The challenges of the ecotourism concept in Manaus - A contrasted on site perspective

Abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to identify and describe what implementation barriers companies face when implementing the ecotourism concept in Manaus, Brazil. To accomplish this, we have traveled to Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, and conducted one quantitative and one qualitative study. The quantitative study consists of a survey directed at the locals of Manaus, and the qualitative study consists of interviews with key informants related to the ecotourism industry in Manaus. A complementary study was later conducted in Cuzco, Peru, to learn lessons from similarities and differences between the two areas. The results indicate that the locals of Manaus have an overwhelmingly positive view of the ecotourism industry. Moreover, this view is shown to be affected by their general view of tourists visiting Manaus, and their beliefs regarding the benefits that ecotourism brings to the locals of Manaus, as well as the Amazon rainforest. The results also highlight many implementation barriers, such as a lack of previous business experience among company owners, poor infrastructure in the Amazonas region, and an insufficient level of cooperation and communication between the different stakeholders in Manaus' ecotourism industry The conclusions drawn from this thesis is that ecotourism is welcomed among the locals in Manaus, and that the region has great potential for ecotourism, but that this potential is not yet reached. We conclude that in order to reach this potential, more governmental investments in many different aspects of the city and the industry are required, as is a higher degree of cooperation between all active stakeholders of the ecotourism industry.