Defining
Eco-Tourism
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Eco-tourism focuses on local cultures, wilderness
adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to
live on our vulnerable planet. It is typically defined as travel to
destinations where the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the
primary attractions. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that
minimize the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural
environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore,
in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, initiatives
by hospitality providers to promote recycling, energy efficiency,
water re-use, and the creation of economic opportunities for local
communities are an integral part of ecotourism.
Historical, biological and cultural conservation, preservation, sustainable
development etc. are some of the fields closely related to Eco-Tourism.
Many professionals have been involved in formulating and developing
eco-tourism policies. They come from the fields of Geographic Information
Systems, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Photography, Marine Biology
and Oceanography, National and State Park Management, Environmental
Sciences, Women in Development, Historians and Archaeologists, etc.
Ecotourism is considered the fastest growing market in the tourism
industry, according to the World Tourism Organization with an annual
growth rate of 5% worldwide and representing 6% of the world gross
domestic product, 11.4% of all consumer spending - not a market to
be taken lightly
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Some definitions, views, statements and
objectives -
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Tourism is changing rapidly as nature, heritage,
and recreational destinations become more important, and as conventional
tourism is forced to meet tougher environmental requirements. This
presents a challenge to government and private enterprise to develop
new approaches to the tourism market. Successful tourism must benefit
local populations economically and culturally to give them incentives
to protect the natural resources which create the attraction. Strategies
must be economically feasible if private investors are to support
the projects.
Our goal is to enable people to enjoy and learn about the natural,
historical and cultural characteristics of unique environments while
preserving the integrity of those sites and stimulating the economic
development opportunities in local communities.
Specifically, we believe that successful ecotourism projects must:
effectively promote the preservation of entire local ecosystems, not
just individual species, vistas or sites;
be economically viable in order to attract financing and be sustainable:
be well planned, financed, managed and marketed in order to meet the
stringent environmental and recreational demands of a true ecotourism
development. Eco-Tourism International
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Ecotourism is cultural tourism (a cross-cultural
experience), nature tourism (assisting with conservation programmes),
a travel-learn experience (discover how we are coping with modernity),
a little bit of soft adventure (just being here is an adventure),
and benefiting the well-being of indigenous peoples.
Western Samoa, National Ecotourism Programme
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Around the globe, eco-tourism is quickly becoming
one of the most popular forms of vacationing.
In an era of heightened environmental consciousness and accessibility
to exotic locales, countries are busily promoting their natural resources
as lures for tourists. The trick with ecotourism is to preserve the
natural resources while also promoting them and accommodating volumes
of tourists.
Businesses are creating camps and eco-lodges, and natural resource
managers are designing trails and tours. Most of the popular eco-travel
destinations have fragile eco-systems, however, so it is important
to maintain a careful balance between preservation and promotion --
"sustainable development" -- in order to ensure the long-term
health of both the eco-systems and the tourism economies.
Science and the Environment --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tourism Concern advocates
Tourism that is just, yielding benefits that are fairly distributed.
Tourism that is participatory, recognising the rights of residents.
Tourism that is sustainable
Tourism Concern
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The term ecotourism was coined by Héctor
Ceballos-Lascuràin in 1983, and was initially used to describe
nature-based travel to relatively undisturbed areas with an emphasis
on education. The concept has, however, developed to a scientifically
based approach to the planning, management and development of sustainable
tourism products and activities.
It is an enlightening, participatory travel experience to environments,
both natural and cultural, that ensures the sustainable use, at
an appropriate level, of environmental resources and, whilst producing
viable economic opportunities for the tourism industry and host
communities, makes the use of these resources through conservation
beneficial to all tourism role players.
It is not a marketing ploy, nor is it scenic or nature-based travel
It is an approach that creates a variety of quality tourism products
that are:
environmentally/ ecologically sustainable
economically viable
socially and psychologically acceptable
The result of which reflects:
an integrated and holistic approach to product development
capacity building in host communities
a sense and uniqueness of place
commitment to the greening of the tourism industry
Centre for Ecotourism
www.hull-web-site-designs.co.uk
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