Eco-tourism, conservancies and sustainable development : the case of Zimbabwe.

Abstract

The paper presents a definition of eco-tourism that puts an emphasis on conservation through

utilisation, instead of an emphasis on preservation only. Eco-tourism in this paper is seen as incorporating both

consumptive and non-consumption aspects. It is a definition that stresses community participation in decision

making processes in relation to eco-touristic ventures and subsequent benefits derived from such ventures flowing

back to local communities. The paper examines the triple role of eco-tourism in the protection, utilisation and

conservation of natural and cultural resources. Tourism is by far a sector that continues to play a positive socioeconomic role in the midst of a declining economic base in the Zimbabwe of the post 2000 period. The paper views conservancies as tenurial units and goes further to examine the link between conservancies and eco-touristic

ventures. The issue of sustainable eco-tourism developments in the form of conservancies is debated in the paper

in the light of the socio-economic challenges Zimbabwe is going through. It is strongly argued that to avoid another

case of entrenched failed development, conservancies need to be seen in a holistic manner that takes into account

the role of all stakeholders or actors including the role of local communities.