XI. A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING LOCAL LIVELIHOODS AND ALTERNATIVE TOURISM IN THE AYSÉN REGION OF CHILE: CAPACITIES, CAPABILITIES AND VULNERABILITIES Dr. Trace Gale*
Abstract While alternative forms of tourism are increasingly being employed as an agent for sustainable local development, little focus has been placed on understanding the fit and sustainability of alternative forms of tourism for rural livelihoods. Without this understanding, it is difficult to value the potential for tourism to provide the opportunity for sustainable local development. This chapter transports readers deep within the rural livelihood context by employing the concepts of sustainable livelihoods theory to sensitize the examination of alternative forms of tourism developing in the Aysén region of Patagonian, Chile. The area of study was bounded by the geopolitical boundaries of the Aysén Region of southern Chile, a geography of 108,494.4 square kilometers, which represents 14.3% of the country of Chile. The rationale for choosing Aysén as the site for the study centered on several dynamics present in the region. Livelihood options for locals in the region are undergoing significant changes. Until the construction of the Southern Highway in the 1980s, the only overland routes through Aysén, from north to south, consisted of extremely primitive tracks. Livelihoods in the region have traditionally been based on livestock (cattle and sheep) and small-scale fishing. After close to a century of overgrazing and slash and burn agricultural practices, the soil is extremely depleted and many rural residents can no longer effectively sustain a livelihood based on agricultural or ranching practices. Individuals and communities throughout the region are seeking inclusive options for economic development and the growth of alternative forms of tourism in the region during the last decades is seen as an area for hope. The chapter begins by introducing the readers to concepts through the fictional account of Martin, a local resident of the Aysén region of Patagonian Chile. Next, core theoretical concepts of alternative tourism and sustainable livelihoods theory are outlined. After a brief description of the study methodology, results
* Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia (CIEP) Conicyt Regional/CIEP R10C1003.
249