The Tourism And Nature Conservation Tourism Essay

Make optimal use of environmental resources…maintaining ecological process and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity. Respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities, conserve their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values, and contribute to inter-cultural understanding and tolerance. Ensure viable, long-term economic operations providing socio economic benefits to all stakeholders that are fairly distributed including stable environment and income earning opportunities and social services to host communities and contribution to poverty alleviation.

Sustainable Tourism is tourism attempting to make as low impact on the environment and local culture as possible, while helping to generate future employment for local people.

Objective of the study

The foremost objective is to aim “Sustainable Tourism as boon to Environment and Culture”.

Scope of Study

Global economists forecast continuing international tourism growth, the amount depending on the location. As one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries, this continuous growth will place great stress on remaining biologically diverse habitats and indigenous cultures, which are often used to support mass tourism. Tourists who promote sustainable tourism are sensitive to these dangers and seek to protect tourist destinations, and to protect tourism as an industry. Sustainable tourists can reduce the impact of tourism in many ways:

informing themselves of the culture, politics, and economy of the communities visited

anticipating and respecting local cultures, expectations and assumptions

contributing to intercultural understanding and tolerance

supporting the integrity of local cultures by favoring businesses which conserve cultural heritage and traditional values

supporting local economies by purchasing local goods and participating with small, local businesses

conserving resources by seeking out businesses that are environmentally conscious, and by using the least possible amount of non-renewable resources

1 Environment

1.1 Ecotourism Industry

In effort to reduce negative impacts of conventional tourism, more environmentally and socially conscientious approaches to tourism have been promoted, typically referred to as Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism, though other terms such as Responsible Tourism, Nature-base Tourism, Green Tourism and alternative tourism are also used. The International Tourism Society (TIES) defines Ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improves the well being of local people”, and defines Sustainable Travel as “tourism that meets the needs of present tourist and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for future”. Ecotourism is the term used most widely throughout the industry and the literature and therefore the term most commonly used throughout this paper.

According to TIES, Ecotourism is based on following principle:

1) Minimizing Impact.

2) Building environmental and cultural awareness and respect.

3) Providing positive experiences for both visitor and hosts.

4) Providing direct financial benefits for conservation.

5) Providing financial benefits and empowerment for local people.

6) Raising sensitivity to host countries political, environmental and social climate.

1.2 Marine Environment

The marine environment is an important draw for a large percentage of tourist and recreationists in our region. From lobster to lighthouses, seafood to sailing, tide pooling to island exploring, the coast and ocean represents a significant part of the region heritage and culture.

Best Practice for Marine and Boat-related Activities.

Use environmentally sensitive chemical paints strippers that are biodegradable, non-chlorinated and have low volatility can eliminate much of the paint chips and dust associated with sun blasting.

Reduce the amount of packaging that you take abroad, use recycle paper products and encourage your costumers to dispose of them properly by supplying well secured recycling and trash receptacles.

Use marine sanitation device and holding g tank to store sewage until you can gate to a legal sewage pump out facility. Avoid using chemicals such as formaldehyde and ammonia to minimize odor in your sewage tank. Destroy bacteria needs for decomposition.

1.3 Tourism and Nature Conservation

These guidelines suggest that the endangered and threatened species and habitats be covered separately under flora and fauna, and then summarized in an integrated section to highlight particularly sensitive areas of concern in evaluating impact. This separate section is not indented to duplicate the information under flora and fauna but rather to pull it together in an integrated manner.

Threatened and endangered flora and fauna are a subset of the complete inventory for a flora and fauna for a project and its area of impact. This involves:

Review of local, national, regional and global literature on the range and domain of endangered and threatened species.

Consultation with local and national government agencies, NGO and academic institutions to determine what species may be in the project area.

Cross referencing this list with the national list of endangered and threatened species as well as the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red list (http://www.iucnredlist.org).

Conducting a thorough physical survey of the project area and inquiring of local resident and authorities to determine if those species are present.

