Ecotourism

views updated

Ecotourism

Ecotourism is ecology-based tourism, focused primarily on natural or cultural resources such as scenic areas, coral reefs, caves, fossil sites, archeological or historical sites, and wildlife , particularly rare and endangered species .

The successful marketing of ecotourism depends on destinations which have biodiversity , unique geologic features, and interesting cultural histories, as well as an adequate infrastructure. In the United States national parks are perhaps the most popular destinations for ecotourism, particularly Yellowstone National Park , the Grand Canyon, the Great Smoky Mountains and Yosemite National Park . In 1999, there were 300 million recreational visits to the national parks. Some of the leading ecotourist destinations outside the United States include the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, the wildlife parks of Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa, the mountains of Nepal, and the national parks and forest reserves of Costa Rica.

Tourism is the second largest industry in the world, producing over $195 billion in domestic and international receipts and accounting for more than 7% of the world's trade in goods and services. There were 693 million international tourists in 2001, creating 74 million tourism jobs. Adventure tourism, which includes ecotourism, accounts for 10% of this market. In developing countries tourism can comprises as much as one-third of trade in goods and services, and much of this is ecotourism. Wildlife-based tourism in Kenya, for example, generates $350 million annually.

Ecotourism is not a new phenomena. In the late 1800s railroads and steamship companies were instrumental in the establishment of the first national parks in the United States, recognizing even then the demand for experiences in nature and profiting from transporting tourists to destinations such as Yellowstone and Yosemite. However, ecotourism has recently taken on increased significance worldwide.

There has been a tremendous increase in demand for such experiences, with adventure tourism increasing at a rate of 30% annually. But there is another reason for the increased significance of ecotourism. It is a key strategy in efforts to protect cultural and natural resources , especially in developing countries, because resource-based tourism provides an economic incentive to protect resources. For example, rather than converting tropical rain forests to farms which may be short-lived, income can be earned by providing goods and services to tourists visiting the rain forests.

Although ecotourism has the potential to produce a viable economic alternative to exploitation of the environment ,it can also threaten it. Water pollution , litter, disruption of wildlife, trampling of vegetation, and mistreatment of local people are some of the negative impacts of poorly planned and operated ecotourism. To distinguish themselves from destructive tour companies, many reputable tour organizations have adopted environmental codes of ethics which explicitly state policies for avoiding or minimizing environmental impacts. In planning destinations and operating tours, successful firms are also sensitive to the needs and desires of the local people, for without native support efforts in ecotourism often fail.

Ecotourism can provide rewarding experiences and produce economic benefits that encourage conservation . The challenge upon which the future of ecotourism depends is the ability to carry out tours which the clients find rewarding, without degrading the natural or cultural resources upon which it is based.

[Ted T. Cable ]