Assessing the impacts of ecotourism on perceived ecosystem services and livelihoods: a case study in the Hani Terraces, China

Huang, Zhongde

JOURNAL OF OUTDOOR RECREATION AND TOURISM-RESEARCH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

2026

55

Huang, ZD; Bai, Y

Ecotourism concerns ecosystem services and the well-being of both people and nature and is vital for promoting sustainable livelihoods in mountain communities globally. However, ecotourism often involves trade-offs and conflicts between development and conservation, requiring stakeholders to seek effective synergies. This empirical study examines ecotourism-induced changes in ecosystem services in the Hani Rice Terraces area of China and their economic and conservation impacts on local communities, drawing on 229 valid questionnaire responses regarding residents' livelihood perceptions. The results show that local ecosystem services linked to residents' livelihoods such as nutrient cycling, food supply, natural education, flood regulation, and disease and pest control were highly synergistic with the economic improvement brought about by ecotourism. In contrast, two ecosystem services (biodiversity and air quality) demonstrated near-significant trade-offs. However, a significant disparity was observed between local economic growth and the direct economic benefits accruing to residents from ecotourism, with less than 20% of household income primarily derived from ecotourism activities. Structural equation modeling analysis further indicated that while residents exhibited strong conservation willingness through their perceptions of ecosystem services, these perceptions did not indirectly influence conservation willingness via economic development or personal income. These findings suggest that although the current ecotourism model has contributed to economic growth, it may undermine residents' livelihoods and erode ecological culture rooted in the harmonious coexistence of people and nature. This divergence could threaten the sustainability of regional tourism development and ecosystem management. Therefore, we recommend that decision-makers develop stronger collaborative synergies and implement payment for ecosystem services schemes to better balance economic and ecological benefits for future sustainable management.