Shipwrecks, cultural areas, archeological areas, historical areas, and the like should be highlighted in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as areas which are already been identified as significant and needing special protection. One of the challenges in preparing EIA those boundaries of protected areas may be imprecise on available maps. Given the area of influence of the project’s potential impact, it may be important to carry out specific steps to better define these boundaries to ensure that the proposed project will not encroach on or be inconsistent with the intended level of protection of habitat and level.

Issue related with Wildlife Management in Corbett National Park of Uttarakhand (India):

Somewhere deep down they’d don’t know that thinks would change, that the `tranquility of the Sal forests that surrounded their tiny, non-electrified resort on the outskirts of the Corbett Tiger Reserved in Uttarakhand would not last forever. But when in May2012, littile more than a decade after they’d started, Ritish Suri and Minakshi Pandey decided to shut down camp Forktail Creek, the decision was still painful. For years they’d fought to preserve the surrounding forests, involving people from neighboring Bhakrakot village in their activities and make the camp as ecologically low-impact as possible. The camp had become a favorite with serious wildlife enthusiasts and naturalists.

What’s happening in Corbett is not unique, and neither is it confined to areas outside the park. Unregulated tourism and development are wreaking havoc in the 39 designated tiger reserved and other national parks around the country especially in central India. It was in tacit recognition of this state of affair that the Supreme Court, in an interim order passed on July 24, 2012, temporarily banned all Tourism in ‘core areas’ of the Tiger Reserved.

1.4 Impacts

As Flora and Fauna are key for Ecotourism, must focus on impacts on it.

FAUNA

Impact

Source

(+)Improve knowledge/data about animal distribution and behavior

Scientific research on wildlife is more intensive in Ecotourism areas due to public awareness

Financial gain of Ecotourism are partly use for scientific research

(+)Locals promote the protection of wildlife

Locals working in Ecotourism, gain a better understanding on wildlife and change their views concerning the value of fauna

(-)Decline of rare or spectacular species

Introduction of exotic species by tourist

Capture and killing of rare animal for souvenirs

Keen wildlife tourist prefer to seek out rare or spectacular animals

(-)Habitat alteration/destruction

Road, track, camp side and lodge construction

Extraction of fuel wood

Forest fire caused by tourist

FLORA

Impact

Source

(+)Improve knowledge/data about plant distribution and conditions

Scientific research on plant is more intensive in areas in Ecotourism due to increase public awareness ad financial sources

(+)Local promotes the protection of (native) flora

Local, working in Ecotourism, gain a better understanding on plants and change their views concerning the values of plants

(-)Habitat destruction/alteration

Road and campsite construction

Forest fires caused by tourist(accidentally)

Logging for construction and fuel wood supply

(-)Reduced plant density and decrease in biomass

Trampling

Road/trail construction

Campsite or lodge construction

Cutting of vegetation in order to gain better views on wildlife

2 Ecotourism Parallel to Cultural Tourism

In one sense, nature or Ecotourism should be in corporate within Culture Tourism insofar as nature also is a cultural construct and often is a complimentary attraction. However the present focus on culture and cultural heritage more narrowly defined. Nonetheless nature and Ecotourism issues and examples are discussed in various places in this report because experience from decade of public, Industry and research security of Ecotourism can be useful in the context of Culture Heritage Tourism (CHT).

One of these issues involved consumer demand for authentic nature and culture. In many assumes that visitor seeks authentic nature, nature that has been not degraded by human activities. In principle then, the interest of tourist and tourism industry will coincide with those of natural heritage managers-to maintain nature in non degraded state. However this principle may not always hold in practice, not only because the industry often seeks short term gains at the expense of long-term revenues, but also because- 1)not all tourist seeks authentic nature and not all tourist recognize departures from integrity.

