Community-Based Ecotourism and the Green Economy: A Synergistic Approach to Sustainable Development

Abstract

The urgency for sustainable tourism development has intensified due to increasing ecological degradation and social inequality driven by conventional tourism models. This study aims to explore the synergistic integration between Community-Based Ecotourism (CBE) and the Green Economy (GE) approach as a strategic pathway toward holistic sustainable development. Employing an exploratory qualitative approach, this research was conducted in two distinct locations: Sumberbendo Ecotourism Village (Indonesia) and Binh Son Coastal Ecotourism Area (Vietnam). Findings reveal that the integration of CBE and GE generates significant benefits across four key dimensions: social, economic, environmental, and institutional. Socially, there was a marked increase in community participation, including the empowerment of vulnerable groups such as women and youth. Economically, local income diversification and the rise of small-scale green entrepreneurship were evident. Environmentally, both sites demonstrated successful ecosystem rehabilitation, waste reduction, and adoption of green technologies. Institutionally, a collaborative governance model was established involving communities, local governments, and private stakeholders. However, several challenges persist, such as limited access to green technology, dependency on external funding during early implementation, and benefit distribution conflicts. Nevertheless, community adaptive capacity and the presence of enabling policies played a pivotal role in overcoming these constraints. This study proposes an integrative conceptual framework grounded in participatory action, ecological efficiency, and inclusive governance as a strategic reference for replicating sustainable ecotourism models in other Global South regions. The findings offer both theoretical contributions to sustainable tourism literature and practical implications for policymakers and development practitioners seeking community-centered green transformation.