R, Vishnu M

Anthropogenic involution in coastal areas jeopardises the coastline's quality, endangering the region's Ecosystem Services (ESs). Transforming the region into Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and enabling sustainable tourism initiatives might be a solution for protecting the ESs and leading to the sustainable development of the destination. The study intends to measure the synergetic interaction, conservation pattern, and sustainability in the socio-economic inclusion of the host community in the MPA tourism initiative at Kadalundi- Vallikunnu Community Reserve. The study utilises the potentiality of a qualitative approach to the theoretical background of Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach and concept of real freedom. The findings reveal that the ecotourism initiative has enriched the labour market, replacing traditional employment opportunities with sustainable employment opportunities, resulting in a multiplier effect on the local economy as well as the per capita income of the host community members, which has significantly impacted the host community's socio-economic and socio-cultural aspects. Furthermore, real freedom disseminates through mutual participation, continuous cognitive interaction, escalating the functioning and capabilities of the local community, which ultimately leads to the socio-economic development of the destination. The Authority's socio-cognitive measures and capital investment snowballed the stakeholders' synergetic interaction.

Keywords: Marine Protected Areas, Ecotourism, Community Management, Tourism Development, Sustainable Tourism Development, Synergy