The Road Less Travelled: A Case Study on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh

Ecotourism has been touted globally as a tool that promotes sustainable development. Yet ecotourism and sustainable development are neither simple to define, nor straightforward in regards to their implementation. The aim of this thesis is to critically investigate ecotourism’s relationship to sustainable development. In doing so it develops its own conceptual framework on the sustainability goals of ecotourism. The framework is then applied to the case study of two eco-sites in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh with the purpose of identifying the sustainable or non-sustainable practices of these sites. There are however key factors beyond the scope of ecotourism that influence its potential. Thus the final aim involves exploring key factors within the Sundarbans that compromise the sustainable development of ecotourism. A qualitative research overview employing secondary data is used as the empirical foundation. The findings underline the need for: considering more viable and environmentally sound transport mechanisms to and from the two eco-sites; generating more income through cottage stays to better sustain livelihoods of the locals; and acquiring sufficient resilience to allow for recovery against the threats of climate change as necessary steps to enhance the sustainability of the sites. The findings further reveal that the construction of a government proposed power plant near the reserve as well as impending threats from climate change are key factors that jeopardize the sustainable development of ecotourism in the area. The study concludes that the government of Bangladesh currently lacks the necessary influential independent body to help bolster the long-term strategy of ecotourism development, further affecting the coordination of other public-private sector industries in the area