Participatory Planning for Ecotourism Development in the Peruvian Highlands

This paper is based on recent experience gained from working on the Huascaran National Park Tourism Management Plan, the first tourism plan in a Peruvian protected area. This experience suggested that ecotourism can be an effective conservation mechanism when designed within a participatory framework. This paper presents the context of the planning process including important contextual information about Peruvian protected areas and tourism activity, specific constraints to the process, and planning of tourism management. Special consideration is given to the participatory mechanisms used and the lessons learned during the process.