MOTION: ECOTOURISM IS AN OXYMORON Students can add content, create external (web) & internal (wiki) links, upload files, video, images, etc. to this page, that relate to the motion. Add your contribution to this page's 'Table of Contents' first, and then submit your contribution below, under 'Resource'.
DEFINITION OF ECOTOURISM: Ecotourism is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strive to be low impact and (often) small scale (as an alternative to mass tourism). Its purpose is to educate the traveler; provide funds for ecological conservation; directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and foster respect for different cultures and for human rights.
(wikipedia)
AN EXAMPLE OF RESOURCE INPUT FORMAT (format must be followed for every resource entry):
DEFINITION: "purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture and natural history of the environment; taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem; producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people."
environmental benefits of ecotourism development in Costa Rica have been far reaching. Since 1963 when the first environmental protection reserve was created, Costa Rica's conservation initiatives have expanded to include 70 protected areas or national parks covering 21% of the nation's territory, as well as the creation of Costa Rica's National Park Service in 1970. (Weaver, 1998, 87). It can be deduced that this incredible increase in the area marked for conservation would not have been possible without the economic incentives of ecotourism. As locals were relocated and logging industries shut down, Costa Ricans were able to turn to the tourism industry for employment. This would not have been possible if Costa Rica had adhered to former protectionist measures that tended to wall off protected areas from the public.
The International Ecotourism Society’s Summary of Guidelines for Nature Tour Operators[[#sdfootnote1sym|1]]
Predeparture Programs:
Prepare travelers to minimize their negative impacts while visiting sensitive environments and culturesbefore departure.
Preparatory work is essential - education prior to the trip greatly reduces the visitors' impact on local culture & environment.
Guiding Programs:
Prepare travelers for each encounter with local cultures and with native animals and plants.
Minimize visitor impacts on the environment and local culture by offering literature, briefings, leading by example, and taking corrective actions.
Again, well prepared guides are essential. Leadership and knowledge are also essential in the guide, stressed by the following point.
Monitoring Programs:
Use adequate leadership, and maintain small enough groups to ensure minimum group impact on destinations. Avoid areas that are undermanaged and overvisited.
Poorly educated guides have minimal contributions to the goal of the eco-tour.
Management Programs:
Ensure managers, staff and contract employees know and participate in all aspects of company policy to prevent impacts on the environment and local cultures.
Participation AT ALL LEVELS of the company is crucial.
Give managers, staff and contract employees access to programs that will upgrade their ability to communicate with and manage clients in sensitive natural and cultural settings.
Be a contributor to the conservationof the regions being visited.
You have to contribute in more than just one way (i.e. your company) to that place. Contribute actively -> demonstrate your true commitment.
Provide competitive, local employment in all aspects of business operations.
Local employment! Enhances economy, helps build relationships between visitors and locals, exchange of cultures etc.
ALL ASPECTS! Empowerment, involvement.
Local Accommodation Checklist
Offer site-sensitive accomodations that are not wasteful of local resources or destructive to the environment that provide ample opportunity for learning about the environment and sensitive interchange with local communities.
To quote/paraphrase a certain person's words of wisdom: "Why bother travelling to a home away from home if you can just stay at home?"
Say goodbye to Hilton Resorts! Mingle, learn, truly exchange cultures, and become enriched and more aware of the consequences of your actions.
[[#sdfootnote1anc|1]] The International Ecotourism Society (1993), Ecotourism Guidelines For Nature Tour Operators, The International Ecotourism Society, North Bennington.
Traditional tourism is not only the act of a foreigner visiting a foreign land, but also the participation of and effects on the local populations of areas with tourism.
Facilities and programs developed with the purpose of attracting and dealing with tourists becomes a part of the local culture, and it is up to tourism planning organizations to ensure that they stay within the original framework of the culture (i.e. that they do not impinge on other aspects of culture.)
Ecotourism is different: it involves local populations in all aspects of tourism.
Historical bond between the culture and its environment is important to the survival of an ecotourism program, as indigenous people are historically and culturally closest to their environment.
Ecotourism is part of the development strategy of many developing countries.
While it is important to ensure that cultures are allowed to maintain their sense of identity, it would also be contradictory to expect them to remain static.
Perhaps this is one of the self-contradictory aspects of ecotourism. On the one hand, optimal conservation would be to not touch it. On the other, you need to develop...
Perhaps ecotourism is simply a compromise that we have made. But then isn't this paradoxical too? Ecotourism is about conservation, and you can't really have halfway conservation.
Successful ecotourism program: involve both environmental planning and social planning. Stressing one will cause the other to deteriorate.
Requires a conscious effort to maintain the integrity of local cultures and environment.
Environmental Planning:
Strong nature base
Support for conservation in the area
Sustainable management practices
Element of environmental education for both locals and tourists.
Most visitors are unaware of the impact that their presence has on the environment.
Social Planning
Most important social factor: make sure that "local populations have a crucial level of awareness of the prospective benefits and costs of tourism to contribute effectively in the planning process."
The local community is rarely consulted by private operators about their vision for the area, nor are they traditionally a part of the planning process.
However, as ecotourism has developed, developers have become aware of the importance of involving the local community in ecotourism programs.
Benefits for local communities
Emphasis on proper environmental management – benefits them in the long run.
Provides many new job opportunities
Outlet for local products in a new market
HOWEVER, while local businesses develop, as demand increases, so does price – locals have to pay more.
Improved infrastructure and facilities
New skills, technology (development)
Increased cultural awareness – by locals and by visitors.
Tourist spending
Ideal situation: large part of the revenue gained will stay within the region
Important that locals are hired and paid instead of TNCs.
Local community cannot make use of the multiplier effect.
Problems that threaten ecotourism as a program:
Growth of ecotourism may be momentarily beneficial – however, the growth of “the global tourism industry often does so at the expense of the social and ecological integrity of destination regions.”
Social integrity is compromised when development occurs too quickly and without proper input from local communities
Ecological integrity is compromised with inadequate planning and with uneducated visitors
The problem is that the benefits of ecotourism are almost immediate (monetary), but proper, sustainable ecotourism requires years of planning! If enough incentives are offered, it is easy for countries to erode their control over their tourism industry.
Massive problems for many countries: too much, too fast.
Is it ethical to offer these incentives, knowing that it is detrimental to the country's long-term well-being?
Future of ecotourism:
If we choose to further develop existing destinations, we run the risk of overdeveloping them, which runs contrary to the concept of ecotourism.
If we choose to expand into new areas, we must be extremely careful not to develop too quickly.
CASE STUDY: DOMINICA. Developed much too quickly without any input from local community.
Success of new ecotourism projects depends on how much control the local populace can exert over this new industry.
Problems with so-called greenwashing (as Talia has written about) – public must be educated.
Conflict with conventional tourism (which focuses on revenue, sometimes at the expense of the local culture, community, and/or environment)
Case Studies / Examples.
Bay Island in Honduras: rapid spread of ecotourism is not sustainable. RAPID DILUTION OF LOCAL CULTURE.
Blame: foreign corporations. No dialogue between them and the local community.
People that were involved were those wealthy enough to invest in the first place.
Inequality in distribution of ecotourism wealth → hostility.
Locals feel resentment: tourism industry consumes resources without reimbursement.
Ambergris Caye in Belize
More locals are hired to work in tourism facilities.
However, marked decrease in local fishing industry: lose skilled workers to tourism industry.
Consequence: decrease in food, ALSO decrease the very thing that visitors come to see.
OXYMORONIC? Self-contradictory.
Positive side: they are limiting foreign investment by capping the number of beds per hotel at 60, and keeping the tradition of unpaved roads in the middle of the town. Trying to preserve culture.
Sulawesi, Indonesia
Foreign developers who do not take account of local culture.
Two communities: Bajau and Kaledupan. Because of a program that helps to assimilate native cultures with a proper, appropriate tourism program called Operation Wallacea (British ecotourism group), the Kaledupan community benefits more from their ecotourism industry.
EDUCATION and involvement of locals; take into account the local culture.
Nunavut, Canada
Northern provinces – interesting traditions, culture, and history: attract tourists.
1996: Aboriginal Tourism Team Canada issued goal: “to represent Aboriginal people as world leaders in tourism in harmony with our culture.”
Success:
High reverence for environment, translating into successful ecotourism program
Work through themselves to control the industry, translating into revenue enjoyed by the local community instead of foreign groups
Only problem: stress placed on the local practice of hunting sustainably. HOWEVER, they are aware of this and as such can manage it! Successful, because they take into account the local conditions.
Tourism is environmentally damaging/ energy-intensive/ produces CO2
Travel methods are energy intensive – planes burning fuel, cars burning petrol – the act of travel using fossil fuel-powered vehicles is “environmentally unfriendly” as carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere – contributing to global warming
Example:
“There's an inherent problem with even this high-level type of ecotourism: power requirements. Even with partially green-powered lodging, planes still fly on greenhouse-gas-emitting fuel. And the round trip flight from, say, New York to Tanzania is very long -- about 15,000 miles (24,000 kilometers). Then add in the gas-powered Jeep rides from the airport into the jungle and then from spot to spot within that huge tract of land, seeking out zebras and giraffes. We're talking about a whole lot of carbon dioxide emissions during that two-week trip.” (Layton, 2010)
There are ways to offset your carbon footprint, and contribute to development of sustainable energy in the process:
Buying green tags/ carbon offsets:
You can choose to pay extra to “offset carbon footprint” as the money spent is used to help generate clean electricity (wind power, etc) to cover the carbon dioxide emissions due to your travel.
Example:
“That 6,300 pounds of CO2 you're emitting with your flight to Tanzania only costs about $40 to offset [source: TerraPass].” (Layton, 2010)
(However, doesn’t really change the fact that you’re contributing to the emission of carbon dioxide due to travel – no change in net emissions – does not entirely discourage the use of fossil fuel based travel)
Premier Eco-tourism destination in Philippines (thanks to care and supervision)
Situation:
Home to 43% of the country’s mangrove forests
Ecology close to collapsing 10 years ago
Action:
After 3 years of replanting mangroves – Role of protection of forest is given to community, under a “community based management plan” - Entire community is involved in preserving environment
Relay location of dolphins to tourist operators using modern technology
Results:
Fishermen – Catch increased, Birds returned
Increase in Tourist inflow
Dolphins – bio-indicators for fish – benefits the survival of dolphins and fisherman’s livelihoods
Give hope to local people – become “active players” in the industry
Conclusion:
Eco-tourism is not "impossible" - “It can be done”
Environmental damage can be reversed with effort
Local empowerment + management in contrast to mass tourism's external control at work
Eco-tourism is harming New Zealand's Marine Wild Life Unsustainable eco-tourism has lead to more marine animals being injured and killed in collisions with boats. http://www.cdnn.info/eco/e020829/e020829.html
Notes:
Tourism is having a huge impact on whales and dolphins around New Zealand's coastline. With the increasing popularity for interacting with the wildlife, animal behaviour has gradually changed and they are now becoming endangered species.
Eco-tourism in particular, is growing at a rate that could have a significant impact on the natural attraction.
Research has shown that bottlenose dolphins in the Bay of Islands have become "sensitized" to swimmers.
As a result of the huge numbers of tourists, dolphins have learnt to avoid people and boats as tourism levels increase.
People have become more careless; the increase in the number of boats has caused young dolphins to be hit.
The increase in eco-tourists who claim to travel to interact with natural beauty has created cause for concern of the stress and long-term implications for endangered species. Eco-tourism should take care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people. Species such as the Hector's Dolphin - an endemic species that supports significant tourism activity- have become endangered and this destroys economic opportunities in the long run, defying one the main purposes of eco-tourism.
Upon closer inspection into the niche market that has a projected value of $474 billion by 2012, hoteliers and destination tour operators have been found to be Greenwashing rather than promoting Eco-tourism.
Greenwashing is the insincere promotion of business practices that are advertised as reducing carbon emissions or limiting the use of scarce resources e.g. when the actual objective is to increase profits by implementing some easy, cost-saving measures.
The Environmental Marketing Firm Terrachoice published a study in 2007 called the 5 Sins of Greenwashing which found that more than 99% of 1018 common consumer products randomly surveyed for the study were guilty of the greenwashing sins:
Hidden Trade-off: Examples are a hotel that uses "energy efficient" light bulbs that contain hazardous materials or the hotel restaurant that advertises the use of "locally-sourced ingredients" that are purchased at a local supermarket.
Relativism: Tour operators use "fuel-efficient" SUVS when the vehicle itself is not an efficient mode of transportation.
Vagueness: Examples are an airline company that claims the use of planes is "better for the environment" than driving a hybrid car to you destination or maintains a "carbon-offsetting program" that only makes up for a small fraction of the company's overall energy use.
Irrelevance: Hotel hair products claiming to be "CFC-free" even though CFCs were banned 20 years ago
Fibbing: Company that falsely claims to be certified by an internationally recognized environmental standard like EcoLogo, Energy Star or Green Seal.
Greenwashing has undermined the legitimacy of eco-tourism. Governments use Eco-tourism merely as a label to promote their destinations without truly understanding its principles. Certification is fundamental in ensuring businesses are meeting standards.
Trash-in, trash-out policy: take away whatever you bring in
Difficulties encountered:
Can be difficult to achieve balance in ecotourism.
No overlooking organisation for ecotourism
Using "ecotourism" as a marketing tool to attract people
"Carbon offsetting": paying extra to offset/compensate for the carbon emission: viable/trustworthy approach? Does planting more trees using that money actually help?
Ecotourism is one of the fastest growing sectors within the tourism industry. By protecting local habitats and respecting local people and culture it has had positive effect .
What "good" ecotourism should take into account:
makes no negative impact on the environment and helps to sustain and promote the life of the local ecosystems
create a win-win situation between outsiders and locals
Problems with "fake tourism":
Tourism ventures such as low-impact tourism, green tourism, bio-tourism and ecologically responsible tourism are advertised as eco-tourism when they do not fall under this category realistically.
Green washing, claiming something as eco-friendly when in reality it is destructive
Exploitation of the economy that the tourists themselves did not actually ask for
South Africa as an example: although there is a lot of ecotourism going on, local communities are not benefiting
Must educate tourists to decide whether an agency is providing good ecotourism. Profits from ecotourism should be put into its promotion and the conservation of natural resources too.
How Your Travels Will Affect Local Communities
Ecotourism is definitely a rising trend. However, even within the realm of ecotourism, the social implications of travel are often overlooked.
Negative Impacts:
Loss of culture: loss of local produce and crafts, designs adjusted to suit tourists' taste and therefore lacking in cultural flavour.
Loss of traditional food and living style, and replaced with the style of life from the tourist's original home countries.
Tourists should learn to accept the local surroundings, not impose their own expectations onto others' homeland.
No matter how discreetly ecotourists move around in forests, scientists insist that such human intervention can have detrimental effects on wildlife.
In a study of protected Californian forest, scientists have shown that hiking, wildlife-watching and similar low-impact activities are linked to a sharp drop in numbers of carnivores such as bobcats and coyotes.
fivefold reductions in the native species," said Adina Merenlender of the University of California, Berkeley, who ran the study with Sarah Reed of the San Francisco-based Wilderness Society.
In 2004, ecotourism grew three times as fast as the tourist industry as a whole. Now, one in five tourists go on eco-holidays. It has been shown to have an impact on a range of species, from dolphins and dingoes to penguins and polar bears.
However, the upside of ecotourism is that its revenue provides one of the best incentives for local communities to protect endangered animals instead of hunting them.
Such apparently harmless activities may alter the make-up of wildlife communities, challenging the main concept of ecotourism, i.e. it minimises impacts and maximises benefits.
Focusing their study on 14 protected zones of oak woodland in northern California, at each site the researchers collected faeces left by the target species along a series of 500-metre sampling paths. Later, they compared the quantity found in areas out of bounds to humans with that found along sampling paths in similar "paired" areas nearby where access was allowed.
Banning of people from one area showed that native species such as bobcats, coyotes and grey foxes thrived and were typically five times as abundant as in more heavily trafficked areas. Similarly, faeces of domestic animals, particularly dogs, were only found in the areas visited by humans.
While it's known that human activity can alarm animals, but Merenlender said that this is the first time a consistent effect has been demonstrated across entire communities.
"We see it over the whole park, not just a single trail," Merenlender said.
He said: "It's hard to make generalisations. It can depend heavily on species, as some are more affected by recreation than others."
Risk: Unregulated, nature tourism can damage the environment and corrode local cultures. Pollution from runaway resort and hotel development around fragile park areas in Costa Rica, Nepal, and Thailand exemplifies poorly managed tourism activity.
Distribution of benefits: Where international travel and resort chains or urban investors control the tourism industry, the local economic effect of ecotourism may be reduced. Early studies of ecotourism expenditures suggest that in such cases not much perhaps 20 to 30 cents of the tourist dollar stays in the national economy; even less reaches local communities.
Perceptions: Developing countries fear that their parks and protected areas will become playgrounds for international tourists, with the land reserved for conservation and no longer available for farming to feed and employ their growing populations.
Lack of information: More and better information is need about the actual and potential economic contributions of nature tourism ventures and practices. Inclusion of visits to natural attractions as part of regular recreational tourism needs to be explored along with "purer" forms of nature tourism and travel.
Eco-tourism is a facade: many eco-tourists believe that its benefits are exaggerated.
Environmentally risky: serious impacts is the expropriation of`virgin' territories - national parks, wildlife parks and other wilderness areas - which are packaged for eco-tourists as the green option. Eco-tourism is highly consumer-centered, catering mostly to urbanised societies and the new middle-class `alternative lifestyles'. Searching for `untouched' places `off the beaten track' of mass tourism, travellers have already opened up many new destinations.
No local benefits: Diverse local social and economic activities are replaced by an eco-tourism monoculture. Contrary to claims, local people do not necessarily benefit from eco-tourism. Tourism-related employment is greatly overrated: locals are usually left with low-paying service jobs such as tour guides, porters, and food and souvenir vendors. In addition, they are not assured of year-round employment: workers may be laid off during the off-season. Most money, as with conventional tourism, is made by foreign airlines, tourism operators, and developers who repatriate profit to their own economically more advanced countries.
Romantic devastation: Eco-tourism's claim that it preserves and enhances local cultures is highly insincere. Ethnic groups are viewed as a major asset in attracting visitors; an `exotic' backdrop to natural scenery and wildlife. The simultaneous romanticism and devastation of indigenous cultures is one of eco-tourism's ironies. Given a lack of success stories, and sufficient evidence of serious adverse effects, the current huge investments in eco-tourism are misplaced and irresponsible. Research, education, and information for tourists is needed, and the countering of eco-tourism's demeaning of local cultures. - Third World Network Features/African Agenda
Positive impacts:
Will fill in later....
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CASE STUDY: Ecotourism in Peru - Rumble in the jungle
Discusses social, economic, and environmental costs and benefits of ecotourism
Madre de Dios region in the Peruvian Amazon
The article discusses ecotourism in the Peruvian Amazon, the area of the Amazon jungle included in the territory of Peru.The ecotourism in the region is managed by Rainforest Expedition which is in a 20-year joint venture with the local community mainly comprised of indigenous Ese-éjapeople. Because of the company’s directly involves and cooperates with the local community, the ecotousim is generating beneficial social and environmental effect.
It is undergoing an ecotourism boom due to its success that stems from:
1. Attractive Natural Resources: The region comprises vast areas of pristine rainforest, including some of the most biodiverse places on earth, much of it protected (at least on paper) in magnificent national parks.
2. Accessibility: Its capital, Puerto Maldonado, is less than an hour's flight from Cuzco, gateway to Machu Picchu, the Incas' ruined city.
As a result, much investment has been made for its ecotourism industry:
- The Madre de Dios region in the Peruvian Amazon has more than 70 “eco-lodges” under Posada Amazonas
- Last year (2007) more than 60,000 foreigners visited the area, a 20-fold increase over 15 years.
Benefits of Ecotourism Economic
Indigenous community share decision-making through an elected “control committee” and receive 60% of the ecotourism profits – totalled %130,000 in 2007 which goes directly to the local community. They also got most of last year's $140,000 payroll.
Rainforest Expeditions is training the local community so they can take over the whole operation in 2016 – can generate future profits
Social
Training is increasing literacy rates of local people
Nutrition and health levels of locals have all greatly improved
Potential costs of Ecotourism Environmental Costs 1. Ecotourism Boom
Though the forest has largely remained unspoiled due to the joint interests of the local community and Rainforest Expeditions, it is noted that the Madre de Dios region is undergoing an ecotourism boom, with more than 60,000 foreigners in 2007, which represents a 20-fold increase over 15 years. The continually increasing number of tourists will inevitably lead to increased environmental disturbance and damage to the area.
2. Development of Interoceanic Highway Eduardo Nycander, a co-founder of Rainforest Expeditions is leading the development of a 700km paved highway 15km from the Posada Amazonas. The increased demand for ecotourism probably led to the development of the highway for increased accessibility and convenience. However, this could have detrimental effects for several reasons:
Roads in the Amazon are notorious for provoking waves of development and uncontrolled deforestation through logging, mining and agriculture
Uncontrolled development can easily happen as Peru’s wide-ranging environmental laws are little-applied and unfunded
In Brazil, a halo of deforestation typically extends 50km on either side of a road within a decade of paving
The scale of destruction can result in a net economic drain, in spite of the infrastructure investment – expected in the Interoceanic Highway’s case to reach around $1 billion
The road cuts between the two biggest protected rainforest areas, and substantial sections of seven more protected areas lie within 50km of it.
