Community-based Eco-tourism for Conservation & Development Project in Myanmar

The Primary Goal or Purpose

• To conserve important natural resources, eco-systems and cultural heritage while improving the livelihoods of ethnic hill-tribes.

• To build local capacity for natural environment conservation and sustainable development

CBT is successful as a tool for conservation and development all over the world but it is still a novelty for Myanmar, which is very rich in variety of ethnic groups with unique traditions and cultures.

Only a very few groups have just started to realize that they have a lot to offer to tourists in the field of CBT and, for that purpose, to appreciate the many things they already have. Indeed some of them have come up with many innovative and collaborative programs to address the challenges and opportunities.

The project is aimed at building local capacity to know their ownership of resources relating to CBT and to be able to exploit such ownership. It also endeavors to equip the communities with the necessary knowledge and techniques to initiate and implement the project on their own to support themselves.

The first and only CBT (Community-based Eco-tourism) for Conservation and Development project for minority ethnic hill tribes such as Shan, Lahu, Akha and Akhu has been started.

Villagers are learning and being trained to conserve ecosystems and natural resources around them while maintaining their cultural resources. Communities are being encouraged to appreciate their cultural heritage and learning to attract international tourists while heading for sustainable development for their communities.