WHAT IS ECOTOURISM?

The Nature Conservancy adopts the definition articulated by the World Conservation Union (IUCN):

"Environmentally responsible travel to natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and
accompanying cultural features, both past and present) that promote conservation, have a low visitor
impact and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local peoples."

Most tourism in natural areas today is not ecotourism and is not, therefore, sustainable. Ecotourism is
distinguished by its emphasis on conservation, education, traveler responsibility and active community
participation. Specifically, ecotourism possesses the following characteristics:

Conscientious, low-impact visitor behavior

Sensitivity towards, and appreciation of, local cultures and biodiversity

Support for local conservation efforts

Sustainable benefits to local communities

Local participation in decision-making

Educational components for both the traveler and local communities

Increased tourism to sensitive natural areas without appropriate planning and management can
threaten the integrity of ecosystems and local cultures. The increase of visitors to ecologically
sensitive areas can lead to significant environmental degradation. Likewise, local communities and
indigenous cultures can be harmed in numerous ways by an influx of foreign visitors and wealth.
Additionally, fluctuations in climate, currency exchange rates, and political and social conditions can
make over-dependence upon tourism a risky business.

However, this same growth creates significant opportunities for both conservation and local
communities. Ecotourism can provide much-needed revenues for the protection of national parks and
other natural areas -- revenues that might not be available from other sources.

Additionally, ecotourism can provide a viable economic development alternative for local communities
with few other income-generating options. Moreover, ecotourism can increase the level of education
and activism among travelers, making them more enthusiastic and effective agents of conservation.

The importance of ecotourism is multi-tiered.

First, there is the traveler. These are people going out of their way to experience something new and adventurous. Returning
home, they bring with them not just souvenirs, but stories, memories, and conservation messages from their travels abroad. A good
ecotourism guide will impart their ecotourists with a taste of their local conservation culture. For example, what may have originated
as a simple story about the origins of a game park while chatting around a campfire in Kenyas Masai Mara National
Reserve, could evolve into a discussion on environmental ethics that stays with those travelers for a lifetime. This is but one
example, for each country, each guide, and each trip will provide unique and memorable opportunities for both leaders and
participants to share their own stories. It may be a message about the need to plant native milkweeds to help the Monarch
butterfly in its annual migration, or it may be a lesson about the importance of amphibians to monitor healthy environments in
Costa Rica.
 Performers are tightening their drums before a performance at Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Second, there is the host country. Historically (and by historically, I mean over the past hundreds to thousands of years), the value
of land has been measured primarily by the collection of natural resources it has or that lands proximity to those resources. For
example, a forest would be valuable for the wood and the potential space for crops. Prairies were valuable for the arable land and
presence of animals to hunt. Mountains (albeit a bit more recently) are great places to mine for minerals and provide grazing land
for animals.

Ecotourism has been a game-changer.

With this new concept (well, new since 1983 about the same time as the founding of Nat Hab. Coincidence? Hmm), there is a
new value for natural areas value which is still based on the collection of natural resources, but as a way to attract people for the
purpose of enjoying the landscapes, wildlife, and cultures found in and around such areas. Simply put, ecotourism creates value for
natural areas that remain pristine, unaltered, and, well, natural. For example, a tropical jungle is worth more alive and well when
ecotourists pay to see lemurs in Madagascar or Toucans in Brazil instead of cutting the jungle down for agricultural space or
timber.
 Waterfall at Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar

Third, there are the communities that are indirectly involved in ecotourism both in the host country, and the country from which the
visitor originates. First, lets list the people directly involved in ecotourism from the business side of things. These are the tour
operators, the guides, the lodge and restaurant owners and employees, the vehicle drivers, the park guards, and all those people
that benefit from the sale of artisanal products (i.e., souvenirs) for people to return home with. All of these people actually make
money because of ecotourism. Often good money, too, by the countrys standards. Thus, they not only spend money within their
own communities, but these folks are highly respected because of their prominent jobs and relatively good income. If you dont
believe me, go to the Galapagos Islands or Costa Rica and watch the excitement of local children when the guides stroll through
town. They are like celebrities. Thus, ecotourism creates a conservation culture where people without any connection to the
ecotourism business are positively influenced. This is all derived from the financial incentive to conserve nature.
 Traditional countryside village in Southern Madagascar

