Understanding the linkage between biodiversity and tourism : a study of ecotourism in a coastal village in Fiji

This article aims to contribute to an understanding of the linkage between biodiversity conservation and tourism. A case study of a village-based tourism venture in a remote location on Vanua Levu, the second largest island in Fiji, demonstrates this potential linkage in a typical coastal village. Tourism could contribute to biodiversity conservation and maintenance of cultural identity by reinforcing stories about local histories and promoting respect for traditional culture and use of natural resources. Small-scale tourism ventures are not uncommon in many coastal areas in Fiji. Tourism venture maintained at a stage where the number of tourists is low and touristsââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“villagers interaction is high may be more appropriate in island tourism where the preservation of cultural tradition is vital in the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. A site-specific framework, depicting the integration of biodiversity components with tourism management, was developed to examine the interrelationships of biodiversity conservation and tourism. This research is not an ethnographic study. However, one of the major findings of this study was identifying the persistence of a traditional value systemââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Âthe vanua system, which refers to the connection of people with the land through their ancestors and guardian spirits. This cultural belief of nurturing the peopleââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“land relationship is manifested in the daily life of the villagers. This could serve as a powerful mechanism promoting the linkage between biodiversity conservation and tourism management. Despite the dilution of the meaning of vanua in modern Fiji, it could be revitalized to regulate the consumptive and tourism uses of local biodiversity. The philosophy of the vanua has served as the guiding principle for the villagers in the management and sustainable use of the rain forest, mangrove forest, coral reef, and village garden. The same traditional concept can be a basis for biodiversity conservation beyond the realm of contemporary protected area system. The ecological systems upon which the villagers depend for subsistence are the very same resources that support tourism. Understanding the linkage between biodiversity and tourism could provide the basis for the promotion of biodiversity conservation and ecotourism.