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ECOTOURISM: IMPACTS, POTENTIALS AND POSSIBILITIES? by Stephen Wearing, John Neil
This article discusses how ecotourism needs to address numerous aspects of its development to be ensured to produce sound marketing and sustainable resource management in order to shape its demand and expectations. The article highlights five aspects that have to be addressed in order for ecotourism to develop sustainably and successfully. *Highlighted Blue: Difficulties in addressing the five aspects needed for sustainable ecotourism
1. Ecotourism requires sensitively developed tourist infrastructure This puts a lot of responsibility in the hands of the tourism industry. Economic development demands increasingly stringent environmental assessment techniques and reports to be included in applications for development, especially in countries where economic imperatives may take precedent over more qualitative aspects such as environmental, social and cultural significance of development. However, this responsibility may easily be neglected as the tourism industry sees increased volume of tourists as a window for profits
2. Ecotourism requires a supply-led tourism industrm The tourism industry must firstly define itself holistically and agree to cooperate with and support a coordinating authority to make decisions about the number of operators, ceiling number of tours, pricing, etc. They have to manage the tourism supply in a way that will not damage the environment or cause social or cultural disturbances to the local community. However, again, this responsibility may easily shift and become demand-led by the incentive of profits if there is a surge of tourist demand.
3. The body responsible for making these decisions and policing industry activities needs to be a third party to the tourism industry This is important so that decisions made will not cause detrimental effects to the environment. However, it may be very difficult to find a “third party” completely unbiased as even the government is not impartial to its interest in tourism growth, because of the short-term revenue that tourism can create for a region, especially where foreign currency is concerned.
4.Ecotourism requires the establishment of carrying capacities and strict monitoring of these It is important to establish a carrying capacity in which cannot be exceeded to prevent detrimental consequences to the environment and local community. However, it is a task no profit-motivated organization in the tourism industry sees as its responsibility. It is also a difficult task that requires a comprehensive knowledge and expertise in the field of environmental, social and cultural assessments – social and cultural assessments are difficult to measure. It will also often require ongoing financial and human resource commitment to minor and evaluate impacts and changing relationships.
5. Ecotourism relies on the environmentally sensitive behavior and operations of ecotour operators and tourists Environmentally sensitive behavior is the foundation of ecotourism and initiatives taken. In the initial years of ecotourism development there was a flood of “code of ethics” of “charters” released by a variety of tourism industry groups and environmental organizations. However, there are problems to overcome in this such as greenwashing.
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Ecotourism in Asia: The Big Green Debate Written by Wild Asia on 30 Mar 2005
(Wild Asia is an organization that works to promote and support the conservation of natural areas and local communities dependent upon natural resources – likely developing countries)
This is an interesting article that recounts upon a debate about ecotourism during The Asia-Pacific Ecotourism Conference (APECO) in 2004. It discusses both for and against sides of ecotourism from the perspective of Robert Basiuk of an ecotourism company called Borneo Adventure Travel (for) and Luke Clark, a journalist from Singapore (against).
*Words in Blue: Additional personal response to researched information
Against Ecotourism
1. It had become a cash-cow. The World Tourism Organization announced ecotourism was growing at "maybe double, even triple," the rate of the rest of the industry. From 1980 to 98, visitors to seven ecotourism nation countries with high levels of biodiversity - Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa and Thailand - rose 242 percent.Though it may not seem as obvious, ecotourism is still in effect a business (one that practices responsible tourism). It is still an opportunity to earn profits. Thus, such a rapid growth in ecotourism will inevitably interest new developers to jump into this new market in likely an uncontrolled manner.
2. It was never trademarked. The entry level was low. Anybody could move into a green tract of land and call themselves an ecotourism operation. There was still no internationally accepted definition, and no certification system to abide by. It was a fertile ground for rip-off artists.
3. In an open market, good operators were losing the marketing war to green-washers. High-volume commercial services could advertise widely; while good eco operators sometimes gave thousands in revenue back to local partner organisations. Again, here reference is made to ecotourism as a business. However, as eco-tourism aims to be a sustainable and small-scale as an eco-friendly operation, it is difficult for good ecotourism operators to compete with “green-washing operators” that manipulate the system of ecotourism. Thus, it makes it easy to manipulate consumers who find it difficult to differentiate between good ecotourism operators and green-washers.
For Ecotourism
1. It has put forward the whole notion of the need for sustainability in tourism (i.e. educates and raises awareness of need to preserve environment). In Sabah, tourism to the Kinabatangan River to view proboscis monkeys and other wildlife has become a major driver in the efforts to protect the habitat. There had been calls from conservation organisations to protect the habitat, but it was the added support from the tourism industry that really helped to highlight the value of the area.
2. Ecotourism is a business like any other and if your product does not meet the demand, you will not be in business for very long. If your product deteriorates over time, your clients will not be happy. Here, a counterargument is made against the previous point made about ecotourism as a business. It is argued that without the product (i.e. ecologically preserved tourist destination), the ecotourism industry will collapse. Thus, this industry ensures that the destination is preserved for the long-run to sustain such an industry.
3. The value of the conservation policy is important as this sets the stage for the domestic market - the local users. Once there is value to these users, you can guarantee that they will ensure this value is carried through the tourism industry. In Sarawak; tourism to villages has re-kindled interest in weaving traditional Iban blankets and provided an alternate source of income for women in communities.
4. Ecotourism encourages smaller businesses and encourages specialisation in guiding services and activities.
This is actually quite an interesting website; "Tourism Concern" is a UK-based NGO that fights exploitation in tourism. Though it is quite general, and is not specific to ecotourism, the site is very informative in terms of giving overviews of the main problems that arise as a result of irresponsible tourist practices. It not only lists out the primary issues, but also provides suggestions on how to avoid "guilt trips" (lol).
The main issues that the organization lists as being of primary concern include:
However, the most interesting part of the site was a debate on the motion:
"The gains to the holiday destination outweigh the damage to the planet."
Arguing for the motion is Roger Heape, chair of the Travel Foundation and former Chief Executive of British Airways Holidays; while arguing against is Sam Clarke, founder and chair of Stop Climate Chaos. Below I've listed out the main points of both sides:
FOR:
Tourism is often the largest contributor to a country's GDP
Contributes to local economy via multiplier effect
Labour intensity of the tourism industry can help redistribute wealth
Of course, tourism must be made sustainable; reduce CO2 emissions, support local food production, etc.
Biggest adverse impact is emissions generated by flight; can be combated with an environmental tax
O n the basis of comparing contribution to the destination's economy, and cost of offsetting journey emissions, a tourist to Mauritius generates at least 10 times as much benefit as damage.
Tourism is also a good incentive for environmental conservation
Conclusion: "Giving priority to arbitrary reduction or stopping of flying to the developing destinations would be unjustified, undemocratic and less effective than other solutions. The rich countries have been the main contributors to increased CO2 emissions and global warming. Is it fair that the rich nations visit their CO2 sins on the economies of poorer, developing countries?"
AGAINST:
Flying is fastest growing source of UK greenhouse gas emissions, currently generating over 6% of UK's carbon emissions
For island states, tourism is one of the major factors contributing to environmental change,
Creates conflict of interest and competition for scarce resources
Local communities rarely consulted about their wishes to engage in tourism
Locals poorly informed about long-term cultural, economic and environmental changes they may experience
Transition to tourism-based economy requires money and technical assistance - ends up coming from overseas investment
Most of what tourists spend "leaks out" of local economy - estimates range from 1/2 to 3/4
Unregulated tourism-economy also more vulnerable to external shocks - unreliable
Though the content of the debate does not directly address issues to do with ecotourism, it does cover the main arguments for both sides - arguments that art directly relevant when discussing the role of ecotourism in the context of the entire tourism industry.
money from eco-tourism could be used to preserve nature, wildlife, species and earth's natural resources as well as help local people with access to civilization and education
However, this is seen as rare, as locals rarely receive benefit from the growth of eco-tourism; the investors and foreign corporations usually do
Disadvantages of eco-tourism:
To make room for tourists that would bring money into an otherwise broke economy, a lot of natural resources and local communities need to be sacrificed
commercialization of tourism schemes disguised as sustainable, nature based, and environmentally friendly eco-tourism
negative impacts on local communities
physical displacement of persons, gross violation of fundamental rights, and environmental hazards
illegally keeping endangered species in captivity to attract visitors
money spent on public relation campaigns, rather than actual eco-tourism
foreign investors and corporations benefit from ecotourism, not local communities
locals are moved to make room for tourist parks, resorts, etc.
exploitation of local communities and tribes
Effects of eco-tourism:
there is not enough regulations on ecotourism to restrict people to do whatever it takes to profit for themselves
destruction of local resources to make room for ecotourism
exploitation of local tribes, local residents such as using them for cheap labor
hunting down and destroying rare species and natural resources to make souvenirs and to use for tourist attractions
damaging the environment and destroying nature to make room for man made establishments
Using wildlife as tourist attractions and primarily to generate money for the economy, not to preserve them.
"An indigenous tribe from one of the most remote parts of the Amazon rainforest is taking over a unique eco-tourism project as a way to protect their ancestral lands from oil extraction"
In South-eastern Ecuador, one of the ongoing eco-tourism projects is occuring at Kapawi Eco-lodge
65% of the lodge's employees are from the Achuar tribe
The business is supporting a local economy in a community which is only just getting used to using money
The lodge is located near the Amazon Basin rainforest, one of the largest biodiversities anywhere in the world
The lodge is financing the Achuar's political struggle - Money is given to the Nationality of Achuar Ecuador (NAE) federation.
The federation is using its funds to help protect its people and to campaign to prevent oil extraction in the territory.
Ownership battle (over the Achuar territory - where the lodge is built) - between ConocoPhillips, a large US-based oil producer and the local tribe
ConocoPhillips has stated that without the consent of the indigenous people, they will not continue with their oil extraction plans - human rights are key concern
Demonstrates the promise a sustainable relationship between tourism, environment, and local community - without exploiting resources or people
Ecotourism is currently the fastest growing sector of the world's largest service industry, tourism.
Many developing nations are looking to cash in on the growing demand for this new trend in travel.
The poor nations of Central America, with its cloud forests, active volcanoes, and wide variety of flora and fauna, appear ideally situated to take advantage of the growing
demand for ecotourism.
Although Costa Rica has been praised for its development of a lucrative, yet environmentally friendly, ecotourism industry, there is debate on whether or not an economy
centred around tourism can be sustained, as the idea behind ecotourism is to preserve a nation's natural resources while profiting from them.
However, in this quest for profits, some nations, including Costa Rica, have allowed their ecotourism industry to become ecologically damaging.
By allowing unlimited numbers of tourists into protected areas and encouraging the construction of high-rise hotels and resorts over small-scale toursim development,
ecotourism industries, such as Costa Rica's, could eventually be destroyed or unsustainable Ecotourism in Costa Rica
Costa Rica especially has taken advantage of the ecotourism boom and the number of tourists visiting Costa Rica has increased steadily for years
See table here
Costa Rica has developed one of the world's most successful ecotourism industries and has been lauded for its conservation efforts.
However, although the small Central American nation began it's ecotourism industry with small scale development and attention to conservation, some environmentalists worry that as profits have increased, environmental protection has become a secondary consideration. Therefore, while Costa Rica's tourism industry undoubtedly has been economically lucrative and sustainable over the past years, its continued benefits to the environment now are questionable.
Ecotourism and the environment
While the success of any ecotourism venture relies on the condition of a nation's ecosystem, some environmentalists believe that the economic benefits ecotourism are not
sufficient motivation for true environmental conservation.
Eva Garen believes that the ideals behind ecotourism are laudable, she claims in the end ecotourism does more harm than good. (Garen, 2000, 222).
Deborah McLauren offers a more radical critique of ecotourism, arguing that ecotravel is an oxymoron since travel, at its base, is detrimental to the environment.
She sites the fossil fuels used and pollution that jet airplanes emit as evidence that international travel and environmental
protection are mutually exclusive by their very nature. (McLauren, 1998, 97-98).
However, despite its inadequacies, ecotourism offers one of the most environmentally friendly travel opportunities available, and perhaps should not be discarded so quickly.
While it is important to identify the environmentally harmful aspects of ecotourism development, the industry should not be disregarded outright as a valid means of
environmental protection.
Environmental Benefits in Costa Rica
The environmental benefits of ecotourism development in Costa Rica have been far reaching. Since 1963 when the first environmental protection reserve was created,
Costa Rica's conservation initiatives have expanded to include 70 protected areas or national parks covering 21% of the nation's territory, as well as the creation of Costa
Rica's National Park Service in 1970. (Weaver, 1998, 87).
It can be deduced that this incredible increase in the area marked for conservation would not have been possible without the economic incentives of ecotourism.
As locals were relocated and logging industries shut down, Costa Ricans were able to turn to the tourism industry for employment.
Other benefits include:
Alternative to Environmentally Damaging Industries - Without the market demand and political support for environmental protectionism, currently protected areas
may have fallen to the demands of farming, logging, or mining industries long ago. (Egan, 2001). Besides the revenue brought in by tourism, protected nature areas
also generate income through environmentally sound pharmaceutical research and the sustainable harvest of food products. For instance, the EARTH research
institution has been researching the production of possible banana byproducts such as banana paper made from the generally discarded banana stalk.
Also, in 1991 the U.S.-based pharmaceutical firm Merck & Co made a deal with Costa Rica's National Biodiversity Institute (INBio) to carry out pharmaceutical
research and development in Costa Rica's rainforests. INBio is primarily concerned with conservation and their contract with Merck requires that 50% of any royalties
from the discovery of new medicines go to Costa Rica's National Park Fund. (Reid, http://students.washington.edu/radin/costa.htm, 2001).
Encourages Individual Conservation Efforts - After experiencing the beauty of the rainforest and learning more about the importance of conservation, tourists are more willing to think green
Encourages Small Scale Infrastructure Construction - One of the main benefits of ecotourism is that it brings in foreign exchange without the polluting factories
and exploitative manufacturing companies that are spreading throughout the Third World. Instead, the infrastructure demands of an ecotourism industry primarily
include the construction of small scale hotels and transportation systems. By and large, Costa Rica has been careful to encourage small-scale development over
the construction of high-rise luxury hotels, thereby maintaining a healthy balance between expanding its tourism industry and protecting its natural resources. (Egan, 2001). For instance, some architects, such as D.L. Andersen, have begun to specialize in the type of environmentally sensitive construction of small lodges ideal for ecotourism. One of Andersen's designs is the Lapa Rios Resort located on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Construction of the Lapa Rios Resort necessitated the removal of only one tree, and the completed resort
consists of only a main lodge and 14 private bungalows. (Fennell, 1999, 235).
Environmental Costs of Ecotourism in Costa Rica
While the environmental benefits of ecotourism are rather clear cut, the costs are much more subtle and sometimes difficult to detect. Governments sponsoring ecotourism development must be vigilant in the protection of their national parks and meticulous in safeguarding against corruption. By and large Costa Rica has been responsible in the development of ecotourism, but there is room for improvement. (Lizano, 1997).
Visitor Overcapacity - The number of tourists visiting Costa Rica has increased by at least 6% annually for the past several years. (State Department, 2001). While
those invested in the ecotourism sector may celebrate such rapid growth, environmentalists worry that the nation's delicate ecosystem may not be able to withstand an
unlimited flow of tourists. (Hicks, 2001). For instance, one of Costa Rica's most popular parks, Manuel Antonio, takes in an average of 1,000 visitors a day during the
high season. The unregulated flow of tourists through the park has taken a toll on its plant and animal life, and as the wildlife has grown accustomed to humans
local monkeys have been turned into garbage feeders. (Weaver, 1998, 95). Another problem is that, in their quest for the exotic, travelers are often attracted to the
rarest animals and most vulnerable plant life. It is difficult for park managers to turn paying visitors away or refuse access to the most delicate parts of the forest when
the demand is there and the profit-potential great. (Weaver, 1998, 25). For this reason, these tough decisions should be in the hands of Costa Rica's National Park
Service Agency, and similar institutions in other countries, that are better able to look past short-term profit gain to what is best for their country in the long run.
Greenwashing - Greenwashing refers to the marketing scheme of attaching a "green" label to travel services that do not technically classify as ecotourism. (Egan, 2001).
As ecotourism has become more popular, greenwashing of luxury hotels and tourist centers has become a greater problem that could tarnish Costa Rica's pristine environmental reputation.
To protect against these pitfalls of ecotourism Costa Rica began the Certification of Sustainable Tourism program that aims at identifying the most environmentally friendly parks and resorts.
However, some argue that lenient certification regulations have led to a sort of legitimized greenwashing of undeserving businesses in Costa Rica. For instance, large hotels can be certified
with very little effort and without actively promoting conservation efforts. Simply by using biodegradable cleaning products, being careful of waste management, recycling, and avoiding
pesticide use, a 500-room hotel can receive a similar rating to a small jungle lodge. (Lizano, 2001).
Profit over Protection - Ecotourism eventually brings about a commodization of a nation's wildlife. Instead of seeing an endangered turtle species as something to be
protected, those working in the ecotourism market begin to see the animal only in terms of dollar signs. (Weaver, 1998,25).
This phenomena represents a perversion of the principles of ecotourism that place protectionism before profits. The chief danger in the commodization of an eco-system
is the emergence of locals or organisations who are willing to exploit their nation's natural treasures for economic gain. While there is no quantitative manner of
showing that this phenomenon has taken place in Costa Rica, it is undoubtedly a threat.
Inadequate Enforcement - Limited finances, inadequate local expertise, and corruption can all lead to lax enforcement of conservation efforts. (Weaver, 1998, 62).
Often, developing nations do not have the resources to train the personnel necessary to efficiently regulate and protect a national park or wildlife preserve. For example, at Costa Rica's Tortuguero
National Park, the Western Hemisphere's most important nesting ground for the endangered green turtle, is left to the protection of just 10 full-time employees. Poachers are a problem in this
area and the park has to recruit volunteers to help guard the beach during the nesting season. Another obstacle facing conservation efforts in Costa Rica is the fact that 44% of the 3.2 million
acres marked for protection remain in the hands of their previous residents and owners. Logging in these areas is often hard to detect or prevent leading some to argue that Costa Rica's
natural resources are protected only on paper. (Dulude, 2000).
Reliance on International Donors - Also undercutting conservation efforts is Costa Rica's growing reliance on international donors. In 1992, for example, only
23% of Costa Rica's protected-area budget was government supplied. While international bodies are important in covering budget shortfalls, a dependence on
foreign lenders and donors who may not understand Costa Rica's ecosystem can destabilize the government's control of its conservation efforts and lead to a
lack of coordination in carrying out environmental policy. (Weaver, 1998, 96-97).
It is important to distinguish between the problems that apply to actual ecotourism projects and the problems of travel service providers that deceive the public by mistakenly
identifying themselves as ecotourism. (Weaver, 1998, 22). For instance, the problems facing Costa Rica's ecotourism industry stem chiefly from the latter, which largely can be
eradicated by a stricter certification program. Therefore, discounting the environmental benefits of Costa Rica's ecotourism industry would be a mistake since the nation's conservation
policies are far better than they would be with any other industry development.
Ecotourism and the Economy
Ecotravel has become a very lucrative sector of the service industry, but some of those who study the industry worry that the economic benefits of ecotourism may not be reaching the local
community. For instance, B. Wheeller believes that "pure" ecotourism is incompatible with business because every form of tourism entails an element of exploitation. He argues that companies
are motivated by short-term profits, while tourists are looking for mainly a self-satisfying vacation and local communities are seeking to obtain the maximum economic benefit from tourists.
(Weaver, 1998, 22-23). Similarly, Deborah McLauren claims she has never come across a true ecotourism project that could pay for itself, proving that the industry is not economically
sustainable. (McLauren, 1998, 101). However, P. Wight is more optimistic about the economic potential of even the most environmentally focused forms of ecotourism, stating that with
careful monitoring and planning, the problems cited by Wheeller and McLauren can be overcome. (Weaver, 1998, 23). In this light, this section will look at where the business side of
ecotourism can and has gone wrong in Costa Rica.
Economic Benefits of Ecotourism in Costa Rica
The expansion of ecotourism has undeniably boosted Costa Rica's overall economic development with tourism revenues last year totaling $1.1 billion - an incredible figure for such a small nation.
(State Department, 2001). Ecotourism has brought employment opportunities to often previously disadvantaged rural populations, and a significant amount of the industry remains in the form of
small scale projects that can be funded by locals. Currently, 75% of all licensed tour agencies are owned by Costa Ricans and 85% of all of Costa Rica's hotels have fewer than 50 rooms.
(Weaver, 1998, 84-85). Besides these general economic benefits to local communities and the Costa Rican economy in general, ecotourism has contributed to the nation's financial
well-being in other manners. For example, although the Papagayo Project may be criticized by environmentalists, continuing development of the resort area is bringing in a lot of foreign
investment and creating thousands of jobs for Costa Ricans.
Benefits to Other Industries - The growth linkage possibilities of ecotourism development can have far reaching effects on other sectors of the economy.
For example, a visit to the Carara Biological Reserve entails not only a $15 entrance fee and possible additional donation, but also a flight into San José's
International Airport, a bus ride to the park, a stay in a local hotel, dining in the town's restaurants, and the purchase of souvenirs from street vendors. In addition,
less obvious growth linkages of ecotourism can effect everything from the communications industry to agriculture. For instance, the successes of Costa Rica's
|ecotourism industry have helped breathe life into the nation's sagging coffee market. Tourists consume an average of two cups of the nation's gourmet coffee
a day adding up to approximately 22 million cups of coffee a year, which, at 75 cents per cup, brings in about $16.5 million. Therefore, as many Latin American
nations are losing jobs and revenue to falling coffee prices caused by an influx of cheaper Asian brands into the market, Costa Rica has managed to stay afloat
with this increase in domestic consumption. Tours of coffee plantations, have also caught on in Costa Rica's tourist boom lending even more help to coffee
producers. (Brenes, 2001).