Finally, there are the people in the ecotourists home country playing direct roles. These are the tour operators and the ecotourist
themselves. Ecotourism is the fastest growing sector of the fastest growing industry in the world (i.e., tourism). As it continues to
grow, its influence will grow as well. Every single tour operator and every single ecotourist is now an ambassador to ecotourism,
which makes them ambassadors to environmental and cultural conservation, too. They themselves make conscious choices about
sustainable living, but their powerful stories and messages after returning from an ecotour will reverberate loudly in our global
culture. At risk of repeating myself from above, stories from trips and conservation messages learned while traveling abroad are told
and retold to friends and families, bringing more and more people into the fold all the time.

So, hopefully this has overwhelmed you to believe me when I say that ecotourism is critical.

Why is ecotourism important for the environment?

According to The International Ecotourism Society, the ecotourism definition is: responsible travel to
natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local
people. ... Ecotourism is focused on uniting conservation, communities and sustainable travel.

What is the purpose of ecotourism?

Eco tourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-
being of local people. According to the InternationalEcotourism Society, the definition of ecotourism is
tourism that follows these principles: minimize impact. build environmental and cultural awareness and
respect.
 Advantages and Disadvantages of Ecotourism

Eco-tourism or Ecological Tourism is a rising form of international tourism. It is

intended for promoting awareness about environment among people and
facilitating preservation of wildlife. It comes with a number of benefits and pitfalls
as well. Find below some of those advantages and disadvantages of eco-tourism:

Advantages of Eco-tourism

Preservation of Surrounding Environment: The idea of eco-tourism revolves around

visiting beautiful places and protecting environment through it. As it does not involve the
exploitation of several natural resources for unsustainable gains at a rapid pace, no
significant negative impact is found on the environment. Rather, the nature and the
wildlife can be preserved, which offers a sustainable choice of earning to the local people
from travel and tourism.
Scopes of Employment for Local People: The eco-tourism industry is seeing a boom
as the concept is getting much popular with each passing day. More and more job
opportunities are opening up as a result of the increasing demand of hotels, resorts and
other accommodations equipped with skilled and trained professionals, experienced
tour guides, merchandise retailers selling lots of necessary items, restaurants offering a
variety of tasty foods, and so on. It is a great way to boost the local businesses.
Deep and Diverse Cultural Impacts: Eco-tourism is not only about exploring exotic
landscapes, taking care of natural resources and enhancing the economy of a certain
 region. It comes with intense socio-cultural effects. While visiting different places,
travelers get to know about local people and their cultures. It develops a sense of much
better conservation ethic in them.

Disadvantages of Eco-tourism

Degradation of Environment: Like all other unique environmental efforts, eco-

tourism also has some negative impacts on our surroundings. We might claim to be
environmentally sophisticated, but the truth is that we do not realize how the
transportation through which we are traveling or the food / drink which we are
consuming there are taking a toll on the nature. All these inadvertent vicious
infrastructure accelerate the environmental degradation to a large extent.
Disturbance Caused to the Wildlife: Each and every type of tourism interrupts the
quiet and peaceful wildlife. Inspite of lots of promotion of eco-tourism, people do not
care much about the inconvenience caused to the birds and animals due to their illogical
demands, wishes and behavior. They really do not try to become proper eco-tourists. It
eventually imposes negative effects on the ecosystem and affects the ecological balance.
Ecotourism, short for ecological tourism, refers to outdoor recreation, sightseeing, and
guided natural history studies in remote or fragile natural areas, or archeological and
cultural sites. It was created in its current form in the 1980s but became first well known
when the United Nations declared the year 2002 to be the International Year of
Ecotourism. Ecotourism usually involves travel, by people called ecotourists, to engage in
activities such as trekking and hiking, diving, mountaineering, biking, and paddling, while
exploring a regions natural highlights, observing native animals, and learning about the
areas natural history. Ecotourists may also visit local cultural and historical sites, and
even participate in cultural activities. Many ecotours employ native guides and
interpreters who can help visitors fully appreciate the natural and cultural significance of
their experience.

