This study focuses on eco-resorts (ERs), a form of environmentally conscious tourism business, within the growing tourism sector of Africa, which possesses considerable potential for future development. The study examines whether eco-resorts and the various forms of tourism associated with them can contribute to local communities.
Tourism in developing countries is often regarded as a means of generating business opportunities while promoting social development, environmental conservation, and human resource development. At the same time, concerns have been raised regarding the overexploitation of natural resources, uncontrolled development, foreign ownership, and economic leakage. Against this background, this research investigates the potential and impacts of environmentally responsible tourism through eco-resorts in Tanzania and Mozambique.
Drawing on fieldwork conducted in both countries, the study analyzes the role and influence of eco-resorts from interdisciplinary perspectives, including tourism studies, sociology, development studies, and governance studies. The research aims to evaluate the extent to which eco-resorts can contribute to sustainable local development and to provide practical recommendations regarding the role that eco-resorts can play in supporting local communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