Transfer of Incomes - An often overlooked benefit of tourism development in the Third World is that tourism is an excellent vehicle for transferring income
from wealthy nations and persons to the poorer sectors of society. Ecotourism is especially effective in this transfer since travelers often venture into remote,
economically-disadvantaged regions. The majority of ecotourists have above average income profiles and are willing to pay higher park entrance fees as well
as make donations to conservation efforts. (Weaver, 1998, 23, 98). For example, a study of visitors to Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest found that foreign
visitors are willing to pay an average of $118 to ensure that the park is adequately protected. (Fennell, 1999, 172). This extra amount that foreign visitors are
willing to pay could be collected in the form of an environmental tax on non-citizen ecotourists rather than a voluntary donation. Since tourism is a relatively barrier free trade
commodity it can be a more effective means of transferring income from the modernized world than other forms of foreign investment, such as export-processing
zones, in which profits are largely repatriated.
Diversification - Ecotourism in Costa Rica has helped diversify the national economy, which previously depended upon the exportation of a few agricultural
products, namely coffee, bananas, meat, and sugar, for 65% of its exports. Like many countries in Central America, Costa Rica's small internal market and
scarcity of raw materials make industrialization a slow and difficult process without much room for expansion. (Chant, 1992, 89-90).
Economic Costs of Ecotourism in Costa Rica
While one of the standards of ecotourism is to generate domestic employment and economic opportunities for locals, if not carefully monitored, profits can leak out of these regions into the hands of elites and wealthier nations. In addition, if development projects are monopolized by rich businessmen looking for short term economic gain, both the local environment and peoples could pay the price. (Garen, 2000). While Costa Rica's ecotourism industry has been careful to avoid this pitfall thus far, as the industry accelerates, more and more development contracts may be awarded to foreign corporations and wealthy investors, which can lead to profit leakage and exploitation.
Leakage- Many developing nations do not have the resources to construct the infrastructure necessary for tourism development, which leads them to turn to foreign corporations and
international donors. The widespread involvement of foreign investors can lead to a leakage problem in which the profits earned by the tourism sector do not stay in the country.
(Hicks, 2001). For this reason some environmentalists and development theorists believe that it is important for ecotourism to concentrate on small scale construction that can be done
without much outside involvement. (Weaver, 1998, 26). Costa Rica has typically held with this principal, but the Papagayo Project is breaking with this rule,
leading some to suggest that the nation's ecotourism sector has been corrupted by its own popularity. The Papagayo Project is financed chiefly by foreign investors and will double the
nation's accommodation capabilities. The completed development project will include the construction of 1,144 homes, 6,270 condo-hotel units, 6,584 hotel rooms, a mall, and a golf course.
(McLauren, 1998, 105). The resort area will undoubtedly turn a considerable profit, but most of its revenues will likely leak out of the country into the hands of the project's foreign investors.
Exploitation of Local Work Force- One of Eva Garen's biggest complaints concerning ecotourism is that the resident population is often excluded from the development process and
relegated to minimum wage support jobs or the informal street vendor economy. These rural workers were often involved in industries, such as logging, poaching, or agriculture, that
are incompatible with ecotourism. (Garen, 2000, 230). However, instead of being compensated for switching to professions in the tourism industry, locals receive jobs that are often
low-paying (although better paying that farming), and limited in their potential for upward mobility. Meanwhile, managerial positions go to foreigners or urban- educated elites.
According to a study of large transnational hotel corporations located in the developing world, on average 23% of their wages go to foreigners, even though on average 93%
of their workforce comes from the resident population. (Weaver, 1998, 54). Although, as previously stated, Costa Rica's accommodation industry is largely small scale and
locally owned, the Papagayo Project is evidence that this trend may be coming to an end.
Instability- Although the demand for toursim has been on the rise in recent years, a nation's travel service industry can be volatile and a downturn in the market can happen at anytime.
Although Costa Rica's political outlook appears positive, sudden political instability, escalating crime rates, terrorism, or threats of a global recession could all trigger an unexpected sharp
decline in tourism.
All industries are prone to budget problems, exploitation, instability, and poor management, and ecotourism is not an exception. Careful regulation is needed to ensure that the most lucrative positions are not monopolized by foreigners and elites, or the consequences could undermine the environmental, as well as the economic, goals of ecotourism. For example as Garen points out, if locals feel excluded from the tourism market, they will have no incentive to participate in conservation. (Garen, 2000, 221). One safeguard is to set legal limits on the amount of jobs and revenue that must remain in the local community. Although such regulations can be viewed as unjust protectionism or a hindrance to economic development, these consequences can be tolerated if the end result is an ecotourism industry that is both environmentally and economically sustainable and culturally sensitive.
Conclusion
Costa Rica has developed an environmentally sound and lucrative ecotourism industry that has allowed it to protect its vast natural treasures while bringing economic opportunities to typically disadvantaged rural areas. As Martha Honey, the author of Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who owns Paradise? and former resident of Costa Rica, puts it, "They do ecotourism very well in Costa Rica." (Egan, 2001). Given the lofty environmental goals and social ideals of ecotourism, it is easy for skeptics to criticize the industry, claiming that the world's delicate ecosystems cannot be adequately protected by a profit oriented business. These critics may argue that wildlife reserves and natural areas should be strictly preserved, rather than open to the public. However, although such conservation goals are laudable, they are not realistic. As Honey explains, "We're not going to stop the movement by people to the last unvisited places on the planet." (Egan, 2001). Once this fact is accepted, environmentalists can look for ways that tourism and conservation can coexist. Although ecotourism may not be able to preserve these untouched areas as they would if human contact were prohibited, it can help protect them from the dangers of destructive agricultural practices, mining, and industrialization. Developing countries face tough choices in the race to join the modernized world and frequently environmental resources are seen more as tools of progress than treasures to be guarded. However, as Costa Rica's ecotourism industry has proven, conservation and economic growth can go hand in hand.
Louise
~ Casper
Ecotourism and Impacts on Forest Conservation in Western Samoa
Ecotourism aims to educate tourists on the importance of the environment and local culture.
Ecotourism was formally defined as the “traveling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestations (both past and present) found in these areas.” (Ceballos-Lascurain, H. 1987)
Ecotourism began with a main focus on the ethics of conservation, but however shifted towards economic incentives – developing countries can earn money without excessively exploiting upon natural resources.
Ecotourism and Sustainability
Sustains and helps local economies, and provides a view of the environment from a local's perspective.
Promotes the conservation of ecosystems: natural habitats and environments will be protected.
However, the success of the industry may lead to the downfall/undermining of the concept of conservation – large numbers of tourists visiting the area >> equivalent to mass tourism.
Ecotourism, which limits the demand as opposed to supply, differs from other industries which focus on economic success.
Ecotourism is self-contradictory >> tourists automatically degrade environments when physically there.
Long term impacts have yet to be considered– e.g. Removing trash from remote lodges, providing adequate electricity supply to natural environments without affecting it.
Ecotourism and its Impact on Forests
Case Study – Canopy Walkway in Savai'i, Western Samoa
Setting: Savai'i is an island in the South Pacific which hosts a small population, and has a village named Falealupo. The villagers have used the island's forests as a resources for all needs of the village, and over many generations have built their culture and spirituality around it.
Situation: Villagers had to negotiate with the government and companies for logging rights on the island's forests – it was a reluctant decision, as the village was forced to comply due to an urgent need for funds to recover from a monsoon.
Solution: Villagers have been offered an alternative by Paul Cox, an ethnobotanist, to build a walkway on the canopies of the forest (spanning 22,500 cubic metres of forest). Economic boosts from ecotourism provides enough cash for local economies to recover from monsoon losses.
Desert Ecotourism - Impacts in Baharyian Oases, Egypt
Bawati in the Bahariya Oasis of Egypt, a small town which is thriving from an expanding Tourism economy.
It is also an exotic destination, secluded from the rest of the world by a vast expanse of desert.
Being an oasis, it is used now as a “rest-stop” for tourists to travel to the surrounding desert attractions (e.g. Ancient temples).
Situation
Fast expanding tourist economy draws more tourists and tourism sub-industries (e.g. Hotels, tours) in.
Government encourages the expanding economy – focused on economic success of tourism.
White Desert, a famous and popular attraction, was subject to large amounts of garbage (mostly from ecotourism campers) due to weak regulations in the area.
Construction of asphalt highways linking to larger cities has reduced transport time and costs for tourism – more noise pollution in Bawati due to growing numbers of motorized transport.
10% of Egypt's 11 million foreign visitors (1.1 million) arrive in the country to visit the deserts oases.
Result: a stressing and degradation of the fragile desert ecosystems inherent in the area.
Solutions: 1. Construction of Eco-lodges
Eco-lodges have been set up in the town – hotel is built using local materials, staff appointed are locals, waste is treated into fertilizer for plants in the area (e.g. palm trees).
May not be able to curb the rising tide of tourism in the area – may actually encourage more visitors to come >> even more detrimental to the environment.
2. White Desert declared a protected national park
In effect as of 2002 by the government of Egypt.
Heavy fines have been placed in force for littering in the area.
Constructed paths for safari guides/transport >> protects brittle rocks from being destroyed.
Introduced ticket fees to entering the park – however, some people take alternative routes to avoid having to pay for tickets >> difficult to prevent people from avoiding fares.
Environmental advisor of the minister of tourism (El Kaissouni) wants to directly limit the amount of tourists entering the park >> beneficial long-term to the environment.
~ Casper
Talia "Green Tragedy"
"Can anyone who flies halfway around the world in a jet powered by subsidized fossil fuel and puffing out greenhouse gases qualify as an eco-tourist?"
Tourism is by some estimates the world's biggest industry. In 1950 there were around 25 million international tourist visits. Currently there are around 700 million. By 2020 there will be around 1.6 billion.
As it has grown, so have its destructive effects become manifest, and these are greater than most of us might suspect. Along with television, tourism is one of the most potent agents of globalization -- tourists are the shock troops of Western-style capitalism, distributing social and psychological viruses just as effectively as earlier colonists spread smallpox, measles and TB in their wake. And as with globalization, there are voices urging reform.
The year 2002 has been designated the International Year of Eco-tourism by the UN. Eco-tourism is, supposedly, the antidote to mass tourism -- small-scale, nature-based, environmentally-friendly. That's the theory, anyway. The reality is that no-one has properly defined eco-tourism, no-one really knows what it means, it's highly unlikely that anyone ever will define it in a way that will command assent from critics of the industry, and in this vacuum the marketing men, greenwashers, corporate developers and government spin doctors flourish.
According to Tourism Concern, the British-based non-governmental organization, much eco-tourism relies on places from which native people have been excluded, often forcibly, or which are being destroyed by the sheer number of tourists. A UNESCO report recently concluded that the World Heritage site of Macchu Picchu in Peru (where a cable car has been proposed to cater to the 350,000 "eco-tourists" who visit it each year) has reached saturation point. Villagers there who want a greater share of tourist revenues have protested by blocking access to the site. Can any phenomenon which so breaches ideas of carrying capacity justify the prefix "eco"?
The attempt to construct an eco-tourist alternative to mass tourism does at least signify a perception that the industry has gone seriously wrong, and the more one considers how and why this has happened, the more the paradoxes abound. The first is that tourism was, and still is, seen by many as a "clean" path to development -- an industry without factories and fumes and the consumption of finite resources. The reality is that it has proved a terrible destroyer of landscapes, either through development or through the fundamental strains that Westernized appetites impose on fragile economies and ecosystems. The second paradox is that, while repeatedly marketed as "of all-inclusive benefit to the economy," the financial gains of tourism are highly unevenly distributed. In practice, most of the money it makes ends up in the hands of local or international elites -- hotel-owners, package tour operators and airlines. And although tourism may create jobs, the biases and distortions involved in this process mean that these displace, and often replace, jobs -- or rather, livelihoods -- based around agriculture or fishing. What happens, classically, is the expropriation of native lands for national parks or five-star tourist complexes, and there are many variants of this process. The net result is that people who were once able to make a reasonably independent living off the land, find themselves wage-earners in a global economy run from the other side of the world. They have become, in a word, disempowered -- one twitch in Wall Street, one tiny downturn in the US economy, and they're out of work, with nothing in the way of skills or land to fall back on. According to the International Labour Organization, it would take only a 10 percent reduction in travel as a consequence of Sept. 11 for nine million people, globally, to lose their jobs. Which leads on neatly to the third paradox, the idea that tourism confers vast but intangible social benefits. This notion takes many forms, from the adage that travel "broadens the mind" to the principle of "world peace through travel" -- the motto, remarkably, of the Hilton hotel chain. Most people perceive the reality to be otherwise. Indeed, it would be hard to conceive of an industry with more potential for misunderstanding and conflict, particularly in the developing world. Throughout much of Asia, Africa and South America, tourism cruelly exposes the fault lines of global economic inequality. Most interactions between tourists and local people revolve round "the cash nexus" -- they are only about money.
The feudal north-south relationships characteristic of tourism are hardly likely to increase international understanding. And there are two further distinctive features that seem almost guaranteed to increase resentment. First, unlike most other industries, which keep their raw material decently out of harm's way inside factories or offices, tourists get everywhere, often in large numbers; people who gain no benefit from tourism must thus suffer its consequences. And second, in its drive to "broaden the mind", tourism seeks out the richness and strangeness of other cultures, and routinely, inexorably, destroys them. There is the phenomenon labelled "staged authenticity", in which a local cultural tradition, once celebrated for its own sake and out of a belief in its intrinsic value, turns into a tourist spectacle and thus, insidiously, into a performance. In Thailand, for example, under the impact of dollar-driven tourism strategies and with the collaboration of local hoteliers and chambers of commerce, old festivals have expanded beyond recognition, and new ones have been conjured up spuriously from history or simply transplanted from abroad -- Chiang Mai, bizarrely, now celebrates Mardi Gras. The city's flower festival in February -- "rooted in history," the brochures would have you believe -- didn't exist twenty years ago. Buddhist ceremonies have become such a tourist draw that the most important local temple, Doi Suthep, last year announced plans to charge foreign nationals $3 for entrance. In one sense, you could argue, it's harmless enough -- like the hill tribe women donning their indigenous finery to sell baubles or the local administration instructing staff to wear regional costume in the office. What's wrong with dressing up and pretending? Isn't that what they do in Disneyland? Equally, it's not what it purports to be. It has undergone a subtle interior change, into a branch of commercial culture, of marketing. It's true that within this bleak global vista there are shafts of light. Tourism, it is often said, is good for conservation -- and indeed there are many cases where it has helped save a species. The mountain gorillas of the Congo and Rwanda are probably the best-known example. Throughout the world tourist revenues keep national parks in existence -- and motivate governments to protect them. Whale-watching, famously, is now worth far more than whaling. And whether it's a cottage in the countryside or a cruise in Antarctica, travel can still confront the individual with dimensions of reality that are new, disturbing, wonderful -- and that may leave something more than an image in a photograph album. It's also true that human contact may sometimes transcend the cash nexus. And merely having been to a place may create an attachment that could, in the long run, prove of value. If one has visited the rainforests of Costa Rica, for example, one is more likely to want -- and to pay -- to save them. Unfortunately, these are successes achieved, as it were, against the grain -- the odd victory in a war that is being lost. The industry, as a whole, doesn't work this way. Mass tourism is the human equivalent of a discount warehouse, operating on the 'pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap' principle. It's an industry dealing in human interactions and experiences which lacks any idea of what should inform these. It's also a leading protagonist of the globalization which is eradicating all the uniqueness and beauty upon which tourism itself thrives -- a classic example, in other words, of an industry devouring its own resources. Many critics and non-governmental organizations now pin their hopes on community-based eco-tourism, in which, typically, local organizations run facilities, accept visitors into their midst, organize environmentally friendly activities, provide a taste of local culture and channel the proceeds into locally run industries. There are growing numbers of such initiatives around the world -- Tourism Concern has listed many of them in its new Community Tourism Guide -- and they are undoubtedly a vast improvement on mass package-tourism, not least because they remove many of its financial inequities. Whether they're anything like a full answer is doubtful. Community tourism could not possibly handle the increase in tourist numbers projected without turning into something quite different. If that sounds like a counsel of despair, it may well be. If the tourist industry is to handle the hundreds of millions more people jetting around the globe in the coming century, it will have to undergo major reform. One could imagine how that could happen -- planning controls, tourist and aviation fuel taxes, enforced carrying capacities, airport restrictions, a global tourism convention and so on -- but there is not the slightest indication that it will. Neither governments nor industry are remotely interested -- most countries (the UK being a recent notorious example) are far keener to boost capacity, particularly of airports, whatever the environmental cost. Tourists themselves, meanwhile, are largely ignorant of the damage done in their name, and although travelling may encourage the beginnings of a rudimentary planetary ethic -- a sense of responsibility for other parts of the globe -- this is nothing like strong enough to withstand the individual yearning for the experiences that journeys to distant places are believed to provide. In that sense, tourism is a classic "tragedy of the commons" -- many individuals, acting independently and in what they perceive to be their own interests, destroying a collective good. What is needed is a new travel ethic, in which people start to ask themselves about the purpose and value of their journeys -- why they need to escape, what it is they hope to find -- but I fear this will only begin to form when enough people start returning with the sense that their journey had very little purpose or value, by which time it may well be too late.
Carbon neutral: a balance between polluting and enhancing the environment, especially in terms of harmful greenhouse gases.
Prevalent in travel industry – eco tourism
To be carbon neutral involves:
Calculating their “carbon footprint,” the approximate amount of carbon dioxide produced on flights, road trips or when they otherwise burn fossil fuels.
Buying “offsets”, which is money donated for projects that promise to produce energy without burning fossil fuels or otherwise reduce the production of greenhouse gases.
The reduction purchased is supposed to equal the amount of carbon dioxide the trip created, per passenger.
The ultimate goal: a carbon neutral trip.
Examples:
Ecoventura, an adventure company in the Galápagos Islands, says it has “achieved CarbonNeutral status” on its Web site, www.ecoventura.com. Working with the CarbonNeutral Company, Ecoventura is trying to balance the CO2 created through its trips by donating to a portfolio of projects, including sustainable energy projects in Sri Lanka and India, and methane recovery in the United States, which captures leaking methane at a Pennsylvania coal mine.
Ski resorts from Vail, Colo., to Stratton, Vt., are getting into the act by buying renewable energy credits to offset their electricity consumption. The credits purchased by the ski resorts support the production of clean electricity generated by wind farms or other sustainable sources rather than fossil fuels like coal and gas.
“It’s a way for eco-friendly travel companies to practice what they preach.”
Expedia and Travelocity both rolled out new programs this year that let travelers buy carbon offsets.
Still, many travelers see carbon offsetting as a way to help tackle global warming without having to give up that trip to the Bahamas.
An increasing number of countries are beginning to work to ensure that tourism not only protects the environment, but also benefits indigenous people, in a trend referred to as ethno-tourism or community-based eco-tourism.
The main formula for ethno-tourism involves governments working with aid agencies, such as the Inter-American Development Bank, and private partners to help indigenous communities develop sustainable tourism industries.
These initiatives are aimed to help local communities escape from poverty and preserve their natural surroundings while avoiding environmentally destructive activities, like hunting and de-forestation.
By partnering with the local communities themselves and giving them ownership, governments help protect the human rights of their people and ensure that local communities benefit from the tourists they host.
Eg:
One of the most recognized ethno-tourism programs is in Bolivia.
The Chalaln ecolodge located in the Madidi National Park is owned, managed and staffed entirely from the people of San Jos de Uchupiamonas.
Profits go to paying their wages as well as providing health and education services to the local community
we have local people who have understood the advantages of an eco-village.
They have contributed to promotion of their area as a sustainable tourist attraction and harmony of life with nature by the principles of sustainable development. Today we have local people who are offering accommodation, and soon we will have here first certified agricultural manufacturers.
We have to work in a planned way, preserve the springs, flora and fauna, arrange the wells, put in function the school again and the youth home, but also we have to preserve our tradition and avoid the mass tourism and wild construction – said Stevovic, and pointed out that many Durmitor and Montenegrin villages have potentials to become a part of the unique network and a special brand.
Tourism could do a lot good if Vientam handles it properly
Ecotourism - A fair chunk of the foreign investment currently pouring into Vietnam is going into new hotels, resorts and golf courses, many aiming at the top end of the market. - Enormous potentials for ecotourism o The country has a wealth of attractions for all tastes and pockets: the ruins of ancient civilisations such as the vanished Hindu Champa culture; quaint tribal villages with wooden stilt-houses, colourful festivals and craftwork; historic cities and churches from French colonial times; war sites like the Cu Chi tunnels and the grisly but informative museum on the site of the My Lai massacre; and enormous potential for ecotourism - Ecotourism in Vietnam is viable o Populous countries with rising spending power o To concentrate its resources on “sustainability”—in particular, ensuring that the country's most picturesque sites are protected. o Mount Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak, where uncontrolled tourism is degrading the top of the mountain o True in Hanoi, where the city authorities are battling to stop new housing and retail developments encroaching on historic buildings in the old quarter. o For a young country that needs to find jobs for over a million people joining the workforce each year, tourism is the perfect industry because it creates employment at all levels, o Benefit of tourism is the boost it can give to exports o Develop its golden, palm-fringed and empty beaches, and dream of building spa resorts around the hot-water springs that bubble up through the province's rice paddies.
