An Analysis Of Eco Tourism Development Tourism Essay

Martha Honey (Eco-tourism and Sustainable Development, 1999 p.25) states that : ‘Eco-tourism is 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’. Other famous definition is Fennels’: ‘Eco-tourism 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, 1999, p. 43). Eco-tourism does not have final definition, but it has many issues how to define and develop it. This peace of paper will explain what orthodox Eco-tourism is and what issues it has.

Nowadays, Eco-tourism is quickly becoming a popular part of vacation packages. Many people are now becoming aware of what Eco-tourism is and how people can be part of it. Eco – tourism holidays are designed with many different environmentally friendly holidays. Also tourist must be respectful on these holidays. Fennell (1999) created few rules how Eco-tourism should be and all eco- tourism providers do not must ignore this rules. This table will show how Eco-tourism should be, also it includes checklist with two Eco-tourism companies.

Eco – tourism companies check-list

Eco-tourism Should:

Eco – Africa

Ecotours.in – Kerala

Interest in nature

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Contributes to conservation

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Reliance on parks and protected areas

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Benefits local people/long-term benefits

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Education and study

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Low impact/non-consumptive

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Ethics/responsibility

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Management

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Sustainable

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Enjoyment and appreciation

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Culture

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Adventure

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Small scale in nature

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All mention above eco- tourism companies satisfy all mention above components. If does not satisfy any one of these components then it can not really be called eco- tourism. Also, companies are trying to reduce tourist’s numbers rising price up for trips. So not all people can afford it, and nature stays unspoiled, local people are getting benefits from that.

All points describe Orthodox eco- tourism, which is very strict and environment is natural. Also definitions states that Eco-tourism should have minimum effects on the environment (preserve) and culture (respects), and maximize the economic development of the host population and the satisfaction level of visitors( Higham,2007). But Eco-tourism development in practice has been developed with so many problems. Nowadays, there are two categories of Eco-tourism definitions found in the literature. The first category consists of multidimensional comprehensive and the second is shorter definitions of principles and criteria (Higham, 2007). Eco-tourism with definitions has been considered more an ideal than reality (Cater, 1995). Many different definitions of Eco-tourism do not solve problems and do not ease the situation by providing homogenous picture of what Eco-tourism stands for (Higham, 2007). The main thing today is not present another definition of Eco-tourism but how to translate the meaning of Eco-tourism into relevant and usable principles and criteria. It is very difficult to solve this problem, because different Eco-tourism areas, regions and destinations around the globe are unique in most respect. All companies which provide Eco-tourism should be very respectful and do not present it only in speech but do in action. All definition can be modified and used as a base for country specific definitions. For example eco- tourism in Kenya:

Nature and culture based

Sustainable and supports the well – being of local communities

Appeal to visitors who want to contact with nature, local communities and indigenous cultures

Travellers are with special interest who are looking for unique and authentic experience

The impacts of the visitor industry on the environmental, social, cultural and economic fabrics of the local community and strives to conduct its activities in harmony with nature( Eco-tourism in Kenya,2009)

This all table describe how Eco- tourism is managed in Kenya. This country has beautiful unspoiled nature and orthodox Eco – tourism is main sector for tourism in it.

Other examples can be used eco- tourism in Laos:

Decrease environmental and cultural impacts.

Increase awareness in the importance of ethnic groups and biological diversity.

Promote responsible business practices, which cooperate closely with local authorities and the local people to support poverty alleviation and deliver conservation benefits.

Provide a source of income to conserve, sustain and manage the Lao protected area network and cultural heritage sites.

Emphasize the need for tourism zoning and management plans for sites that will be developed as Eco-tourism destinations.

Use environmental and social baseline data, as well as long-term monitoring programs, to assess and minimize negative impacts.

Maximize the benefits for the Lao national economy, especially local businesses and people living in and around the protected areas.

Ensure that tourism does not exceed the country’s social and economic limits as determined by researchers working in conjunction with local residents.

Promote local architectural styles that have been developed in harmony with Lao culture and environment, and that use local materials, minimize energy consumption and conserve local plants and wildlife (The Laos national tourism administration,2009)

Nowadays Eco-tourism is a fast growing sector within International tourism (Ecoutourin, 2009).. Also, Tourism is one of the growth sectors of the global economy. In the developing countries, tourism of all types contributes roughly US$ 50 billion annually (Anon 1989) Even in the current period of widespread economic recession and depression, tourism has remained surprisingly strong (Planeta, 2009). Eco-tourism sector employ people seasonally, for example five or three month per year. Most of the employers are students.

Eco-tourism planners and manager need programs and guidelines for Eco-tourism development ( Higham, 2007)..All Eco-tourism organisations should use more recommendations for practise then definitions, because it helps to develop Eco-tourism in right way. The definition must be sufficiently rigorous to create a goal that challenges tour operators, park officials, and the travelling public. To add more, restricted definitions provide good support for the developers in those areas where assumption can be fulfilled that definition is usable. However not all restrictive Eco-tourism definitions can be used in all cases, because of their limited usability. For that reason Eco-tourism market in worldwide tourism perspective still is and should be kept as a niche market.

Eco-tourism all the time challenges people ability to reconcile commerce (conservation) and the well being of others. The main goals are: relationship with conservation, sustainability, and biological diversity. If Eco-tourism is badly managed there can be problems of:

Overcrowding constructions

Pollution of the habitat

Unlimited numbers of tourists

The site becoming a “honey pot” area. The site becomes over-visited.

Traffic congestion

Erosion where cars park illegally

Footpath erosion, soil loss

Tourists don’t understand or care what Eco-tourism really is

Examples include establishing a huge energy intensive hotel in a splendid jungle setting with no understanding of sustainable development or the correct provision for the disposal of waste and sewage etc. Social equity, environmental sustainability, local economic development and cultural heterogeneity are all innately interlinked (Michel, 2000). Where any of these relationships are ignored in practical terms, the tourism project is either unsuccessful or it creates problems for the local communities and the natural environments they depend on. Also, protective laws and regulations to prevent manipulation by tour operators and powerful stakeholders (who are in charge of tourism projects).It helps to make right decisions on tourism projects. All regulations are support by strong political will of government. Eco-tourism is not easy to develop because definitions and regulations should be provided in the project of it.

To sum up, Eco-tourism is not a mass tourism. It is per definition sustainable, but this niche business tenuous phenomenon in a more general discussion on sustainability. Maybe Eco-tourism development should pause and to consider that sustainable mass tourism will have more positive environmental effects on a global level than Eco-tourism. So many eco- tourism definitions can be criticized because they describe an ideal world then reality. One way is to make it simple definitions loosing a criteria, another is use definitions as description of a unique tourism form, found only in selected areas on the earth. It is big argument how to provide this all definitions in one operational way. Eco-tourism is hard to develop because of many definitions. Moreover, Eco-tourism should have one common definition which will explain what Eco-tourism is and how it should be operated. Finally, as in all discussions, all definitions can be useful, but most import is suitability and quality of action, but not another definition of Eco-tourism.