Abstract:
In Prek Toal, a poor subsistence fishing village on Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake, the conservation organization Osmose is using ecotourism revenues to finance poverty intervention programs and promote conservation in a threatened ecosystem. This thesis examines local perceptions of tourism as a measure of Osmose’s success. Limited awareness of tourism and conservation stems from abject poverty and limited opportunities for direct participation in Osmose’s top-down program. Corrupt resource management and a degrading ecosystem threaten economy and life in Prek Toal. This case study illustrates the link between community participation in tourism planning, facilitating a local conservation ethic, and empowering local efforts to fight corruption.