Advantages of Ecotourism - Economic growth o Employment in the gorwing Vietnamese economy o Socio-economic benefits o Maybe able to preserve the locate culture and heritage o Increasing income and wealth of the country o Pulls people from rural communities in the local economy o Increase in exports o Increase in spending power of the local consumer
Dangers - In many instances, Vientam has seen the degradation of its local environment with increasing access by tourists and motor vehicles. - The eviction of local communities as powerful and influential transnational companies recreate the land solely for the ecotourism industry. o The exploitation of the local communities o Environmental degradation
Jim
The Economist – A Survey of Vietnam
Revealing its hidden charm
Tourism could do a lot good if Vientam handles it properly
Ecotourism - A fair chunk of the foreign investment currently pouring into Vietnam is going into new hotels, resorts and golf courses, many aiming at the top end of the market. - Enormous potentials for ecotourism o The country has a wealth of attractions for all tastes and pockets: the ruins of ancient civilisations such as the vanished Hindu Champa culture; quaint tribal villages with wooden stilt-houses, colourful festivals and craftwork; historic cities and churches from French colonial times; war sites like the Cu Chi tunnels and the grisly but informative museum on the site of the My Lai massacre; and enormous potential for ecotourism - Ecotourism in Vietnam is viable o Populous countries with rising spending power o To concentrate its resources on “sustainability”—in particular, ensuring that the country's most picturesque sites are protected. o Mount Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak, where uncontrolled tourism is degrading the top of the mountain o True in Hanoi, where the city authorities are battling to stop new housing and retail developments encroaching on historic buildings in the old quarter. o For a young country that needs to find jobs for over a million people joining the workforce each year, tourism is the perfect industry because it creates employment at all levels, o Benefit of tourism is the boost it can give to exports o Develop its golden, palm-fringed and empty beaches, and dream of building spa resorts around the hot-water springs that bubble up through the province's rice paddies.
Advantages of Ecotourism - Economic growth o Employment in the gorwing Vietnamese economy o Socio-economic benefits o Maybe able to preserve the locate culture and heritage o Increasing income and wealth of the country o Pulls people from rural communities in the local economy o Increase in exports o Increase in spending power of the local consumer
Dangers - In many instances, Vientam has seen the degradation of its local environment with increasing access by tourists and motor vehicles. - The eviction of local communities as powerful and influential transnational companies recreate the land solely for the ecotourism industry. o The exploitation of the local communities o Environmental degradation
Ecotourism and Economics
Shellshock
The Galapagos Islands show the mixed blessings of greenery
Background - TOURISM has a long history in the Galapagos Islands. - Visitors are now central to the future of the isolated archipelago - Experiencing increasing standards of living - Creating incentives for local people to conserve the fragile natural environment. - the conservation strategy of relying on income growth in the islands has failed owing to uncontrolled migration from mainland Ecuador
Benefits - ecotourism and economic growth on the islands - GDP increased by an estimated 78%, from a base of $41million - giving the archipelago an annual growth rate of around 10%
Dangers - More people have put increased strain on the islands' water supply - sewerage and waste disposal, not to mention its fragile wildlife - Exploitation of fish from the marine reserve is increasingly intense - there is plenty of antagonism between fishermen and conservationists - political pressure to explore development options for the economy o Lack of regulation and protection - Not very eco-friendly in the Galapagos Islands
Rach Lauren
Tourism has been increasing rapidly over the past decade
In 1999 there were more than 663 international travellers, total spending was more than US$453 billion
Expected growth for the tourism industry: 4.1% increase annually over the next two decades
1.6 billion international travellers predicted by 2020
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) claims that Eco-tourism accounts for more than 20% of total international travel
Tourism has contributed:
Costa Rica - $654 million in 1996, Kenya - $502 million in 1997
Most from the nature and wildlife tourism
Case study: Rwanda
Protect Rwanda’s mountain gorillas and their habitat in Volcanoes National Park
$1.02 million direct annual revenues
Helped government create anti-poaching patrols
Helped government emply local residents
Nature based travel can either
Sustain ecosystems
Degrade ecosystems
Ecotourism Society “travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people”
For places marked as ecotourism places:
Should focus on:
Environmentally friendly lodge design than local community development, conservation, tourist education
Downside:
There must almost always be some negative impacts from Ecotourism
“ecotourism is misleading. It is nearly impossible to visit and learn from an area without leaving footprints, but some tour operators do a better job than others.”
Case study: Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands Advantages
The islands draws more than 62 000 people each year who pay to dive, tour and cruise on the 120 volcanic islands and to see the ecosystem’s rare tropical birds, iguanas, penguins and tortoises
Generates $60 million annually
Provides income for around 80% islands’ population
Increase since 1970 has expanded the resources for Ecuador’s park service
now there is a model for low-impact, high-quality ecotourism
Disadvantages
Increase in migrants seeking jobs on the islands
Tripled the area’s permanent population over 15 years
The towns produce a lot more pollution
Added pressure to fishery resources
Only 15% of revenue directly enters Galapagos economy
Most profits are transferred to foreign owned airlines, luxury tour boats or floating hotels-accommodations
These may lessen tourists’ environmental impacts but they are of little befit to local residents
To invest in park management, protection, planning, impacts can be minimized
Down-side:
Development countries
lack resources to monitor, evaluate, prevent tourists impacts,
may lack infrastructure and they may have minimal facilities
Solution?
Visiting natural areas will always general some negative impacts
Engaging in these activities and showing tourists the wonders and beauty of the Ecotourism sites will be generating awareness and perhaps motivate people to help preserve the beauty for others as well
In it there is a Travel Green Guide which addresses some important issues of Ecotourism · Why is Ecotourism important?
offers market-linked solutions, ecotourism provides economic incentives for conserving bio-cultural diversity (can look at my post in the discussions for such ideas)
empowers local communities around the world to fight against poverty and achieve sustainable development
· Who are Eco-tourists?
should be responsible consumers interested in sustainability
Increasingly, eco-tourists are also seeking to minimise carbon footprint of their travels
General Ideas: · Ecotourism is defined by its sustainable development results:
conserving natural areas
educating visitors about sustainability
benefiting local people
· Plays a unique role in educating travelers about the value of a healthy environment and biological diversity
· However, proper planning and management is critical or it will threaten the biological diversity upon which it depends · As globalisation makes local economic control increasingly difficult, ecotourism seeks to reverse this trend by stressing that local businesses owners and communities must be vitally involved · Roots of ecotourism: research undertaken in Kenya in the 1970s demonstrated that the economic benefits of wildlife preservation far surpasses hunting · The substantial increase in awareness of such environments help kick start the interest in of film makers and scientists – and that developed the “tourism” side of the protection of ecosystems · Ecotourism is highly dependent on the commitment of business owners who must be willing to apply a unique set of standards to their business approaches · Hence, ecotourism must offer key social and environmental objectives:
Specialised marketing that attracts tourists who are primarily interested in visting natural areas
Management skills at handling visitors in protected areas
Guiding services, preferably managed by local inhabitants, focused on natural history and sustainable development
Government policies aimed to have fees that generates sufficient funds for both conservation purposes and sustainable development of local communities
Focused attention on locals, which must have the right of prior informed consent, aimed to empower locals in their management of local sights
· Statistics and research confirm that an increasing number of travellers will be reaching remote ecotourism destinations with greater ease, at less cost and faster than ever before
· This indicates that some ecotourism destinations may become vulnerable to the exact same boom-bust cycles that have plagued more accessible destination in the past
Bhutan Ecotourism
Bhutan is in a very fortunate position in terms of tourism. While tourism resources are being destroyed elsewhere, Bhutan's assets in the form of its natural environment and culture are well preserved. The international community has lauded the country's policy of giving the highest priority to
environmental and cultural preservation. This has further increased the profile of Bhutan as a prime tourist destination. The tourism industry has
created a wide range of opportunities for Bhutanese who have begun to grasp economic opportunities offered by the industry. Tourism has also
been a self-financing mechanism for promoting the country's environment and facilitating an awareness and understanding of the uniqueness of this
country. Tourism has resulted in some adverse impacts but the government has recognised the need to address them.
The future also seems positive for Bhutan Ecotourism as here are the following conditions that favour this type of tourism and allow further advancement/improvement:
- Tour operators favor ecotourism
- Foreign tourists arriving in Bhutan appreciate the ‘‘high value, low impact’’ tourism policy and support ecotourism activities that would benefit rural communities but indicate that there is a need to reorient tourism policy to encourage ecotourism.
- Although their present tourism policy—to preserve nature and culture and simultaneously pursue rural development through ecotourism to
enhance GNH—Bhutan’s options are limited to diversifying tourism products, encouraging local communities to take up micro-enterprises,
and readjusting its pricing policy.
- How to address the issue of increased human-wildlife conflicts, especially crop damage and domestic animal kills, will be a matter of further investigation. A community development fund fed by park entry fees from tourists and benefits from community-managed micro-enterprises could compensate farmers for economic losses from wildlife,mitigate park-people conflicts and win the support of local people in conservation efforts.
With policy support, community-managed micro-enterprises could safeguard the interests of rural communities, but this strategy must be incorporated into the park management policy because of the changing sociopolitical context, the growing influence of the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators in tourism policymaking and evidence that international investors are establishing tourism businesses in the country.
Looking into the Future of Ecotourism andSustainable Tourism by Michael Lück
No matter which form of tourism we will see predominantly in the future, all sorts of tourism are dependent on resources, especially natural and cultural. The challenge is to manage the use of those resources in a sustainable way. Ever increasing numbers of tourists all over the world are setting resources under a growing pressure. One school of thought suggests that sustainable does not necessarily mean small-scale tourism. In fact, ‘large-scale, spatially concentrated tourism may, as it is argued, act as a ‘safety-valve’ syphoning off potential demand for scarce resources elsewhere and it may keep mass tourism firmly in its place’ (Wheeller, 1991: 93–4). Eco and similar forms of tourismare seen as the most destructive forms of tourism. Ecotourists endeavour to constantly discover new, untouched areas. Negative impacts often are not avoided, but rather spatially spread. The classic word of ‘mass follows class’ applies perfectly and ecotourism destinations soon have to cope with large amounts of ‘normal’ tourists. Destinations, such as Costa Rica, Zanzibar and Belize are examples of thisdevelopment. Formerly difficult to travel to and examples of best practice ecotourism, now all are served by major charter airlines, which paved the way for mass tourism in these ecologically and culturally sensitive destinations.
There are lots of obstacles to overcome with the attempt to implement ecotourism and/or STD codes. The example of the small island of Niue in the South Pacific, introduced by Heidi de Haas, shows that constraints include the dependency on the schedules of major airlines. This very well illustrates one of the conflicts of sustainable tourism: small destinations would appreciate more frequencies by major airlines in order to receive sufficient numbers of visitors for viable operation, while once they got the numbers as mentioned above, it can result in adverse effects due to too many tourists. Political instability means a major financial risk for investors. Changing policies and lawsmake it very difficult for small companies and communities to develop a healthy operation, as shown in Thea Shoeman’s article about tourismin the Qwa-Qwa National Park in South Africa.
The major task will possibly be to define common rules and codes of conduct. This is necessary in order to establish a transparent system for the consumer. With the advent of the term ecotourism, many tour operators and hoteliers adapted the term without changing anything within their actual behaviour and operational procedures, as illustrated in RonMader’s contribution ‘eco sells’ and they use the term for effective marketing. The need not only for a common code of conduct but also for independent audits and certification arose. There have been many local and national attempts to find common grounds and labels, for example, the ‘Top Team Natur(e)’ and the ‘Gruene Koffer’ (Green Suitcase) in Germany (Krause, 1998), and the Best Practice Ecotourism programme of the Commonwealth Department of Tourism in Australia (Commonwealth Department of Tourism, 1995). However, a global system was absent for a long period of time. After the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, Agenda 21 became an issue in tourism operations throughout the world.
The future in ecotourismand sustainable tourismcertainly lies in a symbiosis of different forms of tourism. Mass tourism has its place in this development and it would be naive to think that the ever growing tourism on this planet could be without mass tourism.Therefore, it is the challenge forplanners andmanagers to make a difference. Exemplary projects worthy to copy are those of TUI and LTU (as shown before in my paper Large-scale ecotourism A contradiction in itself?), who take responsibility for their actions. Education and interpretation is crucial for a better understanding and consciousbehaviour of the tourists.
Can eco-tourism do more harm than good?
Alien invaders in the Caribbean -The regime change caused by the conveyor belt of tourism brings income and employment; the down-side is a drain on freshwater, loss of biodiversity and habitat, and contaminants washed up by seasonal waves or continuous tides of visitors. -San Andreas archepeligo It is plagued by the endemic problems of freshwater shortages, overfishing to feed the local restaurants, and the inevitable sewage and general pollution. -Islands of the Las Perlas Archipelago (LPA) are characteristic of where tourism and conservation are in an embryonic stage. -Las Perlas Archipelago Within a two-week period in late November and early December of this year, the LPA Municipality published a decree, with government backing, for the establishment of a hydrological reserve in the largest of the islands to protect over 9,800 hectares of important watershed environments, home to 14 endemic bird species. -Meanwhile the central government promulgated another decree announcing major large-scale tourist development plans. -The left hand protects the ecology, the right hand builds on it. -to ensure that potential sustainable tourism can stand "shoulder to shoulder" with long-term conservation efforts. Or will the internal wishes of the local inhabitants be "trumped" by business-as-usual, external, profit-making predators?
Miles and miles -Further flying is fostered by spawning "leisure miles" out of "business miles" - a "positive" feedback mechanism? -If only enough people can get into the symbiotic mind-set of taking the long term view instead of being part of the current prevailing short-term free-for-all "grab and grow -when will the organic growth of island eco-tourism reach its carrying capacity?
Tripping out -A recent conference on sustainable tourism on islands and small states organised by the UN's World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) came up with The Malta Guidelines on Sustainable Tourism 2006 -UNWTO Secretary-General Fransesco Frangialli stated: "We must capitalise on the opportunity to use tourism as a tool for poverty reduction but avoid the irreversible deterioration of sites and over-use of natural resources and the exploitation of workers". -Many economists think conservationists mean "no-development" when proposing "sustainable development".
A common ecotourism goal is the generation of economic benefits, whether they are profits for companies, jobs for communities, or revenues for parks.
Ecotourism plays a particularly important role because it can create jobs in remote regions that historically have benefited less from economic development programs than have more populous areas.
This economic impact can increase political and financial support for conservation. Protected areas and nature conservation generally, provide many benefits to society, including preservation of biodiversity, maintenance of watersheds
For example, divers at a marine park spend money on lodging, food, and other goods and services, thereby providing employment for local and non-local residents. These positive economic impacts can lead to increased support for the protected areas with which they are associated.
The impacts of ecotourism, or any economic activity, can be grouped into three categories: direct, indirect, and induced. Direct impacts are those arising from the initial tourism spending, such as money spent at a restaurant. The restaurant buys goods and services (inputs) from other businesses, thereby generating indirect impacts.
Driml and Common (see below for references) present the following data on 1991/1992 annual visitor expenditure at the following World Heritage Areas:
Great Barrier Reef
AU$776 million
Wet Tropics
AU$377 million
Kakadu
AU$122 million
Uluru
AU$38 million
Tasmanian Wilderness
AU$59 million
Powell and Chalmers used input-output analysis to estimate that Dorrigo National Park in New South Wales contributed 7% of gross regional output and 8.4% of regional employment.
--James World Tourism Organisation ( WTO), 'tourism that involves travelling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with the specified object of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural aspects ( both of the past and present ) found in these areas is Ecotourism.
The term ecotourism has come into existence fairly recently and now evolved as a concept. Simply stated ecotourism is environmentally responsible tourism, which must be:
1. Environmentally, socially, culturally, and economically sustainable 2. Educational 3. Locally participatory Or it can take many forms such as communing with nature or learning to understand the environment more deeply, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on the planet.
As stated by the International Union Conservation of Nature, ecotourism is defined as environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, to enjoy, study and appreciate nature (and accompanying cultural features both past and present), that promotes conservation, has lower visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations
Socio-Economic and Environmental benefits of ecotourism: *Tourism revenue generated can be channeled in to the management of the protected areas *Tourism could generate local employment, both directly from the tourism sector and from various support and resource management sectors *It could stimulate local industry i.e., hotel, restaurants, transport systems souvenirs and guide services. It generates foreign exchange *It diversifies the local economy, particularly in rural areas where agricultural employment may be sporadic or insufficient *It could benefit local people by stimulating development and improvement in support, infrastructure of services i.e. local transport, communications and water and energy systems *It serves as an effective educational tool for visitors, creates awareness and instills in them a degree of concern which could perhaps eventually translate in to active support for the conservation of the area, the revenue earned from tourism prompts by convincing government officials and the general public of the value of natural areas.
Negative Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Ecotourism *Tourism may cause degradation of the habitat by polluting waterways, accumulation of garbage, overharvesting of flora etc. *Unregulated tourist activity may cause disturbance to the flora and fauna e.g. Visitors may disturb nesting birds, use of spotlights shocks and disconcerts animals. Frequent damage to flora may affect their regeneration potential *Ecotourism ventures often alienate local people if they are denied access to the area in question on one hand while outside tourists are encouraged on the other *Influx of outsiders as tourists and entrepreneurs cause social and cultural degradation of the local population *Many tourism operators feel that ecotourism reduces profits and the speed with which money can be made
Consequently, most of the growth in tourism in LEDCs tends to be mass-tourism and not ecotourism because they want to benefit from it as much as possible. <http://scstsenvis.nic.in/case%20studies.html>
Indian Forestry Sector Eco-tourism : A Model for Sustainable Forest Management In the days to come, eco-tourism can be developed as a new model to bring about sustainable forest management. The various ways in which eco-tourism can be beneficial for Indian forestry are as follows :
1. Greater awareness generation among the public It has been observed that whenever one talks of stakeholders in Indian forestry, there are always the forest dwelling communities, the forest dependent communities, local NGOs and the forest department, besides in certain specific cases, religious centres, industries, etc. To a large extent, the city dwelling urban forest-independent communities are not at all considered as having any stake in Indian forestry. It is ironic however that almost all the decision makers and opinion-leaders of the country, be it top bureaucrats, judges, industrialists, celebrities and even politicians, are all members of this community. Even though this segment comprises only a small percentage of the country’s population, its ability to influence decision-making is much more significant. Eco-tourism is the best possible manner in which these forest-independent communities can be made aware of the problems faced by Indian forestry and their combined clout could be used to advance the cause of forestry in India. Eco-tourism could also expose school children - the future generation of policy makers - to the relevance and significance of our forests. As people today are becoming increasingly aware about environmental issues, this is the right time to promote eco-tourism.
2. Benefits for the local communities Eco-tourism can play a very significant role in reducing the dependence of local communities (both forest dwelling and forest dependent) on the forests. Instating an eco-tourism unit would not only provide them with a means of employment at the unit itself, but would also make them stakeholders in the financial progress of such an enterprise. The eco-tourists would also constitute a ready made market for NTFPs such as honey and other items such as embroidery products, local handicrafts, etc. at their very doorstep. High quality micro enterprises such as poultry farming, vegetable supply units could also be set up and centred around the eco-tourism unit to meet the daily requirements of the unit. Such a Participatory Eco-tourism Strategy (PES) would not only cut operational costs for the eco-tourism unit, but would at the same time reduce the traditional dependence of the local communities on the adjoining forests by providing an alternative source of livelihood. In addition to the above, eco-tourism could be used as an effective communication and extension tool to convince the local communities and especially the children, about the benefits of conserving forests and natural ecosystems.It must be kept in mind that in the initial years the profit generated by the eco-tourism unit would need to be utilised into strengthening the unit. However, eventually a suitable profit sharing mechanism could be formulated to initiate development programmes in the nearby villages/tribal settlements. For instance, the eco-tourism unit in partnership with the forest department and local NGOs could conduct microplanning exercises and PRA in these settlements and in due course satisfy the needs of these communities. The eco-tourism unit could thus have a trust for setting up a Primary Health Centre (PHC), a school, vaccination for cattle, and so on.
3.Benefits for the forests and the forest department By providing the local people with alternative sources of income, eco-tourism would drastically reduce the biotic pressures in the region which would automatically lead to greater habitat improvement. Other habitat improvement work such as clearing weeds for making view lines, creating salt pits for wildlife etc. would be mutually beneficial for both the forests and the eco-tourists. The unit operators and the visiting eco-tourists would also back up as the eyes and ears of the forest department in curbing all illegal activities such as felling, poaching, etc. The forest department would also get an opportunity to educate the city dwellers, villagers, school children, etc. about the importance of forests by setting up interpretation centres. The forest department has hitherto largely been perceived as far removed from the general public. Eco-tourism is the best way in which the public can be made aware of the pivotal and difficult role that is played by the forest department in conserving India’s forests. This would in turn lead to much greater appreciation of the forest department and increase the importance that is attached to it. Impact assessment of eco-tourism to minimise the threat to the environment from visitors, and to maximise benefits to local communities in ways that increase their stake in long-term conservation. The following points should be considered while implementing eco-tourism:
(a) The scale of development should be appropriate for the local community and for the capacity of the environment to support the facility.
(b) Zoning measures should be considered to reduce the threat to the environment.
(c) Roads or any trails should be placed in a manner so as to minimise intrusion on the environment.
