*Graduate student, Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST), Pingtung, Taiwan, ROC
**Associate Professor, Department of Agribusiness Management, Joint Appointment with Department of Tropical Agriculture and International, Cooperation National, Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST), Pingtung, Taiwan, ROC
Online published on 30 September, 2013.
This study examines local residents’ cognition towards ecotourism in Cuc Phuong National Park, the level of interest in it as a form of leisure and the obstacles involved in undertaking ecotourism activity. Ecotourism helps educate the community to protect and conserve the environment through travel, and also creates and maintains a sustainable environment. The lack of community awareness and positive attitude towards ecotourism and the environment is likely to lead to misrepresentation and abuse of the concept, and ruin and exploit the environment. This study found that there was a low level of awareness and knowledge of ecotourism in the community around Cuc Phuong National Park. Over half of the respondents were not aware of it and the others, even if they were, still possessed limited knowledge about it. While most were aware of its environmental aspects, little or no recognition was given to the other aspects of ecotourism. Furthermore, most respondents also expressed indifference towards ecotourism and were unlikely to take such a trip in the near future.
Ecotourism, national park, local resident, residents’ cognition, environmental conservation
