MORE THAN NATURE: ANTHROPOLOGISTS AS INTERPRETERS OF CULTURE FOR NATURE-BASED TOURS

Anthropologists have much to offer as interpreters of cultures for tourists traveling to remote areas of the world. Often advertised as ecotours, group travel is now being offered to areas of the world that are still considered off the beaten path. With more and more travel taking place in the form of organized, guided tours, the anthropologist is in a prime position to educate travel companies and tourists concerning the populations with which they come into contact while enhancing the experience for both the tourists and the host populations. Colorful brochures advertise tours that will have a range of naturalists to guide the tourists through the natural environment in a chosen destination. Rarely do tours advertise that they have anthropologists to help tourists learn more about the local cultures. This paper explores the benefits of hiring anthropologists as tour guides for nature-based tours, using examples from the Amazon.