Impacts of ecotourism on consumption, poverty and environment in three communities of the Mae Wang watershed, Chiang Mai province

The research investigates the impacts of eco-tourism in the Mae Wang Watershed, Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand. It answers a set of policy-related questions concerning the effects of eco-tourism on consumption, poverty and the natural environment in three village communities, whose residents are of three different ethnic groups: Karen, Hmong and the northern Thai. Detailed analyses presented in this research drew from both secondary data on basic needs and primary data from household surveys and interviews. The results show that the average household head was male, 51 year olds, and presided over a family of four people whose total income was 8,365 Thai baht per month. Household data demonstrated that although the Karen village has attracted foreign tourists through a tour company, the share of tourism income actually accruing to the community has been relatively limited. Consumption in the watershed results in high levels of spending over relative income. This finding highlights the importance of two main groups of consumption. The primary expense is food, which averages 39,007 Thai baht per household per month, far surpassing average household income; while non-food is 6,061.89 per month. The Karen village has the lowest Gini at 0.147, the Thai village ranked second at 0.244, and the Hmong village had relatively severe inequality at 0.350. Elephant riding and bamboo rafting benefit household income per capita across all community members. Income redistribution was hampered because income was more heavily concentrated in the hands of non-minority Thai people. This in turn is due to the political relationship between local government, business owners and the State. Nevertheless, satellite photographs attest to the positive ecological impact that forest area after eco-tourism activity began. Eco-tourism can therefore support natural resource conservation.