Ecotourism is often promoted as a sustainable development strategy that simultaneously protects natural ecosystems and enhances the socio-economic conditions of indigenous communities. However, ecological degradation, cultural commodification, unequal benefit distribution, and power imbalances continue to pose challenges. This article investigates the social, cultural, economic, and political impacts of ecotourism on indigenous communities through an interdisciplinary review of 95 global case studies from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Latin America.

Findings indicate that ecotourism can generate stable income, strengthen cultural revitalization, and support land rights movements. Yet negative impacts include loss of cultural autonomy, rising inequalities between community members, habitat degradation due to tourism influx, and conflicts with external tourism operators. The success of ecotourism depends on governance structures, indigenous ownership, decision-making authority, and respect for cultural protocols.