Ecotourism
Local and Global Perspective
| Mass tourism causes cultural and environmental damage. Ecotourism is one of the current buzzwords, and like all buzzwords it is misused and abused - with few people really knowing what it means. Many tourist operators have used the term to market to an ever growing segment of the tourist market that wants to be environmentally and culturally sensitive. What these operators market is in fact often worse than ordinary tourism, because it uses local communities and the environment for its own benefit, with neither the communities nor the local environment benefiting. In fact, most times both suffer considerable negative impacts as a result of the activities of these operators. Many operators take tourists to 'natural' environments and 'untouched' cultures, and instead of making the tourists adopt to the non-invasive practices of the local people, provide them with hot showers, imported Western foods, Western body care products and other Western 'necessities' that stress the already fragile local infrastructure, resources and traditional culture. |
From the perspective of the tourist, ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourism that has as a primary focus the experiencing of natural areas while fostering environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation. According to the Quebec Declaration on Ecotourism, ecotourism embraces the principles of sustainable tourism and the following principles which distinguish it from the wider concept of sustainable tourism:
- contributes actively to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage,
- includes local and indigenous communities in its planning, development and operation, contributing to their well-being,
- interprets the natural and cultural heritage of the destination to the visitor,
- lends itself better to independent travellers, as well as to organised tours for small size groups.
Ecotourism fits within the larger tourism market place. Tourism can be subdivided into cultural, rural, nature, sun-and-beach, business, and fitness-wellness - health. Ecotourism and adventure tourism are to be found within nature tourism, and ecotourism has strong links to rural and cultural tourism. Ecotourism differs from adventure tourism in its guiding ethics and principles. Adventure tourism is motivated by a desire to experience physical exercise and challenging situations in natural environments.
Ecotourism has enormous potential to change how we relate to the natural environment and to the diverse range of people who inhabit the earth, through its embedded conservation ethic and ecological perspective. It provides a platform for Western society and less developed societies to converge on middle common ground. As a part of the service industry, ecotourism promotes a change from material to non-material focus.
Ecotourism can fundamentally change the economic dynamics of business because it recognises the ecological and cultural costs of doing business as well as championing local economy. Through ecotourism the community has the potential to become strong and cohesive through developing and managing their resources and visitors to those resources. Ecotourism should in all cases, aim to achieve sustainable development.
Ecotourism is based on principles, guidelines, and standards and as a growing industry needs to have a regulatory system of certification. The basic elements of ecotourism must include:
|
 |
Thanks to the support of Promotional Polo Shirts.