| dc.description.abstract | The government of Suriname has announced to give the tourist sector a financial boost. As the prices of gold, oil, and bauxite are falling, the government is searching for alternatives to guarantee state income. Ecotourism is becoming one of the pillars that should bring money in the state treasury. In policy documents and speeches from politicians, it is said that the government wants the tourist sector to grow in a sustainable way . Academic literature and research do not always show similar findings when it comes to ecotourism. In literature, the balance between people, planet, and profit is seen as inevitable when it comes to ecotourism. The focus is often placed on the wellbeing of the people and the planet. However, the economic side of ecotourism turns out to be underexposed in academic findings, whilst in practice it appears to play a substantial role. This thesis shows that within the tourist sector in Suriname, money is often prioritized above the people, environment, and animals, by both tourist businesses and the government. The thesis is the result of scrutinizing the perceptions and practices of all the stakeholders concerned with (eco) tourism in Suriname. Thereby, it is analyzed how different actors collaborate in the sector to work towards a sustainable form of tourism. | |
