Why ecotourism is sustainable

Ecotourism operations promote sustainable travel that benefits local communities, culture, and heritage and minimise impacts on the environment. It is not driven by economic gains but focuses on educating tourists on travelling green.

Providing accommodation that restricts mass tourism in sensitive environments ensures that the natural regeneration rate of the environmental asset is not compromised and ensures the longevity of the resource. This can be personally rewarding and travellers who choose ecotourism are responsible consumers.

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 region's 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. Our readership spans scientists, professors, researchers, librarians, and students, as well as business professionals.

Downloaded: Introduction Ecotourism is a sub-component of the field of sustainable tourism. In this section, the subjects below will be discussed. Introduction What is ecotourism and its types?

What is sustainable development? Ecotourism and environmental, social and economic impacts Ecotourism and sustainable development relationship Ecotourism — examples of implementation Conclusion.

Ceballos Lascurain Joshi, Ecotourism is defined as travelling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with specific objective of studying, admiring and enjoying scenery and its wild animals and plants as well as existing. Conservation International Ziffer, A form of tourism inspired primarily by the natural history of an area, including its indigenous cultures.

The ecotourist visits relatively undeveloped areas in the spirit of appreciation, participation and sensitivity. The ecotourist practices a non-consumptive use of wildlife and natural resources and contributes to the visited areas through labor or financial means aimed at directly benefiting the conservation of the site and the economic well-being of the local residents.

The National Ecotourism Strategy QuickStart Guide to a Tourism Business, Ecotourism is nature based tourism that involves education and interpretation of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable. McCormick, 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, while producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people World Conservation Union Brandon, Environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature that promotes conservation, has low negative visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations.

Honey, Travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strive to be low impact and usually small scale. It helps educate the traveler; provides funds for conservation; directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and fosters respect for different cultures and for human rights. Table 1. Definitions of ecotourism. Characteristics of mass tourism. Characteristics of ecotourism Large groups of visitors Small groups of visitors Urban Rural Touristic general marketing activities Eco-marketing activities.

Table 2. Element Examples of risks from tourism activities Ecosystems The construction of accommodation, visitor centres, infrastructure, and other services has a direct impact on the environment, from vegetation removal, animal disturbance elimination of habitats, impacts on drainage etc.

Wildlife habitat may be significantly changed travel routes, hunting areas, breeding areas, etc. Soils Soil compaction can occur in certain well-used areas. Soil removal and erosion also occurs, and may continue after the disturbance is gone Vegetation Concentrated use around facilities has a negative effect on vegetation.

Transportation may have direct negative impacts on the environment e. Fire frequency may change due to tourists and park tourism management. Water Increased demands for fresh water. Disposal of sewage or litter in rivers, lakes or oceans. Release of oil and fuel from ships and smaller craft. Propeller-driven watercraft may affect certain aquatic plants and species.

Air Motorised transportation may cause pollution from emissions from plane, train, ship or automobile. Wildlife Hunting and fishing may change population dynamics. Hunters and fishers may demand the introduction of foreign species, and increased populations of target animals.

Impacts occur on insects and small invertebrates, from effect of transportation, introduced species, etc Disturbance by visitors can occur for all species, including that are not attracting visitors. Disturbance can be of several kinds: noise, visual or harassing behaviour.

The impact can last beyond the time of initial contact e. Marine mammals may be hurt or killed by boat impacts or propeller cuts. Habituation to humans can cause changed wildlife behaviour, uch as approaching people for food. Table 3. Using resources sustainably The conservation and sustainable use of resources -natural, social, cultural, -- is crucial and makes long-term business sense Using resources sustainably: 2. Reducing over consumption and waste Reduction of over-consumption and waste avoids the costs of restoring long-term environmental damage and contributes to the quality of tourism 3.

Maintaining Biodiversity Maintaining and promoting natural, social, and cultural diversity is essential for long-term sustainable tourism, and creates a resilient base for the industry 4. Integrating tourism into planning Tourism development which is integrated into a national and local strategic planning framework and which undertakes environmental impact assessments, increase the long-term viability of tourism 5.