(d) Measures should be taken during construction to minimise negative effects on the environment.
(e) Construction of the facility should use locally available material and blend with the surroundings.
(f) Energy sources should be environmentally sound and suitable.
(g) Appropriate technologies should be employed for the treatment of organic and other wastes.
(h) Local communities should be involved in planning, construction and operations. v
A key to sustainable ecotourism is operating in low-density environments and restricting the numbers of visitors. This ensures that human impact on fragile environments is minimized, that the integrity of the local area is not compromised and that the act of tourism will lead to positive outcomes – environmentally, socially, culturally and financially. <from planet geography book>
CASE STUDY – TORTUGUERO BEACH, COSTA RICA __ The beaches of Costa Rica may be differentiated from those at other exotic locations by the tremendous biodiversity they offer. Nowhere is that more true than at Tortuguero Beach, the most important nesting site for endangered green turtles in all of the Western Hemisphere. The name ‘Tortuguero’ means ‘Turtle Region’, but the rare reptiles aren’t the only visitors drawn to this magical place. Human visitors are presented with some of the best and most interesting coastline in the world, with dark sands, Caribbean waters and lush green palms. Located on the northeast coast of Costa Rica overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Tortuguero Beach is 50 miles north of Puerto Limon, the island’s main city and port. The village of Tortuguero has a lot to offer visitors to the beach, and is mainly supported by eco-tourism. It can only be reached by boat along a complex system of waterways or by plane. There are a variety of cultures that mingle to create an exotic atmosphere for visitors. Expect to encounter Hispanic, Afro Caribbean and Nicaraguan influences. The area surrounding Tortuguro Beach and the village is made up of a low-lying area of tropical rainforest. The beach at Tortuguero lends its name to the entire national park around it. Visitors arriving by boat will be lucky enough to witness some tremendous natural beauty as the canals they travel along wind through areas rich in wildlife, flora and fauna. Some creatures for which the Tortuguero National Park is famous are White-throated Capuchin, Howler and Spider monkeys. There are Two and Three-toed Sloths, and around 320 species of exotic birds, as well as a variety of reptiles. Even if your main concern when visiting is to enjoy the tranquil conditions at the beach, it would be hard not to be awe-struck by the beauty that surrounds in terms of wildlife. Other eco-tourism activities include treks through the national park around the beach, and visitors who seek activities will find that there’s no shortage of entertaining things to do that pertain to the glorious natural beauty around them. <http://www.allbestbeaches.com/north_america/costa-rica/tortuguero_beach/>
To make room for tourists that would bring money into an otherwise broke economy, a lot of natural resources and local communities need to be sacrificed.
Sometimes, although the concept of ecotourism is a good one and can potentially help the environment, you need to decide if it is worth sacrificing all the natural resources to make room for tourists.
After all, it is impossible to stop people from putting profit first before the environment.
Agreeing on the definition of ecotourism
Focusing on tourism to generate income or focusing on improving the environment
commercialization of tourism schemes disguised as sustainable, nature based, and environmentally friendly ecotourism
negative impacts on local communities
physical displacement of persons, gross violation of fundamental rights, and environmental hazards
illegally keeping endangered species in captivity to attract visitors
money spent on public relation campaigns, rather than actual ecotourism
less money spent on other projects that help the environment more
damage to the environment
industrialization, urbanization, and unsustainable agriculture practices leaving negative impacts on the environment
deforestation,
disruption of ecological life systems
various forms of pollution such as from more tour vehicles
less rare species as they are widely hunted down and kept for show
wildlife and rare species are turned into souvenirs and commodities
foreign investors and corporations benefit from ecotourism, not local communities
locals are moved to make room for tourist parks, resorts, etc.
Is the Eco Tourism Beneficial? Undoubtedly, Yes As the eco tourism is a nature based tourism which preserves the nature and the cultural values of the locals. · Eco Tourism minimizes the negative impacts on the local people and the natural environment. · Eco Tourism minimizes the negative impacts on the local people and the natural environment. · Eco tourism directs economic and other benefits to the local people by providing them employment. · It promotes conservation of natural assets and enhances the cultural integrity of the local people. · Eco tourism has become the major source of income and is attracting lot of travel agencies than ever before. · It promotes the preservation of wildlife and the natural habitats. · Providing positive attitude and experience among the travelers. · Eco tourism supports the international labor agreements. · Ensures that the natural resources are conserved and managed properly so that they could be saved for the future generations.
On the other hand if eco tourism is not monitored properly it can be as damaging as the mass tourism :
· It is the major threat to the rich biodiversity and natural habitats of the wilds in the jungles. · Eco tourism tends to conserve the environment at the expanse of the development prospects for the third world communities. · Located in the eco systems, eco tourism projects itself are the biggest obstacle in the way of the development of the environment. · Competition for eco tourism income between the various groups leads to social disharmony. · Increased use of resources by the human population, even in the smallest sense cause problem to the environment. · Another major threat to the environment are the production waste and effluent pollution as well as increasing human activities like logging, and agricultural clearance.
Eco tourism destroys biodiversity and harms local communities AND is a greenwash. http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/eco5.htm
Eco tourism is harming marine wildlife. http://www.cdnn.info/eco/e020829/e020829.html
A good Eco-Tourist stays at home; otherwise, they build a Hotel on top of the Eco-Systems they think they are saving. http://www.hobotraveler.com/2005/05/agro-tourism.html
Adventure travel and Eco-tourism destroy the very things they are supposed to venerate http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000Fwi
Building of dams and development of eco tourism destroy the ecology of the regions and the natural environment. http://nara.tumblr.com/post/8465159
A major impact on the forest are the pressures caused by accommodating the physical needs and comforts of tourists; impacts of providing wood for fuel, accommodation and access routes, together with the problems caused by tourists’ rubbish, put a large stress on the environment. For example, litter has been strewn along the trails of popular Himalayan tourist routes, and the alpine forest decimated by trekkers looking for fuel to heat their food and bath water [and dump their feces]. http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/TLSF/theme_c/mod16/uncom16t03s02.htm
One of the problems with looking at only the damage side of eco-tourism is ignoring the impact of whatever activity the land might otherwise be put to if not for eco-tourism. If the land is degraded by eco-tourism, but not as much as if it were clearcut and that in fact was the plan for that land then eco-tourism has protected that swath of land.
Further, there is eco-tourism and eco-tourism. In some cases, the people who live in the area get nothing or next to nothing from the tours coming through. In some cases, the locals are very much involved and make the lion’s share of the money and get a huge benefit.
In the former case, the locals probably hate the environment and make no effort to preserve it. In the latter case, the locals come to appreciate the environment tremendously. Sometimes, even when locals do not get direct benefit, as in the case in Rwanda, the locals come to appreciate the net benefit anyway. I am not sure why this is the case.
However, in Rwanda, during the genocide, both sides completely avoided harming the gorillas or their habitat. This is incredible. After the genocide, when the researchers got back in to do a census, they found that the mountain gorilla population had actually increased during the time of the genocide.
However, the ideal case is still the one where the locals derive significant and direct benefit, as in the case of the jaguar reserve in the Pantanal in Brazil. http://www.jaguarreserve.com/about.asp
Tash.
Community-Based Ecotourism in Development in Northern Thailand By Wang Jian Ping Source: http://www.asianscholarship.org/asf/ejourn/articles/jianping_w.pdf This source is a study of the development and impact of community-based tourism (CBET) in Northern Thailand.
Benefits
Local people benefit from becoming involved with the tourist industry. “…active involvement and control of eco-tourism products and services by indigenous communities will benefit the indigenous peoples themselves.”
“The richness and diversity of indigenous cultures and traditional knowledge is an invaluable treasure for all human beings.”
Eco tourists will gain from their travels as they gain intellectual knowledge which may lead them to become involved in protecting these eco-tourist sites. “…they will learn from the cultural and biological diversity of places but would also be involved in measures to protect them.”
Preservation of local cultures “other scholars suggest that commodification can help protect or even revive traditional practices and beliefs that would otherwise be lost”
Challenges
“Negative impacts such as environmental pollution and enormous waste management problems, the violation of human rights, commodification of cultures, etc., have affected many indigenous peoples around the world.”
“compared to mass tourism, eco-tourism is a kind of imperialism that can overpower traditional institutions and destroy local culture”
“The contradiction between economic self-reliance and the objective of minimizing the negative impact” Keeping a balance between sustainable economic sustainability and trying to achieve a sustainable environment at the same time.
There is no universally accepted definition of ecotourism but the International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the oldest organization in the industry, suggests that ecotourism has the following componenets:
Active minimization of environmental and cultural impact
Education on, and raising of, awareness about, the environment and natural history
Provision of financial benefits for future conservation
Improvement of the welfare of the local people
Sensitivity to the host countries' political, social and environmental conditions
Prioritisation of human rights and labour agreements
"Active minimization of environmental and cultural impact" - Can encouraging consumers to travel, usually by plane, all over the world be said to be the 'active minimization of environmental impact'? This activity might be countered by carbon-offsets, but even here, the results are dubious at best. .... Take the the publicized incidence where one initiative did indeed plant 1,000 trees, but unfortunately with no follow-up maintenance, these self-same trees were all dead a year later.... their carbon sequestration capacity is not reached for many years, and in fact, trees are outperformed by temperate grasslands, which sequester 236 tonnes per hectare as against tropical forests at 123 tonnes.
"Improvement of the welfare of the local people" What operator or eco-tourist is really aware of the impact they have on the wellbeing of its host community? e.g. the impact of a bottle water, that could be taking away the water for irrigation for local farming or the profits going to the water battle company which may be an multinational cooperation instead of the locals.
Misuse of the ecotourism name. "There is currently no certification process, what the term means in practice is a lottery. For example, the simple use of building insulation can be considered 'eco', and therefore enable the operator to be described as an ecotourism destination, as in the case of one hotel listed on the internet...The result is a growing niche market in tourism"
"As it stands at the moment, there is nothing 'eco' about tourism. It is truly an oxymoron."
The La Plata County Community Development Department, in Colorado, have just initiated a Land Use Net Benefit Programme, which is involving both local government and all the stakeholders in the creation of community goals which both safeguard the environment and the quality of life of the diverse residents, both indigenous and immigrant. This ensure that everyone in the local community benefits somehow from the flow of ecotourists.
Tourism as a part of an income generating strategy must go hand in hand with a community initiative to regulate the impact on natural resources.
Ecotourism Champion: A Conversation with Hector Ceballos-Lascurain by Ron Mader
This interview has many real world examples where ecotourism has in fact benefited the country and its environment.
Background on Hector Ceballos-Lascurain “Winner of the Colibri Ecotourism Lifetime Achievement Award, Hector Ceballos-Lascurain is a Mexican architect, environmentalist and international ecotourism consultant. He is Director General of the Program of International Consultancy on Ecotourism (PICE), based in Mexico City, and also a Special Advisor on Ecotourism to IUCN (The World Conservation Union), The International Ecotourism Society and the World Tourism Organization.
Hector has performed research and provided consultations in more than 70 countries worldwide on all aspects of ecotourism planning and development, including the architectural design and construction of ecolodges and other environmentally friendly facilities. He has authored or co-authored more than 130 books, reports and articles and is widely credited with coining the term 'ecotourism' and its preliminary definition in 1983.”
² “Ecotourism is proving to be a viable tool for conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of that important Amazonian area.” ² Varying definitions of the “ecotourism” name. "Ecotourism in Australia is a very different occurrence from, let's say, ecotourism in Ecuador. It is for this reason, I think, that different people and institutions in diverse countries have arrived at different definitions (some of them, by the way, quite similar among themselves). However, I think that this multiplicity of definitions is causing much confusion" ² In some countries, such as Mexico, there has been little interest and support from the public institutions about investing in to developing ecotourism. Ecotourism still has not established its validity in the tourism market. ² "Most 'ecotour' activities in Mexico carried out by local tour operators are more in the 'adventure tourism' category, and do not always respect the fragile natural and cultural environment in which they take place." An example of how there are various perceptions of what ecotourism is.
Fun Fact~~
In Mexico, ecotourism is called “ecoturismo” in Spainish.
Students can add content, create external (web) & internal (wiki) links, upload files, video, images, etc. to this page, that relate to
the motion. Add your contribution to this page's 'Table of Contents' first, and then submit your contribution below, under 'Resource'.
DEFINITION OF ECOTOURISM: Ecotourism is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strive to be low impact and (often) small scale (as an alternative to mass tourism). Its purpose is to educate the traveler; provide funds for ecological conservation; directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and foster respect for different cultures and for human rights.
(wikipedia)
AN EXAMPLE OF RESOURCE INPUT FORMAT (format must be followed for every resource entry):
Source: Pros & Cons of Ecotourism in Costa RicaNOTES:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Code of Conduct for Ecotourism Operators
More Background and Case Studies
Environmental effects of the act of travelling - Carbon Emissions and Offsets
Eco-Tourism in the Philippines - Example of ecological conservation, empowerment of people - "It can be done"
RESOURCE
<start.pwn = a.wan>
Code of Conduct for Ecotourism Operators
Source: Codes of Conduct for Ecotourism Providers
The International Ecotourism Society’s Summary of Guidelines for Nature Tour Operators[[#sdfootnote1sym|1]]
Predeparture Programs:
Guiding Programs:
Monitoring Programs:
Management Programs:
Local Accommodation Checklist
- Offer site-sensitive accomodations that are not wasteful of local resources or destructive to the environment that provide ample opportunity for learning about the environment and sensitive interchange with local communities.
- To quote/paraphrase a certain person's words of wisdom: "Why bother travelling to a home away from home if you can just stay at home?"
- Say goodbye to Hilton Resorts! Mingle, learn, truly exchange cultures, and become enriched and more aware of the consequences of your actions.
[[#sdfootnote1anc|1]] The International Ecotourism Society (1993), Ecotourism Guidelines For Nature Tour Operators, The International Ecotourism Society, North Bennington.More Background and Case Studies
Source: Ecotourism and its Effects on Native Populations (Student Research Paper) (Paper is well referenced with reliable sources - appropriate source of information.)
</pwn>
Environmental effects of the act of travelling - Carbon Emissions and Offsets
Source: Can I offset my carbon footprint?
Notes:
Travel methods are energy intensive – planes burning fuel, cars burning petrol – the act of travel using fossil fuel-powered vehicles is “environmentally unfriendly” as carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere – contributing to global warming
Example:
“There's an inherent problem with even this high-level type of ecotourism: power requirements. Even with partially green-powered lodging, planes still fly on greenhouse-gas-emitting fuel. And the round trip flight from, say, New York to Tanzania is very long -- about 15,000 miles (24,000 kilometers). Then add in the gas-powered Jeep rides from the airport into the jungle and then from spot to spot within that huge tract of land, seeking out zebras and giraffes. We're talking about a whole lot of carbon dioxide emissions during that two-week trip.” (Layton, 2010)
Buying green tags/ carbon offsets:
You can choose to pay extra to “offset carbon footprint” as the money spent is used to help generate clean electricity (wind power, etc) to cover the carbon dioxide emissions due to your travel.
Example:
“That 6,300 pounds of CO2 you're emitting with your flight to Tanzania only costs about $40 to offset [source: TerraPass].” (Layton, 2010)
(However, doesn’t really change the fact that you’re contributing to the emission of carbon dioxide due to travel – no change in net emissions – does not entirely discourage the use of fossil fuel based travel)
-
Eco-Tourism in the Philippines
Source: Eco-Tourism in the Philippines (Video, 2 min)
Notes:
Home to 43% of the country’s mangrove forests
Ecology close to collapsing 10 years ago
After 3 years of replanting mangroves – Role of protection of forest is given to community, under a “community based management plan” - Entire community is involved in preserving environment
Relay location of dolphins to tourist operators using modern technology
Fishermen – Catch increased, Birds returned
Increase in Tourist inflow
Dolphins – bio-indicators for fish – benefits the survival of dolphins and fisherman’s livelihoods
Give hope to local people – become “active players” in the industry
Eco-tourism is not "impossible" - “It can be done”
Environmental damage can be reversed with effort
Local empowerment + management in contrast to mass tourism's external control at work
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Eco-tourism is harming New Zealand's Marine Wild Life
Unsustainable eco-tourism has lead to more marine animals being injured and killed in collisions with boats.
http://www.cdnn.info/eco/e020829/e020829.html
Notes:
Tourism is having a huge impact on whales and dolphins around New Zealand's coastline. With the increasing popularity for interacting with the wildlife, animal behaviour has gradually changed and they are now becoming endangered species.
Eco-tourism in particular, is growing at a rate that could have a significant impact on the natural attraction.
Research has shown that bottlenose dolphins in the Bay of Islands have become "sensitized" to swimmers.
As a result of the huge numbers of tourists, dolphins have learnt to avoid people and boats as tourism levels increase.
People have become more careless; the increase in the number of boats has caused young dolphins to be hit.
The increase in eco-tourists who claim to travel to interact with natural beauty has created cause for concern of the stress and long-term implications for endangered species. Eco-tourism should take care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people. Species such as the Hector's Dolphin - an endemic species that supports significant tourism activity- have become endangered and this destroys economic opportunities in the long run, defying one the main purposes of eco-tourism.
Eco-tourism? Or Greenwashing?
http://www.examiner.com/ecotourism-in-national/ecotourism-101-what-is-greenwashing?cid=parsely#parsely
Upon closer inspection into the niche market that has a projected value of $474 billion by 2012, hoteliers and destination tour operators have been found to be Greenwashing rather than promoting Eco-tourism.
Greenwashing is the insincere promotion of business practices that are advertised as reducing carbon emissions or limiting the use of scarce resources e.g. when the actual objective is to increase profits by implementing some easy, cost-saving measures.
The Environmental Marketing Firm Terrachoice published a study in 2007 called the 5 Sins of Greenwashing which found that more than 99% of 1018 common consumer products randomly surveyed for the study were guilty of the greenwashing sins:
Greenwashing has undermined the legitimacy of eco-tourism. Governments use Eco-tourism merely as a label to promote their destinations without truly understanding its principles. Certification is fundamental in ensuring businesses are meeting standards.
- Ashley
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Eco-Tourism
Environmentally-friendly vacations
News video about ecotourism: http://feedroom.businessweek.com/index.jsp?fr_story=2a0cef7abf97f218a2a1bfe7f792a236ef0c5065
Summary:
Difficulties encountered:
"Carbon offsetting": paying extra to offset/compensate for the carbon emission: viable/trustworthy approach? Does planting more trees using that money actually help?
Bad Eco-Tourism Does More Harm Than Good
Read: http://www.abcarticledirectory.com/Article/Bad-Eco-Tourism-Does-More-Harm-Than-Good/189441
Ecotourism is one of the fastest growing sectors within the tourism industry. By protecting local habitats and respecting local people and culture it has had positive effect .
What "good" ecotourism should take into account:
Problems with "fake tourism":
Must educate tourists to decide whether an agency is providing good ecotourism. Profits from ecotourism should be put into its promotion and the conservation of natural resources too.
How Your Travels Will Affect Local Communities
Ecotourism is definitely a rising trend. However, even within the realm of ecotourism, the social implications of travel are often overlooked.
Negative Impacts:
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<Rachel Lee JIA!!!!!>
SourceNegative Impacts:
Source
Risk: Unregulated, nature tourism can damage the environment and corrode local cultures. Pollution from runaway resort and hotel development around fragile park areas in Costa Rica, Nepal, and Thailand exemplifies poorly managed tourism activity.
Distribution of benefits: Where international travel and resort chains or urban investors control the tourism industry, the local economic effect of ecotourism may be reduced. Early studies of ecotourism expenditures suggest that in such cases not much perhaps 20 to 30 cents of the tourist dollar stays in the national economy; even less reaches local communities.
Perceptions: Developing countries fear that their parks and protected areas will become playgrounds for international tourists, with the land reserved for conservation and no longer available for farming to feed and employ their growing populations.
Lack of information: More and better information is need about the actual and potential economic contributions of nature tourism ventures and practices. Inclusion of visits to natural attractions as part of regular recreational tourism needs to be explored along with "purer" forms of nature tourism and travel.
Source
Positive impacts:
Will fill in later....<END, RACHEL LEE JIA>
<STEPH>
CASE STUDY: Ecotourism in Peru - Rumble in the jungle
Discusses social, economic, and environmental costs and benefits of ecotourism
Source: The Economist - Rumble in the Jungle
Madre de Dios region in the Peruvian Amazon
The article discusses ecotourism in the Peruvian Amazon, the area of the Amazon jungle included in the territory of Peru.The ecotourism in the region is managed by Rainforest Expedition which is in a 20-year joint venture with the local community mainly comprised of indigenous Ese-éjapeople. Because of the company’s directly involves and cooperates with the local community, the ecotousim is generating beneficial social and environmental effect.
It is undergoing an ecotourism boom due to its success that stems from:
1. Attractive Natural Resources: The region comprises vast areas of pristine rainforest, including some of the most biodiverse places on earth, much of it protected (at least on paper) in magnificent national parks.
2. Accessibility: Its capital, Puerto Maldonado, is less than an hour's flight from Cuzco, gateway to Machu Picchu, the Incas' ruined city.
As a result, much investment has been made for its ecotourism industry:
- The Madre de Dios region in the Peruvian Amazon has more than 70 “eco-lodges” under Posada Amazonas
- Last year (2007) more than 60,000 foreigners visited the area, a 20-fold increase over 15 years.
