Abstract: With the development of eco-tourism along the east coastal region of Xiamen Island as a case for study, a cooperative shares system is put forward for development of eco-tourism as a mechanism to guarantee effective community participation,to improve the living standard of the local residents and to protect the ecology in the processes of exploiting and managing the ecological resources.On such a basis,exploration is made on an operational framework of the cooperative shares system for development of eco-tourism in the east coastal region of Xiamen Island.

Key words: Xiamen Island, eco-tourism, cooperative shares system, community participation