The book brings gender issues to the forefront, discussing ecotourism from the perspective of local populations in Odisha considering whether or not women have any control over ecotourism development or are sharing equitably in the benefits which ecotourism may bring. Firstly, in countries where socially prescribed roles mean that women and girls generally have greater interaction with the natural environment than men, women's cooperation is needed if that natural aresosurce base the resource upon which the ecotourism trade is dependent.