An Investigation into the Relationship Between Sustainable Wetland Tourism Development and Extreme Poverty Alleviation in Rural Bangladesh

Abstract

The attempt of the research was to understand the potential of wetland tourism development to be used as a tool in alleviating extreme rural poverty in Bangladesh. The objective of this research was to gather knowledge and understand the nexus between wetland tourism development and extreme poverty alleviation in rural Bangladesh. By considering the research problem and the objective of the research, the main research question was to identify how the stakeholders of wetland tourism and networks can contribute to the poverty alleviation problem in rural Bangladesh. To address the main research question, the wetland tourism stakeholders and their networks of the country were given special focus in this research. The research also examined the crucial roles of organizational stakeholders in order to understand the relationship between the extreme rural poor and the wetland tourism related enterprises of the country. The critical theory paradigm was considered as the best theoretical foundation for this research as it provides the framework to understand the roles and realities of the rural poor as marginalized groups. As a result, the research stands in a subjective paradigm. Within a single embedded case, this research was focused on some key projects related with wetland-tourism development and poverty alleviation in Bangladesh. The researcher placed emphasis on the participants of the extreme rural poor people living in the study site who are getting benefits from the wetland-based tourism development and the drawbacks of extreme rural poor who are not getting benefits. In addition, the researcher talked with local people of the study area to know their personal opinions regarding the prospects of wetland-based tourism development in the rural areas of Bangladesh. In order to reach the extreme rural poor people of the study site, the researcher took official permission from the director of the Management of Aquatic Ecosystem through Community Husbandry (MACH) project to gain access to the extreme rural poor people, and to the officials of the organizations those who are performing their respective activities in the study site for the development of wetland-based tourism in rural areas of Bangladesh. In this research, the techniques of triangulation of data have been used. These are as follows: 1) in-depth interview, 2) focus-group discussion, and 3) secondary literature. Total number of 22 in-depth interviews were conducted by using semi-structured questionnaires which provided sufficient space for the respondents to answer in detail. In addition to this, grey literature and observation helped the researcher to find important information related to the study questions; and a snowball sampling technique was applied to reach the research participants. Simultaneously, a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) containing 9 responsible persons of various stakeholders of different organizations were carried out at the study site. The members of the discussion were invited in a conference room of a Chinese Restaurant of the study site. These members attended the discussion at their convenience; and at the very early stage of the of discussion, they were given a briefing about the purpose of the discussion. Their views and arguments regarding various issues on wetland-based tourism development and extreme rural poverty alleviation were recorded by using audio and visual electronic devices. The analysis of interviewed information procedure was performed based on thematic analysis. The interview was conducted in Bengali language. While analyzing data, all recorded interviews were first written in Bengali, and then were translated into English. Once the researcher completed translation of a Bengali transcript into English, the audio records of interview, the Bengali transcripts as well as English transcripts were given to the two research assistants separately whose higher education have been completed from the department of English under Rajshahi University, Bangladesh in order to check the words and interpretations. Moreover, interview transcripts were sent to participants for validation. There was a request on behalf of the researcher to the participants to ensure the validation of the original responses. The entire processes facilitated enhanced the validity of the research work. Themes and sub-themes from the responses were developed manually. The information collected through in-depth interviews and FGD laid the strong basis that there is immense prospects for wetland-based tourism development in rural areas of Bangladesh. These include growing attraction of tourists, memorable experience, availability of natural resources, variation in natural beauty, scope of stopping indiscriminate catching fish and hunting birds by imposing more sanctuary on wetlands and the possibility for developing a safe zone for fish, birds and biodiversity. On the other hand, there are some barriers for wetland-based tourism development. These include lack of infrastructural and logistics supports, scarcity of educational and training institutions, lack of managerial efficiency, lack of cooperation, coordination and integration among stakeholders, irresponsible behaviors, unplanned developmental activities, impact of deforestation, improper lease out policy, corruption, lack of exposure and so on. As a result, the tourism development process in rural areas of Bangladesh is being hampered. There are also some prospects for poor’s benefits from wetland tourism include employment opportunities, the scope for knowledge sharing and awareness development, economic and financial support to get involved in alternative income generation (AIGs), increase in fishermen’s earning, exposure of rural culture, and the opportunity for favorable working environment for females which are creating social networking. However, there are some barriers for the rural poor people in getting involved in wetland based tourism development in Bangladesh. These barriers include low literacy rate, financial insolvency, insufficient training, lack of exposure and awareness, religious beliefs, the tendency to stick to the traditional occupations, lack of social capital, lack of confidence, fear of the unknown, and influence of local money lenders. Various supports are required to solve these barriers include infrastructural development and logistics support, monitoring and controlling, preserving ecosystem and biodiversity, restraining local influential people from the illegal occupying of wetlands, proper planning, and establishing coordinated and integrated support from stakeholders. In this regard, potential stakeholders can play some direct and indirect roles in certain domains to solve the barriers in order to alleviate extreme poverty of the rural poor through sustainable wetland-based tourism development. The ‘Integrated Model of Sustainable Wetland-based Tourism Development and Extreme Rural Poverty Alleviation’ has been developed. This model indicates that the rural poor people of the wetland areas will be able to gain, social, economic and political power if different national and international organizations work together to facilitate the necessary services. Here national sector includes various governmental bodies, and NGOs and private organizations of Bangladesh can play a significant role. On the other hand, international organizations include various international aid agencies such as United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) also can play a vital role. It is assumed that the rural poor people of the wetland areas can be empowered by providing trade and small and other micro businesses. Ultimately, a legitimate relationship can be developed among the rural poor people and tourists and wetland-based tourism-related organizations. Moreover, Government organizations, NGOs, and international aid agencies will be recognized them as urgency stakeholders if there is a potentiality to establish a wetland-based tourism area. Finally, the model concludes that power, legitimacy and urgency will allow the rural poor people of the wetland areas to get involved in wetland-based tourism activities; thereby contribute to their poverty alleviation problem.