Supporting local economies Tourism that supports a wide range of local economic activities and which takes environmental costs and values into account, both protects these economies and avoids environmental damage 6. Involving local communities The full involvement of local communities in the tourism sector not only benefits them and the environment but also improves the quality of the tourism project 7. Consulting stakeholders and the public Consultation between the tourism industry and local communities organizations and institutions is essential if hey are to work alongside each other and resolve potential conflicts of interest 8.

Training Staff Staff training which integrates sustainable tourism into work practices, along with recruitment of personnel at all levels, improves the quality of the tourism product 9. Marketing tourism responsibly Marketing that provides tourists with full and responsible information increases respect for the natural, social and cultural environments of destination areas and enhances customer satisfaction Undertaking research Ongoing research and monitoring by the industry using effective data collection and analysis is essential to help solve problems and bring benefits to destinations, the industry and consumers.

Table 4. A: Environmental sustainability goals of ecotourism promotes environmental protection impact assessment and environmental planning, construction methods and materials, visual impacts, water supply, air quality, waste minimisation and litter drainage and stormwater, wastewater, water conservation, energy minimisation— buildings, energy minimisation— transport, minimal impact on wildlife provides environmenta education -increases public environmental consciousness -fosters healty attitudes and behaviors towards nature encourages donations to contribute to the protection of local natural resources air quality B: Sociocultural sustainability goals of ecotourism Promotes local peoples active participation Promotes local ownership Empowers local people -e.

Table 5. The affective factor of region rises. Natural texture is protected. The opportunities of underwork and bodywork rise.

Risk of environmental degradation Environmental pollution rises The decays of natural resource happen. Developmental Provision for the development of the community Capacity building within the community Provision for health and family planning Extending ecotourism activities year round will prevent to utilize natural landscape assets of the region only in summer and will prevent short time pressure on the sources.

New investments come to region The quality of agricultural production rises and in quality production has its real value. Transportation density rises. Conservation Enhancement of conservation objectives Monitoring of habitat and species Disturbance to habitats and species Threats posed by dangerous animals Cultural aspects Aw a reness of the local cultures Low cultural impact Internal migration happens with tourism.

Festival etc. It supplements intersectoral cooperation. Conventional culture is lived by protected. Conventional life style changes. Much research has been directed toward determining acceptable standards for a variety of social and ecological impacts Awareness increase, both for the community Erosion of traditional values and for the guests Economic Revenue generation E m p l o y m e n t P romotion of local micro enterprise New opportunities for employment can be composed.

Diversity can be provided for agricultural product Life standarts rise. It supplements women employement. The quality of agricultural production rises and in quality production has its real value. Uneven benefit sharing between partners Low percentage of community employment Risk of failure in small businesses. Table 6. Table 7. ECOS models Fagence, Table 8.

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More About Us. Ceballos Lascurain Joshi, Ecotourism is defined as travelling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with specific objective of studying, admiring and enjoying scenery and its wild animals and plants as well as existing. Ecotourism is nature based tourism that involves education and interpretation of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable.

McCormick, 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, while producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people.

World Conservation Union Brandon, Environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature that promotes conservation, has low negative visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations. Honey, Travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strive to be low impact and usually small scale.

Weaver, Characteristics of ecotourism. Large groups of visitors. Small groups of visitors. Touristic general marketing activities. Eco-marketing activities. Average prices for purposes of market penetration. High price with purpose of filtering the market. Impact on natural environment. Little impact on the natural environment. Advanced control options.

Limited possibilities of control. Management based on macroeconomic principles. Management based on local economic principles. Anonymous relationship between visitors and local community. Personalized relationships between visitors and local community. General development goals. Local development objectives. Loyalty in the process of training and education for appropriate conduct for the natural environment.

Intensive development of tourism facilities. Reduced development of tourism facilities. Examples of risks from tourism activities. The construction of accommodation, visitor centres, infrastructure, and other services has a direct impact on the environment, from vegetation removal, animal disturbance elimination of habitats, impacts on drainage etc. Soil compaction can occur in certain well-used areas. Soil removal and erosion also occurs, and may continue after the disturbance is gone. Concentrated use around facilities has a negative effect on vegetation.

Increased demands for fresh water.