Ecotourism has potential for development and conservation, but there are notable and seemingly unsolvable hindrances inherent in physical limitations (lack of infrastructure etc.), and in the tension between the expectations of tourists and those of indigenous peoples. This presentation discusses the potential and pitfalls of ecotourism using the Punan of East Kalimantan as a case in point. IRD/CIFOR scientist Patrice Levang gave this presentation together with Miyako Koizumi (University of Kyoto) at a session titled ‘Local populations confronted with societal changes of tourism’ at the 13th Congress of the International Society of Ethnobiology, held on 20-25 May 2012 in Montpellier, France.

1. HUNTER-GATHERERS’ CULTURE,
A MAJOR ATTRACTION AND HINDRANCE TO TOURISM DEVELOPMENT:
THE CASE OF THE PUNAN OF EAST KALIMANTAN
Patrice LEVANG and Miyako KOIZUMI
THINKING beyond the canopy
Congress of the International Society of Ethnobiology
Montpellier, 20-25 May 2012

2. Ecotourism:
a way to conserve and develop
indigenous communities and their environment?
• The concept:
nature-based tourism
managed by indigenous communities results
in conservation of natural resources and
in increased development.
• Basic assumptions:
indigenous groups are inherently environmentalists;
they want to continue to live in harmony with nature.
A major unsolvable contradiction

3. Borneo
A major attraction:
primary forests and
headhunters

4. Existing experiments:
30 years of Culture and Nature Tourism
in Sarawak
Major attractions:
• Nature: pristine, virgin, untouched forests, rivers, waterfalls
• Adventure: longboat ride, river safari, rapids, skulls and
remnants of headhunting
• Authentic culture: long houses, noble savages, exotic, primitive,
traditional, untouched by the modern world, close to nature

5. Existing experiments:
30 years of Culture and Nature Tourism
in Sarawak
Impacts:
• Employment: river transportation, handicrafts,
low qualified jobs in hotels and restaurants,
cultural shows and performances, guides, porters…
• Construction of
an “authentic culture” that suits tourists’ expectations:
no development artifacts, traditional houses and clothes…
• Total control by tour operators:
play the game or be put off the tourism map;
always looking for more authentic longhouses…

6. The quest for
authenticity

7. East-Kalimantan:
“untouched wilderness” and “traditional peoples”

8. East-Kalimantan: major attractions
• Pristine forests
• River safaris
• Traditional culture
• Noble savages,
traditional Dayak and Punan
hunter-gatherers
• Etc.

9. Pristine forests

10. River safaris

11. Long houses

12. Traditional
culture

13. Hunting

14. and
gathering

15. East-Kalimantan: numerous hindrances
• Bad accessibility
• High costs
• Absence of
infrastructures,
lack of comfort,
• Risks, insurance,
health,
• No efficient
tour operators

16. East-Kalimantan: numerous hindrances
• Bad accessibility
• High costs
• Absence of
infrastructures,
lack of comfort,
• Risks, insurance,
health,
• No efficient
tour operators

17. A major hindrance: Punan culture
Immediate return-systems or “Enjoy
the present, tomorrow is another
day”
• Means no planning, no preparation,
no savings…
• Increasing rates, decreasing quality
• The good boat is not available but
we have another one
• Absence of accountability
• The money for the fuel is finished,
give me more money
• The food is finished, give me more
money

18. A major hindrance: Punan culture
The value of sharing… it’s natural to ask for a share from somebody who has more
than you
also means: Give me your shirt!

19. A major hindrance: Punan culture
A vanishing culture
• No traditional music and dances
• No loincloths but jeans
• TVs, videos, HP…

20. East-Kalimantan: a reality far from expectation

21. Conclusion:
Ecotourism and development?
• An untapped opportunity
• But a huge lack of infrastructure and capacity
• An inherent contradiction : development without (visible) change
• The solution: fooling the tourist, but how long will it last?
• As usual, the Punan will be on the losing side