Benefits of Ecotourism
Economic
Social
Potential costs of Ecotourism
Environmental Costs
1. Ecotourism Boom
2. Development of Interoceanic Highway
Eduardo Nycander, a co-founder of Rainforest Expeditions is leading the development of a 700km paved highway 15km from the Posada Amazonas. The increased demand for ecotourism probably led to the development of the highway for increased accessibility and convenience. However, this could have detrimental effects for several reasons:
<STEPH>
ECOTOURISM: IMPACTS, POTENTIALS AND POSSIBILITIES?
by Stephen Wearing, John Neil
Source: Ecotourism: Impacts, Potentials and Possibilties? (Page 188-189)
This article discusses how ecotourism needs to address numerous aspects of its development to be ensured to produce sound marketing and sustainable resource management in order to shape its demand and expectations. The article highlights five aspects that have to be addressed in order for ecotourism to develop sustainably and successfully.
*Highlighted Blue: Difficulties in addressing the five aspects needed for sustainable ecotourism
1. Ecotourism requires sensitively developed tourist infrastructure
This puts a lot of responsibility in the hands of the tourism industry. Economic development demands increasingly stringent environmental assessment techniques and reports to be included in applications for development, especially in countries where economic imperatives may take precedent over more qualitative aspects such as environmental, social and cultural significance of development. However, this responsibility may easily be neglected as the tourism industry sees increased volume of tourists as a window for profits
2. Ecotourism requires a supply-led tourism industrm
The tourism industry must firstly define itself holistically and agree to cooperate with and support a coordinating authority to make decisions about the number of operators, ceiling number of tours, pricing, etc. They have to manage the tourism supply in a way that will not damage the environment or cause social or cultural disturbances to the local community. However, again, this responsibility may easily shift and become demand-led by the incentive of profits if there is a surge of tourist demand.
3. The body responsible for making these decisions and policing industry activities needs to be a third party to the tourism industry
This is important so that decisions made will not cause detrimental effects to the environment. However, it may be very difficult to find a “third party” completely unbiased as even the government is not impartial to its interest in tourism growth, because of the short-term revenue that tourism can create for a region, especially where foreign currency is concerned.
4. Ecotourism requires the establishment of carrying capacities and strict monitoring of these
It is important to establish a carrying capacity in which cannot be exceeded to prevent detrimental consequences to the environment and local community. However, it is a task no profit-motivated organization in the tourism industry sees as its responsibility. It is also a difficult task that requires a comprehensive knowledge and expertise in the field of environmental, social and cultural assessments – social and cultural assessments are difficult to measure. It will also often require ongoing financial and human resource commitment to minor and evaluate impacts and changing relationships.
5. Ecotourism relies on the environmentally sensitive behavior and operations of ecotour operators and tourists
Environmentally sensitive behavior is the foundation of ecotourism and initiatives taken. In the initial years of ecotourism development there was a flood of “code of ethics” of “charters” released by a variety of tourism industry groups and environmental organizations. However, there are problems to overcome in this such as greenwashing.
<STEPH>
Ecotourism in Asia: The Big Green Debate
Written by Wild Asia on 30 Mar 2005
Source: Ecotourism in Asia: The Big Green Debate
(Wild Asia is an organization that works to promote and support the conservation of natural areas and local communities dependent upon natural resources – likely developing countries)
This is an interesting article that recounts upon a debate about ecotourism during The Asia-Pacific Ecotourism Conference (APECO) in 2004. It discusses both for and against sides of ecotourism from the perspective of Robert Basiuk of an ecotourism company called Borneo Adventure Travel (for) and Luke Clark, a journalist from Singapore (against).
*Words in Blue: Additional personal response to researched information
Against Ecotourism
1. It had become a cash-cow. The World Tourism Organization announced ecotourism was growing at "maybe double, even triple," the rate of the rest of the industry. From 1980 to 98, visitors to seven ecotourism nation countries with high levels of biodiversity - Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa and Thailand - rose 242 percent.Though it may not seem as obvious, ecotourism is still in effect a business (one that practices responsible tourism). It is still an opportunity to earn profits. Thus, such a rapid growth in ecotourism will inevitably interest new developers to jump into this new market in likely an uncontrolled manner.
2. It was never trademarked. The entry level was low. Anybody could move into a green tract of land and call themselves an ecotourism operation. There was still no internationally accepted definition, and no certification system to abide by. It was a fertile ground for rip-off artists.
3. In an open market, good operators were losing the marketing war to green-washers. High-volume commercial services could advertise widely; while good eco operators sometimes gave thousands in revenue back to local partner organisations. Again, here reference is made to ecotourism as a business. However, as eco-tourism aims to be a sustainable and small-scale as an eco-friendly operation, it is difficult for good ecotourism operators to compete with “green-washing operators” that manipulate the system of ecotourism. Thus, it makes it easy to manipulate consumers who find it difficult to differentiate between good ecotourism operators and green-washers.
For Ecotourism
1. It has put forward the whole notion of the need for sustainability in tourism (i.e. educates and raises awareness of need to preserve environment). In Sabah, tourism to the Kinabatangan River to view proboscis monkeys and other wildlife has become a major driver in the efforts to protect the habitat. There had been calls from conservation organisations to protect the habitat, but it was the added support from the tourism industry that really helped to highlight the value of the area.
2. Ecotourism is a business like any other and if your product does not meet the demand, you will not be in business for very long. If your product deteriorates over time, your clients will not be happy. Here, a counterargument is made against the previous point made about ecotourism as a business. It is argued that without the product (i.e. ecologically preserved tourist destination), the ecotourism industry will collapse. Thus, this industry ensures that the destination is preserved for the long-run to sustain such an industry.
3. The value of the conservation policy is important as this sets the stage for the domestic market - the local users. Once there is value to these users, you can guarantee that they will ensure this value is carried through the tourism industry. In Sarawak; tourism to villages has re-kindled interest in weaving traditional Iban blankets and provided an alternate source of income for women in communities.
4. Ecotourism encourages smaller businesses and encourages specialisation in guiding services and activities.
Asia:
Source: Tourism Concern - Fighting Exploitation in Tourism
This is actually quite an interesting website; "Tourism Concern" is a UK-based NGO that fights exploitation in tourism. Though it is quite general, and is not specific to ecotourism, the site is very informative in terms of giving overviews of the main problems that arise as a result of irresponsible tourist practices. It not only lists out the primary issues, but also provides suggestions on how to avoid "guilt trips" (lol).
The main issues that the organization lists as being of primary concern include:
- Environmental damage
- Displacement of local people
- Abuse of water resources
- Foreign office travel advisories
- Exploitation of women
- Climate change caused by aviation
- Unsustainable construction of golf courses
- Child sex tourism
- Working conditions
- Cultural conflicts
The website is quite good in terms of breaking all these issues, providing several region-specific case studies and examples for each (here: http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/index.php?page=the-issues ). The site also cites "community tourism" as a more ethical alternative to regular travel, listing out criteria that a discerning traveler should look for in brief, bullet-point notes (here: http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/index.php?page=community-tourism ).However, the most interesting part of the site was a debate on the motion:
"The gains to the holiday destination outweigh the damage to the planet."
Arguing for the motion is Roger Heape, chair of the Travel Foundation and former Chief Executive of British Airways Holidays; while arguing against is Sam Clarke, founder and chair of Stop Climate Chaos. Below I've listed out the main points of both sides:
FOR:
AGAINST:
Though the content of the debate does not directly address issues to do with ecotourism, it does cover the main arguments for both sides - arguments that art directly relevant when discussing the role of ecotourism in the context of the entire tourism industry.
Asia:
Source: Eco-Tourism or Eco-Terrorism? (http://www.untamedpath.com/Ecotourism/ecoterrorism.html)
By: Anita Pleumarom - works with the Thai Tourism Investigation and Monitoring Team
Argues that eco-tourism can be just as damaging as other forms of more traditional tourism:
Eco-tourism is an eco-facade
- Claims concerning benefits frequently exaggerated - more labeling and marketing strategies than genuine sustainability
- Often planned and carried out without local consent or support
- Threatens local cultures, economies and natural resource bases
- These facts marginalized or ignored
Environmentally risky- Wilderness is packaged for eco-tourists as a green option
- Industry caters to urbanized societies and new middle-class; these people want "virgin" forest "off the beaten track"
- Demand creates pressure to opens up areas that should stay protected
- Resorts, hotels and golf-courses established in nature reserves in the name of eco-tourims
- Leads to construct of artificial landscapes
No local benefits- Diverse local activities replaced by eco-tourism monoculture
- Locals often mistreated/exploited
- Most money - as in conventional tourism - ends up with the foreign investors
Romantic DevastationAdvantages and disadvantages of eco-tourism
Source:http://www.benefitsofecotourism.com/benefits-of-ecotourism/advantages-and-disadvantages-for-ecotourism/
Advantages of eco-tourism:
Disadvantages of eco-tourism:
Effects of eco-tourism:
Cheryl
Eco-tourism hope for Ecuador tribes
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6354887.stm
Notes:
Cheryl
Ecotourism and Its Impact on Forest Conservation
Source: http://www.actionbioscience.org/environment/lowman.htmlCheryl
Louise
Ecotourism in Costa Rica
Source: http://www1.american.edu/ted/costa-rica-tourism.htm
The Issue
- Ecotourism is currently the fastest growing sector of the world's largest service industry, tourism.
- Many developing nations are looking to cash in on the growing demand for this new trend in travel.
- The poor nations of Central America, with its cloud forests, active volcanoes, and wide variety of flora and fauna, appear ideally situated to take advantage of the growing
- However, in this quest for profits, some nations, including Costa Rica, have allowed their ecotourism industry to become ecologically damaging.
- By allowing unlimited numbers of tourists into protected areas and encouraging the construction of high-rise hotels and resorts over small-scale toursim development,
However, although the small Central American nation began it's ecotourism industry with small scale development and attention to conservation, some environmentalistsdemand for ecotourism.
Although Costa Rica has been praised for its development of a lucrative, yet environmentally friendly, ecotourism industry, there is debate on whether or not an economy
centred around tourism can be sustained, as the idea behind ecotourism is to preserve a nation's natural resources while profiting from them.
ecotourism industries, such as Costa Rica's, could eventually be destroyed or unsustainable
Ecotourism in Costa Rica
Costa Rica especially has taken advantage of the ecotourism boom and the number of tourists visiting Costa Rica has increased steadily for years
See table here
Costa Rica has developed one of the world's most successful ecotourism industries and has been lauded for its conservation efforts.
worry that as profits have increased, environmental protection has become a secondary consideration. Therefore, while Costa Rica's tourism industry undoubtedly has been
economically lucrative and sustainable over the past years, its continued benefits to the environment now are questionable.
Ecotourism and the environment
sufficient motivation for true environmental conservation.
Environmental Benefits in Costa Rica
Costa Rica's conservation initiatives have expanded to include 70 protected areas or national parks covering 21% of the nation's territory, as well as the creation of Costa
may have fallen to the demands of farming, logging, or mining industries long ago. (Egan, 2001). Besides the revenue brought in by tourism, protected nature areas
also generate income through environmentally sound pharmaceutical research and the sustainable harvest of food products. For instance, the EARTH research
institution has been researching the production of possible banana byproducts such as banana paper made from the generally discarded banana stalk.
Also, in 1991 the U.S.-based pharmaceutical firm Merck & Co made a deal with Costa Rica's National Biodiversity Institute (INBio) to carry out pharmaceutical
research and development in Costa Rica's rainforests. INBio is primarily concerned with conservation and their contract with Merck requires that 50% of any royalties
from the discovery of new medicines go to Costa Rica's National Park Fund. (Reid, http://students.washington.edu/radin/costa.htm, 2001).
and exploitative manufacturing companies that are spreading throughout the Third World. Instead, the infrastructure demands of an ecotourism industry primarily
include the construction of small scale hotels and transportation systems. By and large, Costa Rica has been careful to encourage small-scale development over
the construction of high-rise luxury hotels, thereby maintaining a healthy balance between expanding its tourism industry and protecting its natural resources. (Egan, 2001). For instance, some architects, such as D.L. Andersen, have begun to specialize in the type of environmentally sensitive construction of small lodges ideal for ecotourism. One of Andersen's designs is the Lapa Rios Resort located on Costa Rica's Pacific coast. Construction of the Lapa Rios Resort necessitated the removal of only one tree, and the completed resort
consists of only a main lodge and 14 private bungalows. (Fennell, 1999, 235).
Environmental Costs of Ecotourism in Costa Rica
While the environmental benefits of ecotourism are rather clear cut, the costs are much more subtle and sometimes difficult to detect. Governments sponsoring ecotourism
development must be vigilant in the protection of their national parks and meticulous in safeguarding against corruption. By and large Costa Rica has been responsible in
the development of ecotourism, but there is room for improvement. (Lizano, 1997).
those invested in the ecotourism sector may celebrate such rapid growth, environmentalists worry that the nation's delicate ecosystem may not be able to withstand an
unlimited flow of tourists. (Hicks, 2001). For instance, one of Costa Rica's most popular parks, Manuel Antonio, takes in an average of 1,000 visitors a day during the
high season. The unregulated flow of tourists through the park has taken a toll on its plant and animal life, and as the wildlife has grown accustomed to humans
local monkeys have been turned into garbage feeders. (Weaver, 1998, 95). Another problem is that, in their quest for the exotic, travelers are often attracted to the
rarest animals and most vulnerable plant life. It is difficult for park managers to turn paying visitors away or refuse access to the most delicate parts of the forest when
the demand is there and the profit-potential great. (Weaver, 1998, 25). For this reason, these tough decisions should be in the hands of Costa Rica's National Park
Service Agency, and similar institutions in other countries, that are better able to look past short-term profit gain to what is best for their country in the long run.
As ecotourism has become more popular, greenwashing of luxury hotels and tourist centers has become a greater problem that could tarnish Costa Rica's pristine environmental reputation.
To protect against these pitfalls of ecotourism Costa Rica began the Certification of Sustainable Tourism program that aims at identifying the most environmentally friendly parks and resorts.
However, some argue that lenient certification regulations have led to a sort of legitimized greenwashing of undeserving businesses in Costa Rica. For instance, large hotels can be certified
with very little effort and without actively promoting conservation efforts. Simply by using biodegradable cleaning products, being careful of waste management, recycling, and avoiding
pesticide use, a 500-room hotel can receive a similar rating to a small jungle lodge. (Lizano, 2001).
protected, those working in the ecotourism market begin to see the animal only in terms of dollar signs. (Weaver, 1998,25).
This phenomena represents a perversion of the principles of ecotourism that place protectionism before profits. The chief danger in the commodization of an eco-system
is the emergence of locals or organisations who are willing to exploit their nation's natural treasures for economic gain. While there is no quantitative manner of
showing that this phenomenon has taken place in Costa Rica, it is undoubtedly a threat.
Inadequate Enforcement - Limited finances, inadequate local expertise, and corruption can all lead to lax enforcement of conservation efforts. (Weaver, 1998, 62).
Often, developing nations do not have the resources to train the personnel necessary to efficiently regulate and protect a national park or wildlife preserve. For example, at Costa Rica's Tortuguero
National Park, the Western Hemisphere's most important nesting ground for the endangered green turtle, is left to the protection of just 10 full-time employees. Poachers are a problem in this
area and the park has to recruit volunteers to help guard the beach during the nesting season. Another obstacle facing conservation efforts in Costa Rica is the fact that 44% of the 3.2 million
acres marked for protection remain in the hands of their previous residents and owners. Logging in these areas is often hard to detect or prevent leading some to argue that Costa Rica's
natural resources are protected only on paper. (Dulude, 2000).
Reliance on International Donors - Also undercutting conservation efforts is Costa Rica's growing reliance on international donors. In 1992, for example, only
23% of Costa Rica's protected-area budget was government supplied. While international bodies are important in covering budget shortfalls, a dependence on
foreign lenders and donors who may not understand Costa Rica's ecosystem can destabilize the government's control of its conservation efforts and lead to a
lack of coordination in carrying out environmental policy. (Weaver, 1998, 96-97).
It is important to distinguish between the problems that apply to actual ecotourism projects and the problems of travel service providers that deceive the public by mistakenly
identifying themselves as ecotourism. (Weaver, 1998, 22). For instance, the problems facing Costa Rica's ecotourism industry stem chiefly from the latter, which largely can be
eradicated by a stricter certification program. Therefore, discounting the environmental benefits of Costa Rica's ecotourism industry would be a mistake since the nation's conservation
policies are far better than they would be with any other industry development.
Ecotourism and the Economy
Ecotravel has become a very lucrative sector of the service industry, but some of those who study the industry worry that the economic benefits of ecotourism may not be reaching the local
community. For instance, B. Wheeller believes that "pure" ecotourism is incompatible with business because every form of tourism entails an element of exploitation. He argues that companies
are motivated by short-term profits, while tourists are looking for mainly a self-satisfying vacation and local communities are seeking to obtain the maximum economic benefit from tourists.
(Weaver, 1998, 22-23). Similarly, Deborah McLauren claims she has never come across a true ecotourism project that could pay for itself, proving that the industry is not economically
sustainable. (McLauren, 1998, 101). However, P. Wight is more optimistic about the economic potential of even the most environmentally focused forms of ecotourism, stating that with
careful monitoring and planning, the problems cited by Wheeller and McLauren can be overcome. (Weaver, 1998, 23). In this light, this section will look at where the business side of
ecotourism can and has gone wrong in Costa Rica.
Economic Benefits of Ecotourism in Costa Rica
The expansion of ecotourism has undeniably boosted Costa Rica's overall economic development with tourism revenues last year totaling $1.1 billion - an incredible figure for such a small nation.
(State Department, 2001). Ecotourism has brought employment opportunities to often previously disadvantaged rural populations, and a significant amount of the industry remains in the form of
small scale projects that can be funded by locals. Currently, 75% of all licensed tour agencies are owned by Costa Ricans and 85% of all of Costa Rica's hotels have fewer than 50 rooms.
(Weaver, 1998, 84-85). Besides these general economic benefits to local communities and the Costa Rican economy in general, ecotourism has contributed to the nation's financial
well-being in other manners. For example, although the Papagayo Project may be criticized by environmentalists, continuing development of the resort area is bringing in a lot of foreign
investment and creating thousands of jobs for Costa Ricans.
For example, a visit to the Carara Biological Reserve entails not only a $15 entrance fee and possible additional donation, but also a flight into San José's
International Airport, a bus ride to the park, a stay in a local hotel, dining in the town's restaurants, and the purchase of souvenirs from street vendors. In addition,
less obvious growth linkages of ecotourism can effect everything from the communications industry to agriculture. For instance, the successes of Costa Rica's
|ecotourism industry have helped breathe life into the nation's sagging coffee market. Tourists consume an average of two cups of the nation's gourmet coffee
a day adding up to approximately 22 million cups of coffee a year, which, at 75 cents per cup, brings in about $16.5 million. Therefore, as many Latin American
nations are losing jobs and revenue to falling coffee prices caused by an influx of cheaper Asian brands into the market, Costa Rica has managed to stay afloat
with this increase in domestic consumption. Tours of coffee plantations, have also caught on in Costa Rica's tourist boom lending even more help to coffee
producers. (Brenes, 2001).
from wealthy nations and persons to the poorer sectors of society. Ecotourism is especially effective in this transfer since travelers often venture into remote,
economically-disadvantaged regions. The majority of ecotourists have above average income profiles and are willing to pay higher park entrance fees as well
as make donations to conservation efforts. (Weaver, 1998, 23, 98). For example, a study of visitors to Costa Rica's Monteverde Cloud Forest found that foreign
visitors are willing to pay an average of $118 to ensure that the park is adequately protected. (Fennell, 1999, 172). This extra amount that foreign visitors are
willing to pay could be collected in the form of an environmental tax on non-citizen ecotourists rather than a voluntary donation. Since tourism is a relatively barrier free trade
commodity it can be a more effective means of transferring income from the modernized world than other forms of foreign investment, such as export-processing
zones, in which profits are largely repatriated.
products, namely coffee, bananas, meat, and sugar, for 65% of its exports. Like many countries in Central America, Costa Rica's small internal market and
scarcity of raw materials make industrialization a slow and difficult process without much room for expansion. (Chant, 1992, 89-90).
Economic Costs of Ecotourism in Costa Rica
While one of the standards of ecotourism is to generate domestic employment and economic opportunities for locals, if not carefully monitored, profits can leak out of these regions into the hands of
elites and wealthier nations. In addition, if development projects are monopolized by rich businessmen looking for short term economic gain, both the local environment and peoples could pay the price.
(Garen, 2000). While Costa Rica's ecotourism industry has been careful to avoid this pitfall thus far, as the industry accelerates, more and more development contracts may be awarded to foreign
corporations and wealthy investors, which can lead to profit leakage and exploitation.
- Leakage- Many developing nations do not have the resources to construct the infrastructure necessary for tourism development, which leads them to turn to foreign corporations and
- Exploitation of Local Work Force- One of Eva Garen's biggest complaints concerning ecotourism is that the resident population is often excluded from the development process and
- Instability- Although the demand for toursim has been on the rise in recent years, a nation's travel service industry can be volatile and a downturn in the market can happen at anytime.
All industries are prone to budget problems, exploitation, instability, and poor management, and ecotourism is not an exception. Careful regulation is needed to ensure that the most lucrativeinternational donors. The widespread involvement of foreign investors can lead to a leakage problem in which the profits earned by the tourism sector do not stay in the country.
