Ethnotourism in Acre's Indigenous Communities: A Sustainable Development Path for the Brazilian Amazon

This thesis investigates the growing movement of ethnotourism in Indigenous communities in the state of Acre, located in the western Brazilian Amazon. In recent decades, several Indigenous groups have begun to welcome visitors into their territories through self-organised initiatives – a movement that seeks to affirm cultural identity and strengthen territorial autonomy, while also generating income and supporting community development. Based on 16 months of ethnographic fieldwork in Acre and additional research accompanying Indigenous representatives in Europe, the study reflects on the multiple dimensions of these ethnotourism experiences. Combining participant observation, interviews, a literature review, and professional experience within the Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS) Programme of UNESCO, it approaches ethnotourism as both a potential strategy for sustainable development and a space where cultural meanings are constantly transformed. The research examines how tourism projects are created and managed by Indigenous actors, how they are experienced by the communities themselves, and how they are shaped by broader environmental, political, and economic forces. The thesis also engages with key debates around the transformation of ritual practices, the commodification of Indigenous cultures, and the perceived impacts of ethnotourism – whether considered positive or negative – on both Indigenous life and the Amazonian environment. This study contributes to ongoing debates in postcolonial tourism, Indigenous autonomy, and sustainability in the Amazon, and offers insights into the complexities of intercultural exchange, the reconfiguration of ritual practices for external audiences, and the emergence of new social roles within Indigenous territories. Ultimately, it aims to provide evidence-based recommendations to enhance the benefits and mitigate the risks of ethnotourism in Indigenous contexts, supporting local agency while respecting cultural integrity. By situating Indigenous-led ethnotourism in Acre within local, regional, and transnational dynamics, this thesis highlights its significance as both a cultural and political movement, and as a pathway toward more inclusive and sustainable futures in the Amazon.