Ecotourism and sustainable development

Ecotourism is touted as a successful tool for promoting sustainable economic practices in developing nations, and
for encouraging environmental conservation worldwide. The guiding principle of sustainable development is to meet
the needs and aspirations of a regions present generation of people without compromising those of future
generations. Sustainable development policies also seek to develop economic systems that run with little or no net
consumption of natural resources, and that avoid ecological damage. Ecotourism, like other successful sustainable
development strategies, provides a strong economic incentive to protect natural resources. Economies that depend
on ecotourism dollars have an obvious interest in preserving the natural and culture features that these amateur
naturalists and explorers pay to see. Furthermore, the environmental impacts and resource needs of ecotourism,
which include development of trail systems and access roads, use of fuel and vehicles for transportation to and from
the wilderness, and establishment of campsites, are minimal, especially when compared to the land use practices that
commercial nature travel often replaces. Finally, the firsthand experience of traveling in the wilderness, of observing
natural complexity, and of reflecting on the fragility of ecosystems stressed by human uses often gives ecotourists
and their local guides a new perspective on the value of environmental preservation and resource conservation.

A number of international organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and
Conservation International, support ecotourism as a component of their sustainable development and environmental
conservation strategies. While many governments and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
promote ecotourism, they also caution that ecotourism must be practiced correctly in order to provide positive
results for the region involved, and for the tours participants. Many of the activities offered by ecotourism
companies, including high-altitude mountaineering, whitewater paddling, diving, and travel in the remote
wilderness, are inherently dangerous, and require highly skilled guides. Furthermore, some of Earths most
remarkable natural features exist in politically unstable nations, where international visitors may be unwelcome, and
even unsafe. Ecotourism, practiced incorrectly, can also cause significant environmental damage. A safari hunt for
an endangered animal in a country that has lax conservation laws, for example, is not a sustainable ecotour. Finally,
ecotourism enterprises that exploit another regions natural and cultural resources without contributing to the local
economy do not meet the criteria for sustainable development. If none of the tourists money goes to the local
businesses or conservation agencies, then often-poorer countries bear the financial responsibility of providing
protected natural and cultural sites for wealthy foreigners to visit, but receive none of the financial reward.
Organizations like the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the International Ecotourism Society (IES)
investigate various ecotourism enterprises, and can provide potential ecotourists with valuable guidance in choosing
a company to guide them on a safe, sustainable adventure.

Ecotourism enterprises
Many private companies offer a wide variety of ecotours, as do a number of development and conservation-related
NGOs. These businesses often enlist the logistical and marketing assistance of government agencies in the countries
where their tours take place. Ecotourism companies typically supply a number of services to their clients:
transportation to and from remote venues, food and cooking, lodging, local guiding, outdoor skills training, and
expert interpretation of natural and cultural features. These services promote in-depth exploration of the natural and
cultural sites on the itinerary, minimize environmental impact, and allow clients to travel safely and comfortably in
remote or environmentally fragile areas.

Ecotours are available to all types of potential adventures with all kinds of interests. Ecotourists can visit and
explore all seven continents, and all four oceans. The National Geographic Society (NGS), for example, explains in
its Traveler magazine, July/

Key Terms

Ecotourism Ecology-based tourism, focused primarily on natural or cultural resources.

Sustainable development Development that meets the needs and aspirations of the present generation, without
compromising those of future ones.