Rural Community-Based Tourism and its Impact on Ecological Consciousness, Environmental Stewardship and Social Structures

Since rural community-based tourism (RCBT) emerged, it has been widely considered to be an effective means of promoting development and conserving natural resources. Through a political ecology approach, this article explores the potential of RCBT to foster long-term stewardship and transformations in ecological consciousness among campesino communities in unprotected areas. Using Cocachimba as a case study, the article reveals that while RCBT can increase environmental consciousness, stewardship and conservation practices, it also reshapes human-environmental relations, changing both the value and the meaning of environment, as well as altering societal structures and changing relationships within communities.