(Hicks, 2001). For this reason some environmentalists and development theorists believe that it is important for ecotourism to concentrate on small scale construction that can be done
without much outside involvement. (Weaver, 1998, 26). Costa Rica has typically held with this principal, but the Papagayo Project is breaking with this rule,
leading some to suggest that the nation's ecotourism sector has been corrupted by its own popularity. The Papagayo Project is financed chiefly by foreign investors and will double the
nation's accommodation capabilities. The completed development project will include the construction of 1,144 homes, 6,270 condo-hotel units, 6,584 hotel rooms, a mall, and a golf course.
(McLauren, 1998, 105). The resort area will undoubtedly turn a considerable profit, but most of its revenues will likely leak out of the country into the hands of the project's foreign investors.
relegated to minimum wage support jobs or the informal street vendor economy. These rural workers were often involved in industries, such as logging, poaching, or agriculture, that
are incompatible with ecotourism. (Garen, 2000, 230). However, instead of being compensated for switching to professions in the tourism industry, locals receive jobs that are often
low-paying (although better paying that farming), and limited in their potential for upward mobility. Meanwhile, managerial positions go to foreigners or urban- educated elites.
According to a study of large transnational hotel corporations located in the developing world, on average 23% of their wages go to foreigners, even though on average 93%
of their workforce comes from the resident population. (Weaver, 1998, 54). Although, as previously stated, Costa Rica's accommodation industry is largely small scale and
locally owned, the Papagayo Project is evidence that this trend may be coming to an end.
Although Costa Rica's political outlook appears positive, sudden political instability, escalating crime rates, terrorism, or threats of a global recession could all trigger an unexpected sharp
decline in tourism.
positions are not monopolized by foreigners and elites, or the consequences could undermine the environmental, as well as the economic, goals of ecotourism. For example as Garen points out, if
locals feel excluded from the tourism market, they will have no incentive to participate in conservation. (Garen, 2000, 221). One safeguard is to set legal limits on the amount of jobs and revenue
that must remain in the local community. Although such regulations can be viewed as unjust protectionism or a hindrance to economic development, these consequences can be tolerated if the end
result is an ecotourism industry that is both environmentally and economically sustainable and culturally sensitive.
Conclusion
Costa Rica has developed an environmentally sound and lucrative ecotourism industry that has allowed it to protect its vast natural treasures while bringing economic opportunities to typically disadvantaged
rural areas. As Martha Honey, the author of Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who owns Paradise? and former resident of Costa Rica, puts it, "They do ecotourism very well in Costa Rica." (Egan, 2001).
Given the lofty environmental goals and social ideals of ecotourism, it is easy for skeptics to criticize the industry, claiming that the world's delicate ecosystems cannot be adequately protected by a profit oriented business.
These critics may argue that wildlife reserves and natural areas should be strictly preserved, rather than open to the public. However, although such conservation goals are laudable, they are not realistic.
As Honey explains, "We're not going to stop the movement by people to the last unvisited places on the planet." (Egan, 2001). Once this fact is accepted, environmentalists can look for ways that tourism and conservation can
coexist. Although ecotourism may not be able to preserve these untouched areas as they would if human contact were prohibited, it can help protect them from the dangers of destructive
agricultural practices, mining, and industrialization.
Developing countries face tough choices in the race to join the modernized world and frequently environmental resources are seen more as tools of progress than treasures to be guarded.
However, as Costa Rica's ecotourism industry has proven, conservation and economic growth can go hand in hand.
Louise
~ Casper
Ecotourism and Impacts on Forest Conservation in Western Samoa
Source: http://www.actionbioscience.org/environment/lowman.html
NOTES:
The concept of Ecotourism
Ecotourism and Sustainability
Ecotourism and its Impact on Forests
Desert Ecotourism - Impacts in Baharyian Oases, Egypt
Source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/egypt/100309/desert-ecotourism-egypt-oasisNOTES
Setting:
Situation
Solutions:
1. Construction of Eco-lodges
- Eco-lodges have been set up in the town – hotel is built using local materials, staff appointed are locals, waste is treated into fertilizer for plants in the area (e.g. palm trees).
- May not be able to curb the rising tide of tourism in the area – may actually encourage more visitors to come >> even more detrimental to the environment.
2. White Desert declared a protected national park~ Casper
Talia
"Green Tragedy"
"Can anyone who flies halfway around the world in a jet powered by subsidized fossil fuel and puffing out greenhouse gases qualify as an eco-tourist?"
Tourism is by some estimates the world's biggest industry. In 1950 there were around 25 million international tourist visits. Currently there are around 700 million. By 2020 there will be around 1.6 billion.
As it has grown, so have its destructive effects become manifest, and these are greater than most of us might suspect. Along with television, tourism is one of the most potent agents of globalization -- tourists are the shock troops of Western-style capitalism, distributing social and psychological viruses just as effectively as earlier colonists spread smallpox, measles and TB in their wake. And as with globalization, there are voices urging reform.
The year 2002 has been designated the International Year of Eco-tourism by the UN. Eco-tourism is, supposedly, the antidote to mass tourism -- small-scale, nature-based, environmentally-friendly. That's the theory, anyway. The reality is that no-one has properly defined eco-tourism, no-one really knows what it means, it's highly unlikely that anyone ever will define it in a way that will command assent from critics of the industry, and in this vacuum the marketing men, greenwashers, corporate developers and government spin doctors flourish.
According to Tourism Concern, the British-based non-governmental organization, much eco-tourism relies on places from which native people have been excluded, often forcibly, or which are being destroyed by the sheer number of tourists. A UNESCO report recently concluded that the World Heritage site of Macchu Picchu in Peru (where a cable car has been proposed to cater to the 350,000 "eco-tourists" who visit it each year) has reached saturation point. Villagers there who want a greater share of tourist revenues have protested by blocking access to the site. Can any phenomenon which so breaches ideas of carrying capacity justify the prefix "eco"?
The attempt to construct an eco-tourist alternative to mass tourism does at least signify a perception that the industry has gone seriously wrong, and the more one considers how and why this has happened, the more the paradoxes abound. The first is that tourism was, and still is, seen by many as a "clean" path to development -- an industry without factories and fumes and the consumption of finite resources. The reality is that it has proved a terrible destroyer of landscapes, either through development or through the fundamental strains that Westernized appetites impose on fragile economies and ecosystems.
The second paradox is that, while repeatedly marketed as "of all-inclusive benefit to the economy," the financial gains of tourism are highly unevenly distributed. In practice, most of the money it makes ends up in the hands of local or international elites -- hotel-owners, package tour operators and airlines. And although tourism may create jobs, the biases and distortions involved in this process mean that these displace, and often replace, jobs -- or rather, livelihoods -- based around agriculture or fishing.
What happens, classically, is the expropriation of native lands for national parks or five-star tourist complexes, and there are many variants of this process. The net result is that people who were once able to make a reasonably independent living off the land, find themselves wage-earners in a global economy run from the other side of the world. They have become, in a word, disempowered -- one twitch in Wall Street, one tiny downturn in the US economy, and they're out of work, with nothing in the way of skills or land to fall back on. According to the International Labour Organization, it would take only a 10 percent reduction in travel as a consequence of Sept. 11 for nine million people, globally, to lose their jobs.
Which leads on neatly to the third paradox, the idea that tourism confers vast but intangible social benefits. This notion takes many forms, from the adage that travel "broadens the mind" to the principle of "world peace through travel" -- the motto, remarkably, of the Hilton hotel chain. Most people perceive the reality to be otherwise. Indeed, it would be hard to conceive of an industry with more potential for misunderstanding and conflict, particularly in the developing world. Throughout much of Asia, Africa and South America, tourism cruelly exposes the fault lines of global economic inequality. Most interactions between tourists and local people revolve round "the cash nexus" -- they are only about money.
The feudal north-south relationships characteristic of tourism are hardly likely to increase international understanding. And there are two further distinctive features that seem almost guaranteed to increase resentment. First, unlike most other industries, which keep their raw material decently out of harm's way inside factories or offices, tourists get everywhere, often in large numbers; people who gain no benefit from tourism must thus suffer its consequences. And second, in its drive to "broaden the mind", tourism seeks out the richness and strangeness of other cultures, and routinely, inexorably, destroys them. There is the phenomenon labelled "staged authenticity", in which a local cultural tradition, once celebrated for its own sake and out of a belief in its intrinsic value, turns into a tourist spectacle and thus, insidiously, into a performance.
In Thailand, for example, under the impact of dollar-driven tourism strategies and with the collaboration of local hoteliers and chambers of commerce, old festivals have expanded beyond recognition, and new ones have been conjured up spuriously from history or simply transplanted from abroad -- Chiang Mai, bizarrely, now celebrates Mardi Gras. The city's flower festival in February -- "rooted in history," the brochures would have you believe -- didn't exist twenty years ago. Buddhist ceremonies have become such a tourist draw that the most important local temple, Doi Suthep, last year announced plans to charge foreign nationals $3 for entrance.
In one sense, you could argue, it's harmless enough -- like the hill tribe women donning their indigenous finery to sell baubles or the local administration instructing staff to wear regional costume in the office. What's wrong with dressing up and pretending? Isn't that what they do in Disneyland? Equally, it's not what it purports to be. It has undergone a subtle interior change, into a branch of commercial culture, of marketing.
It's true that within this bleak global vista there are shafts of light. Tourism, it is often said, is good for conservation -- and indeed there are many cases where it has helped save a species. The mountain gorillas of the Congo and Rwanda are probably the best-known example. Throughout the world tourist revenues keep national parks in existence -- and motivate governments to protect them. Whale-watching, famously, is now worth far more than whaling. And whether it's a cottage in the countryside or a cruise in Antarctica, travel can still confront the individual with dimensions of reality that are new, disturbing, wonderful -- and that may leave something more than an image in a photograph album.
It's also true that human contact may sometimes transcend the cash nexus. And merely having been to a place may create an attachment that could, in the long run, prove of value. If one has visited the rainforests of Costa Rica, for example, one is more likely to want -- and to pay -- to save them.
Unfortunately, these are successes achieved, as it were, against the grain -- the odd victory in a war that is being lost. The industry, as a whole, doesn't work this way. Mass tourism is the human equivalent of a discount warehouse, operating on the 'pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap' principle. It's an industry dealing in human interactions and experiences which lacks any idea of what should inform these. It's also a leading protagonist of the globalization which is eradicating all the uniqueness and beauty upon which tourism itself thrives -- a classic example, in other words, of an industry devouring its own resources.
Many critics and non-governmental organizations now pin their hopes on community-based eco-tourism, in which, typically, local organizations run facilities, accept visitors into their midst, organize environmentally friendly activities, provide a taste of local culture and channel the proceeds into locally run industries. There are growing numbers of such initiatives around the world -- Tourism Concern has listed many of them in its new Community Tourism Guide -- and they are undoubtedly a vast improvement on mass package-tourism, not least because they remove many of its financial inequities. Whether they're anything like a full answer is doubtful. Community tourism could not possibly handle the increase in tourist numbers projected without turning into something quite different.
If that sounds like a counsel of despair, it may well be. If the tourist industry is to handle the hundreds of millions more people jetting around the globe in the coming century, it will have to undergo major reform. One could imagine how that could happen -- planning controls, tourist and aviation fuel taxes, enforced carrying capacities, airport restrictions, a global tourism convention and so on -- but there is not the slightest indication that it will. Neither governments nor industry are remotely interested -- most countries (the UK being a recent notorious example) are far keener to boost capacity, particularly of airports, whatever the environmental cost.
Tourists themselves, meanwhile, are largely ignorant of the damage done in their name, and although travelling may encourage the beginnings of a rudimentary planetary ethic -- a sense of responsibility for other parts of the globe -- this is nothing like strong enough to withstand the individual yearning for the experiences that journeys to distant places are believed to provide.
In that sense, tourism is a classic "tragedy of the commons" -- many individuals, acting independently and in what they perceive to be their own interests, destroying a collective good. What is needed is a new travel ethic, in which people start to ask themselves about the purpose and value of their journeys -- why they need to escape, what it is they hope to find -- but I fear this will only begin to form when enough people start returning with the sense that their journey had very little purpose or value, by which time it may well be too late.
Carbon Neutral: Raising the Ante on Eco-Tourism
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/travel/10carbon.html?ex=1166504400&en=f9514211763022b8&ei=5070&emc=eta1
By Michelle Higgins, December 10th 2006
Eco-tourism expands into ethno-tourism
http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1115558.php?mpnlog=1#
05 FEB
Podgora proclaimed as a first eco village
http://www.visit-montenegro.com/article1262.htm
11 Jun 2007
-Ee Leng
Jim
Jim
The Economist – A Survey of Vietnam
Revealing its hidden charm
http://www.economist.com/node/11041725
Tourism could do a lot good if Vientam handles it properly
Ecotourism
- A fair chunk of the foreign investment currently pouring into Vietnam is going into new hotels, resorts and golf courses, many aiming at the top end of the market.
- Enormous potentials for ecotourism
o The country has a wealth of attractions for all tastes and pockets: the ruins of ancient civilisations such as the vanished Hindu Champa culture; quaint tribal villages with wooden stilt-houses, colourful festivals and craftwork; historic cities and churches from French colonial times; war sites like the Cu Chi tunnels and the grisly but informative museum on the site of the My Lai massacre; and enormous potential for ecotourism
- Ecotourism in Vietnam is viable
o Populous countries with rising spending power
o To concentrate its resources on “sustainability”—in particular, ensuring that the country's most picturesque sites are protected.
o Mount Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak, where uncontrolled tourism is degrading the top of the mountain
o True in Hanoi, where the city authorities are battling to stop new housing and retail developments encroaching on historic buildings in the old quarter.
o For a young country that needs to find jobs for over a million people joining the workforce each year, tourism is the perfect industry because it creates employment at all levels,
o Benefit of tourism is the boost it can give to exports
o Develop its golden, palm-fringed and empty beaches, and dream of building spa resorts around the hot-water springs that bubble up through the province's rice paddies.
Advantages of Ecotourism
- Economic growth
o Employment in the gorwing Vietnamese economy
o Socio-economic benefits
o Maybe able to preserve the locate culture and heritage
o Increasing income and wealth of the country
o Pulls people from rural communities in the local economy
o Increase in exports
o Increase in spending power of the local consumer
Dangers
- In many instances, Vientam has seen the degradation of its local environment with increasing access by tourists and motor vehicles.
- The eviction of local communities as powerful and influential transnational companies recreate the land solely for the ecotourism industry.
o The exploitation of the local communities
o Environmental degradation
Jim
The Economist – A Survey of Vietnam
Revealing its hidden charm
Tourism could do a lot good if Vientam handles it properly
Ecotourism
- A fair chunk of the foreign investment currently pouring into Vietnam is going into new hotels, resorts and golf courses, many aiming at the top end of the market.
- Enormous potentials for ecotourism
o The country has a wealth of attractions for all tastes and pockets: the ruins of ancient civilisations such as the vanished Hindu Champa culture; quaint tribal villages with wooden stilt-houses, colourful festivals and craftwork; historic cities and churches from French colonial times; war sites like the Cu Chi tunnels and the grisly but informative museum on the site of the My Lai massacre; and enormous potential for ecotourism
- Ecotourism in Vietnam is viable
o Populous countries with rising spending power
o To concentrate its resources on “sustainability”—in particular, ensuring that the country's most picturesque sites are protected.
o Mount Fansipan, Indochina's highest peak, where uncontrolled tourism is degrading the top of the mountain
o True in Hanoi, where the city authorities are battling to stop new housing and retail developments encroaching on historic buildings in the old quarter.
o For a young country that needs to find jobs for over a million people joining the workforce each year, tourism is the perfect industry because it creates employment at all levels,
o Benefit of tourism is the boost it can give to exports
o Develop its golden, palm-fringed and empty beaches, and dream of building spa resorts around the hot-water springs that bubble up through the province's rice paddies.
Advantages of Ecotourism
- Economic growth
o Employment in the gorwing Vietnamese economy
o Socio-economic benefits
o Maybe able to preserve the locate culture and heritage
o Increasing income and wealth of the country
o Pulls people from rural communities in the local economy
o Increase in exports
o Increase in spending power of the local consumer
Dangers
- In many instances, Vientam has seen the degradation of its local environment with increasing access by tourists and motor vehicles.
- The eviction of local communities as powerful and influential transnational companies recreate the land solely for the ecotourism industry.
o The exploitation of the local communities
o Environmental degradation
Ecotourism and Economics
Shellshock
The Galapagos Islands show the mixed blessings of greenery
Background
- TOURISM has a long history in the Galapagos Islands.
- Visitors are now central to the future of the isolated archipelago
- Experiencing increasing standards of living
- Creating incentives for local people to conserve the fragile natural environment.
- the conservation strategy of relying on income growth in the islands has failed owing to uncontrolled migration from mainland Ecuador
Benefits
- ecotourism and economic growth on the islands
- GDP increased by an estimated 78%, from a base of $41million
- giving the archipelago an annual growth rate of around 10%
Dangers
- More people have put increased strain on the islands' water supply
- sewerage and waste disposal, not to mention its fragile wildlife
- Exploitation of fish from the marine reserve is increasingly intense
- there is plenty of antagonism between fishermen and conservationists
- political pressure to explore development options for the economy
o Lack of regulation and protection
- Not very eco-friendly in the Galapagos Islands
Rach Lauren
Tourism has contributed:
Case study: Rwanda
For places marked as ecotourism places:
Case study: Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands
Advantages
Disadvantages
Solution?
Source: Traveling to sustain --- and degrade --- nature http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_11/issue_03/travel_02.html
Case Study: Egypt
Actions considered
Egypt Past / Current statistics
Reasons for tourists increase?
Predicted Future
Source: Egypt mulls promotion of ecotourism
h
http://hken.ibtimes.com/articles/91917/20101214/ecotourism-climate-change-climate-change-conference-climate-change-talks-sunexpress-airlines-turkish.htm
<Daniel Chu>
The International Ecotourism Society
http://www.ecotourism.org/site/c.orLQKXPCLmF/b.5207577/k.BF40/Travel_Green_GuideThe_International_Ecotourism_Society.htm
In it there is a Travel Green Guide which addresses some important issues of Ecotourism
· Why is Ecotourism important?
- offers market-linked solutions, ecotourism provides economic incentives for conserving bio-cultural diversity (can look at my post in the discussions for such ideas)
- empowers local communities around the world to fight against poverty and achieve sustainable development
· Who are Eco-tourists?- should be responsible consumers interested in sustainability
- Increasingly, eco-tourists are also seeking to minimise carbon footprint of their travels
· Don't be fooled by Green-WashingUNEP's Ecotourism: Principles, Practices & Policies For Sustainability
http://www.ecotourism.org/atf/cf/%7B82a87c8d-0b56-4149-8b0a-c4aaced1cd38%7D/2002_UNEP-ECOTOURISM-PRINCIPLES_EPLERWOOD.PDF
General Ideas:
· Ecotourism is defined by its sustainable development results:
- conserving natural areas
- educating visitors about sustainability
- benefiting local people
· Plays a unique role in educating travelers about the value of a healthy environment and biological diversity· However, proper planning and management is critical or it will threaten the biological diversity upon which it depends
· As globalisation makes local economic control increasingly difficult, ecotourism seeks to reverse this trend by stressing that local businesses owners and communities must be vitally involved
· Roots of ecotourism: research undertaken in Kenya in the 1970s demonstrated that the economic benefits of wildlife preservation far surpasses hunting
· The substantial increase in awareness of such environments help kick start the interest in of film makers and scientists – and that developed the “tourism” side of the protection of ecosystems
· Ecotourism is highly dependent on the commitment of business owners who must be willing to apply a unique set of standards to their business approaches
· Hence, ecotourism must offer key social and environmental objectives:
- Specialised marketing that attracts tourists who are primarily interested in visting natural areas
- Management skills at handling visitors in protected areas
- Guiding services, preferably managed by local inhabitants, focused on natural history and sustainable development
- Government policies aimed to have fees that generates sufficient funds for both conservation purposes and sustainable development of local communities
- Focused attention on locals, which must have the right of prior informed consent, aimed to empower locals in their management of local sights
· Statistics and research confirm that an increasing number of travellers will be reaching remote ecotourism destinations with greater ease, at less cost and faster than ever before· This indicates that some ecotourism destinations may become vulnerable to the exact same boom-bust cycles that have plagued more accessible destination in the past
Bhutan Ecotourism
Bhutan is in a very fortunate position in terms of tourism. While tourism resources are being destroyed elsewhere, Bhutan's assets in the form of its natural environment and culture are well preserved. The international community has lauded the country's policy of giving the highest priority to
environmental and cultural preservation. This has further increased the profile of Bhutan as a prime tourist destination. The tourism industry has
created a wide range of opportunities for Bhutanese who have begun to grasp economic opportunities offered by the industry. Tourism has also
been a self-financing mechanism for promoting the country's environment and facilitating an awareness and understanding of the uniqueness of this
country. Tourism has resulted in some adverse impacts but the government has recognised the need to address them.
The future also seems positive for Bhutan Ecotourism as here are the following conditions that favour this type of tourism and allow further advancement/improvement:
- Tour operators favor ecotourism
- Foreign tourists arriving in Bhutan appreciate the ‘‘high value, low impact’’ tourism policy and support ecotourism activities that would benefit rural communities but indicate that there is a need to reorient tourism policy to encourage ecotourism.
- Although their present tourism policy—to preserve nature and culture and simultaneously pursue rural development through ecotourism to
enhance GNH—Bhutan’s options are limited to diversifying tourism products, encouraging local communities to take up micro-enterprises,
and readjusting its pricing policy.
