Ecotourism

Week 1 - The Nature of Ecotourism

Outline

• What is ecotourism? The limits of definition• Ecotourism: its relationship to mainstream

tourism and ‘alternative tourisms’.• The philosophical basis of ecotourism: ecology

and human ecology.• Problems and potentials: feeling good or

genuinely doing good through tourism.

Learning Outcomes

• To understand what ecotourism is and how it interacts with other with other sectors, including the mainstream tourism industry.

• To examine and understand the problems associate with ecotourism definitions and how this affects estimates of is growth potential.

Ecotourism in Images:

‘Return to paradise’ syndrome.

Ecotourism in Images:

Ecotourism in Images:

Doing good and/or feeling good?

Mediating between modern tourist requirements and the natural world.

Exercise and Discussion

– What does ecotourism mean to you? What do you think of when you hear the term ecotourism? Is it different from the images and words we have just examined?

– Do you have an image of the kind of person who is an ecotourist? Are you an actual, or potential ecotourist? What attracts/repels you in the idea?

What is Ecotourism?

environmentally responsible, enlightening travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features both past and present) that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations”

(Ceballos-Lascurain, 1987)

“Ecotourism

“Ecotourism is a sustainable form of natural resource-based tourism that focuses primarily on experiencing and learning about nature, and which is ethically managed to be low-impact, non-consumptive, and locally oriented (control, benefits, and scale). It typically occurs in natural areas, and should contribute to the conservation or preservation of such areas”.

(Fennell, D., 1999 p.43)

● Elements of definition:– Responsible travel

(UNWTO code)– Natural areas and nature– Conservation oriented– Local community

oriented

The International Ecotourism Society Definition

http://www.ecotourism.org

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_y55iQSb2kVideo

From principles to inculcating a mindsetin tourism

Components of Ecotourism

• The natural-based component• Sustainability component • Educational component

Exercise and Discussion

– How would you define ‘Ecotourism'? – write down a short definition, make sure to include its ‘principles and components’.

Ecotourism and Mainstream Tourism

• Ecotourism is often seen as being in some kind of ‘opposition’ to mainstream tourism.

• It is not the only kind of tourism to be opposed to mainstream tourism

• Several kind of tourism are seen as alternatives to mainstream tourism – Each has its own distinguishing feature, which

marks it out from the mainstream

Alternative Tourism

• How do each of these forms of tourism mark themselves out as different from mainstream

• Are there any problems with this mass vs alternative view

Features of Alternative Tourism

• Preservation and enhancement of resource based of tourism

• Fostering and promotion of development of destination sympathetic to local area and community.

• Minimize impacts on the environment.• Dual emphasis on environmental and cultural

sustainability.• Ecotourism ‘inherits’ each of these properties and

adds its own ‘natural world’ orientation.

Ecotourism and Nature● Not all 'nature-based tourism' is ecotourism● Activities of ecotourism in a natural setting:

– Are dependent on nature (e.g. watching wildlife)– Are enhanced by nature (e.g. walking, camping)– Use nature as a setting (e.g. zip wire rides, swimming)

● Ecotourism adds a conservationist, low-impact, community-oriented, etc. dimension to nature-based tourism (see next slide).

Relationship of ecotourism to other

forms of tourism

Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism● Environmentally sustainable

tourism:– Tourism developed and

maintained in an area so that it is viable over an indefinite period and does not degrade or alter the environment in such a way that it inhibits development or the well-being of other activities and processes.

– An essential aim of ecotourism (it may not always succeed); but may be true of other forms of tourism.

Ecotourism and Ecology

● The 'eco' in ecotourism relates to the science of ecology:– Recognition that the natural environment (living and

non-living) forms a complex system (or set of systems), whose elements are interdependent.

– Human interventions may disrupt the balance and functioning of these systems.

Make a distinction between popular images of ecology and ecology as a disciplined science. It is important that ecotourism practices are based on sound evidence, rather than a 'green' image.

Ecotourism and Ecology● Ecology also recognises that human society is part

of the 'natural system'.– Societies, cultures and ways of life may also be

disrupted by outside interventions – with knock-on effects on the ecosystems in which they are embedded.

– Ecology also tries to understand traditional ways of life and their contribution to the functioning of the 'natural system'.

● This aspect is reflected is reflected in ecotourism's concern with local communities and their traditional ways of life.

Ecotourism: local communities and ways of life.

Ecotourism: Summing Up● It involves travel to relatively undisturbed or

protected natural areas.● It is nature-based, and concerned with the flora,

fauna, geology and ecosystems of an area (and with local communities).

● It is conservation-led, and is based on environmental and cultural awareness. This may involve direct involvement in local projects.

● It is educative (scientifically or culturally), ecotourists seek to add to their understanding of the world.

Group Exercise

● As a group, we will explore a set of websites offering ecotourism products.

● For each website and ecotourism product, we will try to assess whether the product meets the definitions of ecotourism we have discussed.

● We have 4 products to examine, 2 in Africa, 1 in Nepal and 1 in India.

http://www.dolmatours.com/ http://www.dolmafund.org/

http://www.maasaiwilderness.org/our-programs/tourism-wildlife-pays/

http://www.inntravel.co.uk/holidays/community-tourism/how-our-holidays-work

http://www.inntravel.co.uk/Destinations/India/Village-Ways