title: The cultural and ecological impacts of aboriginal tourism: a case study on Taiwan's Tao tribe.
abstract: We show that tourism activities severely impact the ecology of Orchid Island, its natural resources, and the culture of the Tao tribe. For example, highway widening, in response to the increased traffic volumes caused by tourism, required many Pandanus trees to be cut and removed, which has placed the coconut crabs in danger of extinction. To promote eco-tourism, observation trips to observe Elegant Scops owls and Birdwing butterflies have taken place, which has affected the breeding of these two protected species. The Elegant Scops owls- and Birdwing butterflies-related tourism activities also break the "evil spirits" taboo of the Tao people and have caused the disappearance of the specifications for using traditional natural resources, causing natural ecosystems to face the threat of excessive use. In addition to promoting and advocating aboriginal tourism of the Tao people on Orchid Island, the Taiwanese government should help the Tao people to develop a management model that combines traditional regulations and tourism activities.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program of Sustainable Tourism and Recreation Management, National Taichung University of Education, 140 Min-Shen Road, TaiChung, 40306 Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-Ming
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617 Taiwan.
authors.forename: Dau-Jye
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lu
keywords: Cultural and ecological impact of tourism; Eco-tourism; Evil spirits; Tao tribe