitudes when including four demographic variables in the questionnaire. Most respondents were farmers, and in general those respondents with more professional jobs such as teaching, tended to have more information regarding tourism, the environment and conservation.

A significant number of local residents from the four sites viewed tourism as a beneficial activity and the main reasons given were economic, which included an increase in employment, traders selling their products at an increased rate, and farmers selling their products to tourists. One respondent specified he would benefit from tourism by being educated to preserve and conserve the forest. Interestingly, in Labundo-bundo the respondents all specified that they would be pleased to have an increase of visitors providing their motive was for research purposes. However, in the remaining three sites they did not actually specify this requirement.

Labundobundo residents tended to be more environmentally aware and generally this is due to Operation Wallacea’s presence and the education schemes it provides for the residents. Although over half of these respondents still had no idea of the purpose and aims of Operation Wallacea. However, overall it was apparent the residents of Labundobundo have benefited from an increase in visitors economically, environmentally and culturally.

Kakanauwe and Lawele are aware of the potential benefits of an increase in tourism, and the questionnaire allowed them to consider how they could attract visitors. Toruku residents were less informatitive, and this is mainly due to the fact that many of these local residents are refugees from Ambon, and so have only been living there for one or two years. Their most important economic activity tends to be agriculture and they have little interest in tourism at present.

Final report

The results of this project will be collated into a report entitled The socio-cultural impacts of Operation Wallacea on local residents of Labundobundo and surrounding villages, Buton, southeast Sulawesi by Lauren Smith, University of Portsmouth This will be completed by May 2002.