- How to address the issue of increased human-wildlife conflicts, especially crop damage and domestic animal kills, will be a matter of further investigation. A community development fund fed by park entry fees from tourists and benefits from community-managed micro-enterprises could compensate farmers for economic losses from wildlife,mitigate park-people conflicts and win the support of local people in conservation efforts.
With policy support, community-managed micro-enterprises could safeguard the interests of rural communities, but this strategy must be incorporated into the park management policy because of the changing sociopolitical context, the growing influence of the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators in tourism policymaking and evidence that international investors are establishing tourism businesses in the country.
For further information:
Sustainability of Tourism in Bhutan
ECOTOURISM IN BHUTAN - Extending its Benefits to Rural Communities
Looking into the Future of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism by Michael Lück
No matter which form of tourism we will see predominantly in the future, all sorts of tourism are dependent on resources, especially natural and cultural. The challenge is to manage the use of those resources in a sustainable way. Ever increasing numbers of tourists all over the world are setting resources under a growing pressure. One school of thought suggests that sustainable does not necessarily mean small-scale tourism. In fact, ‘large-scale, spatially concentrated tourism may, as it is argued, act as a ‘safety-valve’ syphoning off potential demand for scarce resources elsewhere and it may keep mass tourism firmly in its place’ (Wheeller, 1991: 93–4). Eco and similar forms of tourismare seen as the most destructive forms of tourism. Ecotourists endeavour to constantly discover new, untouched areas. Negative impacts often are not avoided, but rather spatially spread. The classic word of ‘mass follows class’ applies perfectly and ecotourism destinations soon have to cope with large amounts of ‘normal’ tourists. Destinations, such as Costa Rica, Zanzibar and Belize are examples of thisdevelopment. Formerly difficult to travel to and examples of best practice ecotourism, now all are served by major charter airlines, which paved the way for mass tourism in these ecologically and culturally sensitive destinations.
There are lots of obstacles to overcome with the attempt to implement ecotourism and/or STD codes. The example of the small island of Niue in the South Pacific, introduced by Heidi de Haas, shows that constraints include the dependency on the schedules of major airlines. This very well illustrates one of the conflicts of sustainable tourism: small destinations would appreciate more frequencies by major airlines in order to receive sufficient numbers of visitors for viable operation, while once they got the numbers as mentioned above, it can result in adverse effects due to too many tourists. Political instability means a major financial risk for investors. Changing policies and lawsmake it very difficult for small companies and communities to develop a healthy operation, as shown in Thea Shoeman’s article about tourismin the Qwa-Qwa National Park in South Africa.
The major task will possibly be to define common rules and codes of conduct. This is necessary in order to establish a transparent system for the consumer. With the advent of the term ecotourism, many tour operators and hoteliers adapted the term without changing anything within their actual behaviour and operational procedures, as illustrated in RonMader’s contribution ‘eco sells’ and they use the term for effective marketing. The need not only for a common code of conduct but also for independent audits and certification arose. There have been many local and national attempts to find common grounds and labels, for example, the ‘Top Team Natur(e)’ and the ‘Gruene Koffer’ (Green Suitcase) in Germany (Krause, 1998), and the Best Practice Ecotourism programme of the Commonwealth Department of Tourism in Australia (Commonwealth Department of Tourism, 1995). However, a global system was absent for a long period of time. After the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, Agenda 21 became an issue in tourism operations throughout the world.
The future in ecotourismand sustainable tourismcertainly lies in a symbiosis of different forms of tourism. Mass tourism has its place in this development and it would be naive to think that the ever growing tourism on this planet could be without mass tourism.Therefore, it is the challenge forplanners andmanagers to make a difference. Exemplary projects worthy to copy are those of TUI and LTU (as shown before in my paper Large-scale ecotourism A contradiction in itself?), who take responsibility for their actions. Education and interpretation is crucial for a better understanding and consciousbehaviour of the tourists.
Looking into the Future of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism
Justin
Can eco-tourism do more harm than good?
Alien invaders in the Caribbean
-The regime change caused by the conveyor belt of tourism brings income and employment; the down-side is a drain on freshwater, loss of biodiversity and habitat, and contaminants washed up by seasonal waves or continuous tides of visitors.
-San Andreas archepeligo
It is plagued by the endemic problems of freshwater shortages, overfishing to feed the local restaurants, and the inevitable sewage and general pollution.
-Islands of the Las Perlas Archipelago (LPA) are characteristic of where tourism and conservation are in an embryonic stage.
-Las Perlas Archipelago
Within a two-week period in late November and early December of this year, the LPA Municipality published a decree, with government backing, for the establishment of a hydrological reserve in the largest of the islands to protect over 9,800 hectares of important watershed environments, home to 14 endemic bird species.
-Meanwhile the central government promulgated another decree announcing major large-scale tourist development plans.
-The left hand protects the ecology, the right hand builds on it.
-to ensure that potential sustainable tourism can stand "shoulder to shoulder" with long-term conservation efforts. Or will the internal wishes of the local inhabitants be "trumped" by business-as-usual, external, profit-making predators?
Miles and miles
-Further flying is fostered by spawning "leisure miles" out of "business miles" - a "positive" feedback mechanism?
-If only enough people can get into the symbiotic mind-set of taking the long term view instead of being part of the current prevailing short-term free-for-all "grab and grow
-when will the organic growth of island eco-tourism reach its carrying capacity?
Tripping out
-A recent conference on sustainable tourism on islands and small states organised by the UN's World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) came up with The Malta Guidelines on Sustainable Tourism 2006
-UNWTO Secretary-General Fransesco Frangialli stated: "We must capitalise on the opportunity to use tourism as a tool for poverty reduction but avoid the irreversible deterioration of sites and over-use of natural resources and the exploitation of workers".
-Many economists think conservationists mean "no-development" when proposing "sustainable development".
For further information visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6179901.stm
--James
The economic impacts of ecotourism
A common ecotourism goal is the generation of economic benefits, whether they are profits for companies, jobs for communities, or revenues for parks.
Ecotourism plays a particularly important role because it can create jobs in remote regions that historically have benefited less from economic development programs than have more populous areas.
This economic impact can increase political and financial support for conservation. Protected areas and nature conservation generally, provide many benefits to society, including preservation of biodiversity, maintenance of watersheds
For example, divers at a marine park spend money on lodging, food, and other goods and services, thereby providing employment for local and non-local residents. These positive economic impacts can lead to increased support for the protected areas with which they are associated.
The impacts of ecotourism, or any economic activity, can be grouped into three categories: direct, indirect, and induced. Direct impacts are those arising from the initial tourism spending, such as money spent at a restaurant. The restaurant buys goods and services (inputs) from other businesses, thereby generating indirect impacts.
for more information visit http://www.ecotourism.ee/oko/kreg.html
--James
World Tourism Organisation ( WTO), 'tourism that involves travelling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with the specified object of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural aspects ( both of the past and present ) found in these areas is Ecotourism.
<http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/f1409981.html>
The term ecotourism has come into existence fairly recently and now evolved as a concept. Simply stated ecotourism is environmentally responsible tourism, which must be:
1. Environmentally, socially, culturally, and economically sustainable
2. Educational
3. Locally participatory
Or it can take many forms such as communing with nature or learning to understand the environment more deeply, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on the planet.
As stated by the International Union Conservation of Nature, ecotourism is defined as environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, to enjoy, study and appreciate nature (and accompanying cultural features both past and present), that promotes conservation, has lower visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations
Socio-Economic and Environmental benefits of ecotourism:
*Tourism revenue generated can be channeled in to the management of the protected areas
*Tourism could generate local employment, both directly from the tourism sector and from various support and resource management sectors
*It could stimulate local industry i.e., hotel, restaurants, transport systems souvenirs and guide services. It generates foreign exchange
*It diversifies the local economy, particularly in rural areas where agricultural employment may be sporadic or insufficient
*It could benefit local people by stimulating development and improvement in support, infrastructure of services i.e. local transport, communications and water and energy systems
*It serves as an effective educational tool for visitors, creates awareness and instills in them a degree of concern which could perhaps eventually translate in to active support for the conservation of the area, the revenue earned from tourism prompts by convincing government officials and the general public of the value of natural areas.
Negative Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Ecotourism
*Tourism may cause degradation of the habitat by polluting waterways, accumulation of garbage, overharvesting of flora etc.
*Unregulated tourist activity may cause disturbance to the flora and fauna e.g. Visitors may disturb nesting birds, use of spotlights shocks and disconcerts animals. Frequent damage to flora may affect their regeneration potential
*Ecotourism ventures often alienate local people if they are denied access to the area in question on one hand while outside tourists are encouraged on the other
*Influx of outsiders as tourists and entrepreneurs cause social and cultural degradation of the local population
*Many tourism operators feel that ecotourism reduces profits and the speed with which money can be made
Consequently, most of the growth in tourism in LEDCs tends to be mass-tourism and not ecotourism because they want to benefit from it as much as possible.
<http://scstsenvis.nic.in/case%20studies.html>
Indian Forestry Sector
Eco-tourism : A Model for Sustainable Forest Management
In the days to come, eco-tourism can be developed as a new model to bring about sustainable forest management. The various ways in which eco-tourism can be beneficial for Indian forestry are as follows :
1. Greater awareness generation among the public
It has been observed that whenever one talks of stakeholders in Indian forestry, there are always the forest dwelling communities, the forest dependent communities, local NGOs and the forest department, besides in certain specific cases, religious centres, industries, etc. To a large extent, the city dwelling urban forest-independent communities are not at all considered as having any stake in Indian forestry. It is ironic however that almost all the decision makers and opinion-leaders of the country, be it top bureaucrats, judges, industrialists, celebrities and even politicians, are all members of this community. Even though this segment comprises only a small percentage of the country’s population, its ability to influence decision-making is much more significant.
Eco-tourism is the best possible manner in which these forest-independent communities can be made aware of the problems faced by Indian forestry and their combined clout could be used to advance the cause of forestry in India. Eco-tourism could also expose school children - the future generation of policy makers - to the relevance and significance of our forests. As people today are becoming increasingly aware about environmental issues, this is the right time to promote eco-tourism.
2. Benefits for the local communities
Eco-tourism can play a very significant role in reducing the dependence of local communities (both forest dwelling and forest dependent) on the forests. Instating an eco-tourism unit would not only provide them with a means of employment at the unit itself, but would also make them stakeholders in the financial progress of such an enterprise. The eco-tourists would also constitute a ready made market for NTFPs such as honey and other items such as embroidery products, local handicrafts, etc. at their very doorstep. High quality micro enterprises such as poultry farming, vegetable supply units could also be set up and centred around the eco-tourism unit to meet the daily requirements of the unit. Such a Participatory Eco-tourism Strategy (PES) would not only cut operational costs for the eco-tourism unit, but would at the same time reduce the traditional dependence of the local communities on the adjoining forests by providing an alternative source of livelihood. In addition to the above, eco-tourism could be used as an effective communication and extension tool to convince the local communities and especially the children, about the benefits of conserving forests and natural ecosystems.It must be kept in mind that in the initial years the profit generated by the eco-tourism unit would need to be utilised into strengthening the unit. However, eventually a suitable profit sharing mechanism could be formulated to initiate development programmes in the nearby villages/tribal settlements. For instance, the eco-tourism unit in partnership with the forest department and local NGOs could conduct microplanning exercises and PRA in these settlements and in due course satisfy the needs of these communities. The eco-tourism unit could thus have a trust for setting up a Primary Health Centre (PHC), a school, vaccination for cattle, and so on.
3.Benefits for the forests and the forest department
By providing the local people with alternative sources of income, eco-tourism would drastically reduce the biotic pressures in the region which would automatically lead to greater habitat improvement. Other habitat improvement work such as clearing weeds for making view lines, creating salt pits for wildlife etc. would be mutually beneficial for both the forests and the eco-tourists. The unit operators and the visiting eco-tourists would also back up as the eyes and ears of the forest department in curbing all illegal activities such as felling, poaching, etc. The forest department would also get an opportunity to educate the city dwellers, villagers, school children, etc. about the importance of forests by setting up interpretation centres. The forest department has hitherto largely been perceived as far removed from the general public. Eco-tourism is the best way in which the public can be made aware of the pivotal and difficult role that is played by the forest department in conserving India’s forests.
This would in turn lead to much greater appreciation of the forest department and increase the importance that is attached to it. Impact assessment of eco-tourism to minimise the threat to the environment from visitors, and to maximise benefits to local communities in ways that increase their stake in long-term conservation.
The following points should be considered while implementing eco-tourism:
<http://scstsenvis.nic.in/case%20studies.html>
A key to sustainable ecotourism is operating in low-density environments and restricting the numbers of visitors. This ensures that human impact on fragile environments is minimized, that the integrity of the local area is not compromised and that the act of tourism will lead to positive outcomes – environmentally, socially, culturally and financially.
<from planet geography book>
CASE STUDY – TORTUGUERO BEACH, COSTA RICA __
The beaches of Costa Rica may be differentiated from those at other exotic locations by the tremendous biodiversity they offer. Nowhere is that more true than at Tortuguero Beach, the most important nesting site for endangered green turtles in all of the Western Hemisphere. The name ‘Tortuguero’ means ‘Turtle Region’, but the rare reptiles aren’t the only visitors drawn to this magical place. Human visitors are presented with some of the best and most interesting coastline in the world, with dark sands, Caribbean waters and lush green palms.
Located on the northeast coast of Costa Rica overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Tortuguero Beach is 50 miles north of Puerto Limon, the island’s main city and port. The village of Tortuguero has a lot to offer visitors to the beach, and is mainly supported by eco-tourism. It can only be reached by boat along a complex system of waterways or by plane. There are a variety of cultures that mingle to create an exotic atmosphere for visitors. Expect to encounter Hispanic, Afro Caribbean and Nicaraguan influences. The area surrounding Tortuguro Beach and the village is made up of a low-lying area of tropical rainforest.
The beach at Tortuguero lends its name to the entire national park around it. Visitors arriving by boat will be lucky enough to witness some tremendous natural beauty as the canals they travel along wind through areas rich in wildlife, flora and fauna. Some creatures for which the Tortuguero National Park is famous are White-throated Capuchin, Howler and Spider monkeys. There are Two and Three-toed Sloths, and around 320 species of exotic birds, as well as a variety of reptiles. Even if your main concern when visiting is to enjoy the tranquil conditions at the beach, it would be hard not to be awe-struck by the beauty that surrounds in terms of wildlife.
Other eco-tourism activities include treks through the national park around the beach, and visitors who seek activities will find that there’s no shortage of entertaining things to do that pertain to the glorious natural beauty around them.
<http://www.allbestbeaches.com/north_america/costa-rica/tortuguero_beach/>
To make room for tourists that would bring money into an otherwise broke economy, a lot of natural resources and local communities need to be sacrificed.
- Agreeing on the definition of ecotourism
- Focusing on tourism to generate income or focusing on improving the environment
- commercialization of tourism schemes disguised as sustainable, nature based, and environmentally friendly ecotourism
- negative impacts on local communities
- physical displacement of persons, gross violation of fundamental rights, and environmental hazards
- illegally keeping endangered species in captivity to attract visitors
- money spent on public relation campaigns, rather than actual ecotourism
- less money spent on other projects that help the environment more
- damage to the environment
- industrialization, urbanization, and unsustainable agriculture practices leaving negative impacts on the environment
- disruption of ecological life systems
- various forms of pollution such as from more tour vehicles
- less rare species as they are widely hunted down and kept for show
- wildlife and rare species are turned into souvenirs and commodities
- foreign investors and corporations benefit from ecotourism, not local communities
- locals are moved to make room for tourist parks, resorts, etc.
- exploitation of local communities and tribes
<http://www.benefitsofecotourism.com/benefits-of-ecotourism/disadvantages-ecotourism/>deforestation,
Is the Eco Tourism Beneficial? Undoubtedly, Yes As the eco tourism is a nature based tourism which preserves the nature and the cultural values of the locals.
· Eco Tourism minimizes the negative impacts on the local people and the natural environment.
· Eco Tourism minimizes the negative impacts on the local people and the natural environment.
· Eco tourism directs economic and other benefits to the local people by providing them employment.
· It promotes conservation of natural assets and enhances the cultural integrity of the local people.
· Eco tourism has become the major source of income and is attracting lot of travel agencies than ever before.
· It promotes the preservation of wildlife and the natural habitats.
· Providing positive attitude and experience among the travelers.
· Eco tourism supports the international labor agreements.
· Ensures that the natural resources are conserved and managed properly so that they could be saved for the future generations.
On the other hand if eco tourism is not monitored properly it can be as damaging as the mass tourism :
· It is the major threat to the rich biodiversity and natural habitats of the wilds in the jungles.
· Eco tourism tends to conserve the environment at the expanse of the development prospects for the third world communities.
· Located in the eco systems, eco tourism projects itself are the biggest obstacle in the way of the development of the environment.
· Competition for eco tourism income between the various groups leads to social disharmony.
· Increased use of resources by the human population, even in the smallest sense cause problem to the environment.
· Another major threat to the environment are the production waste and effluent pollution as well as increasing human activities like logging, and agricultural clearance.
http://www.ecoindia.com/sustainable-tourism/risks-and-benefits-of-eco-tourism.html
JEANETTE
Eco tourism destroys biodiversity and harms local communities AND is a greenwash. http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/eco5.htm
Eco tourism is harming marine wildlife. http://www.cdnn.info/eco/e020829/e020829.html
A good Eco-Tourist stays at home; otherwise, they build a Hotel on top of the Eco-Systems they think they are saving. http://www.hobotraveler.com/2005/05/agro-tourism.html
Adventure travel and Eco-tourism destroy the very things they are supposed to venerate http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=000Fwi
Building of dams and development of eco tourism destroy the ecology of the regions and the natural environment. http://nara.tumblr.com/post/8465159
A major impact on the forest are the pressures caused by accommodating the physical needs and comforts of tourists; impacts of providing wood for fuel, accommodation and access routes, together with the problems caused by tourists’ rubbish, put a large stress on the environment. For example, litter has been strewn along the trails of popular Himalayan tourist routes, and the alpine forest decimated by trekkers looking for fuel to heat their food and bath water [and dump their feces].
http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/TLSF/theme_c/mod16/uncom16t03s02.htm
One of the problems with looking at only the damage side of eco-tourism is ignoring the impact of whatever activity the land might otherwise be put to if not for eco-tourism. If the land is degraded by eco-tourism, but not as much as if it were clearcut and that in fact was the plan for that land then eco-tourism has protected that swath of land.
Further, there is eco-tourism and eco-tourism. In some cases, the people who live in the area get nothing or next to nothing from the tours coming through. In some cases, the locals are very much involved and make the lion’s share of the money and get a huge benefit.
In the former case, the locals probably hate the environment and make no effort to preserve it. In the latter case, the locals come to appreciate the environment tremendously. Sometimes, even when locals do not get direct benefit, as in the case in Rwanda, the locals come to appreciate the net benefit anyway. I am not sure why this is the case.
However, in Rwanda, during the genocide, both sides completely avoided harming the gorillas or their habitat. This is incredible. After the genocide, when the researchers got back in to do a census, they found that the mountain gorilla population had actually increased during the time of the genocide.
However, the ideal case is still the one where the locals derive significant and direct benefit, as in the case of the jaguar reserve in the Pantanal in Brazil.
http://www.jaguarreserve.com/about.asp
Tash.
Community-Based Ecotourism in Development in Northern Thailand
By Wang Jian Ping
Source: http://www.asianscholarship.org/asf/ejourn/articles/jianping_w.pdf
This source is a study of the development and impact of community-based tourism (CBET) in Northern Thailand.
Benefits
Challenges
Ecotorism - an oxymoron?
By Aspen Edge
Source:
http://www.responsibletravelnews.com/articles/2008_07_11_Ecotourism_Definition.htm
Ecotourism Champion: A Conversation with Hector Ceballos-Lascurain by Ron Mader
http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/weaving/hectorceballos.html
This interview has many real world examples where ecotourism has in fact benefited the country and its environment.Background on Hector Ceballos-Lascurain
“Winner of the Colibri Ecotourism Lifetime Achievement Award, Hector Ceballos-Lascurain is a Mexican architect, environmentalist and international ecotourism consultant. He is Director General of the Program of International Consultancy on Ecotourism (PICE), based in Mexico City, and also a Special Advisor on Ecotourism to IUCN (The World Conservation Union), The International Ecotourism Society and the World Tourism Organization.
Hector has performed research and provided consultations in more than 70 countries worldwide on all aspects of ecotourism planning and development, including the architectural design and construction of ecolodges and other environmentally friendly facilities. He has authored or co-authored more than 130 books, reports and articles and is widely credited with coining the term 'ecotourism' and its preliminary definition in 1983.”
² “Ecotourism is proving to be a viable tool for conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of that important Amazonian area.”
² Varying definitions of the “ecotourism” name.
"Ecotourism in Australia is a very different occurrence from, let's say, ecotourism in Ecuador. It is for this reason, I think, that different people and institutions in diverse countries have arrived at different definitions (some of them, by the way, quite similar among themselves). However, I think that this multiplicity of definitions is causing much confusion"
² In some countries, such as Mexico, there has been little interest and support from the public institutions about investing in to developing ecotourism. Ecotourism still has not established its validity in the tourism market.
² "Most 'ecotour' activities in Mexico carried out by local tour operators are more in the 'adventure tourism' category, and do not always respect the fragile natural and cultural environment in which they take place." An example of how there are various perceptions of what ecotourism is.
Fun Fact~~
In Mexico, ecotourism is called “ecoturismo” in Spainish.
Brittney