A similar issue arises in Cultural Tourism. It is often said that Cultural tourists are seeking high quality, inform, ad authentic cultural experience. However many tourists may not recognize departures from authenticity. This is not to say that authenticity should be discourage, but that of those in charge of cultural heritage should not be surprised if tourism industry, and consumers, somewhat have lower expectations of authenticity. If authenticity is to be preserved, the original motivation for this preservation (values that go well beyond heritage as an attraction for tourism) should not be forsaken in favor of motivation entirely oriented around tourism.

3 Cultures

3.1 Cultures as Tourism Attraction

For tourist desire to travel is the desire, to varying degrees, to experience something unfamiliar foreign coulters and their manifestation thus serve as important attraction. Cultural Tourism in particular is a search for and a celebration of what which is unique and beautiful, representing our most valued inheritance.

Culture and Cultural Heritage are crucial to people’s identity, self respect and dignity, this applies to both affluent and poor societies. Tangible heritage may be an avenue through which a conscious tourist starts to grasp a basic understanding of the past and/or living culture, which has adapted to and influence the environment. The visitor is trying to make intelligible culture tourism has great potential to improve understanding and respect among different cultures, and in a long term perspective may be regarded as a tool for creating and preserving peace.

3.2 Estimates of Growth

Estimates of growth should be treated with caution, but study by Stanford University predicted that “Nature Tourism would grow at an annual rate of 25 to 30 percent during the 1990s. Cultural tourism expected to grow at 10 to 15 percent per year.”

Various sites and countries are responding to the opportunity provided by this growth in demand.

For example, South Africa has historically relied on its climate, beaches and nature to attract tourist but in 1997-1999 implementing a marketing campaigning titled “Explore South Africa-Culture” to attract cultural-oriented tourist.

3.3 Culture and Its Preservation

This section briefly identifies some of the major views of culture and its physical manifestations related to tourism as well as the means that have been used to protect heritage environment.

The UNESCO World Commission on culture and development report our creative diversity looks at culture as “ways of living together”. With this point of departure, The World Bank defines culture as “The whole complex of distinctive Spiritual, Material, Intellectual and Emotional features that characterize a society or social group. It includes not only arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of human being, values system, tradition and beliefs.

The above reflects the separation of Culture and Cultural Heritage are prominent resource in any society. Tangible Heritage may be considered a material manifestation or symbol of Cultural expression, either traditions of living societies or those of past societies occupying the same area. Therefore material heritage is pivotal for anyone wanting to gain the deeper understanding of the society. This applies to the local inhabitants as well as the visitor to a new or foreign society or environment.

Example of Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra (India):

The monuments are being replicated at a cost of 90crore, with technological aid from abroad, and a loan from Japan, at a spot 3km from the originals. The cost includes five museums, interactive galleries and F&B outlets to support the complex expected to open next year. Replicas of paintings or sculpture too delicate or precious are nothing new to museum lovers; however this is the first some ones tried to copy not just the art but very rock it’s on.

3.4 Impacts

Listing of this impact is in numerous tourism reports, books, and articles. The focus on this section is to briefly note common socio-cultural impact and to stress some general concepts.

Potential Positive Impacts Includes:

Building community pride.

Enhancing the sense of identity of a community region.

Promoting intercultural/international understanding.

Encouraging revival or maintenance of traditional crafts.

Enhancing external support for minority groups and preservation of their culture.

Broadening community horizon

Providing funding for site preservation and management.

Enhancing local and external appreciation and support for Cultural Heritage.

Potential Negative Points Includes:

Co modification and cheapening of culture and tradition.

Alienation and loss of cultural identity.

Undermining of local traditions and ways of life.

Displacement of traditional residents.

Damage to attraction facilities.

Loss of authenticity and historical accuracy in interpretation.

Selectivity in which Heritage attraction are developed.

CONCLUSION

We may conclude that, this report on sustainable tourism to present the state of the art knowledge, experience and best practice from the diferent multi-bilateral agencies that have worked with these issues.

There should be positive actions for development of environmental and cultural issues in Sustainable Tourism.

Thus higher priority should be given to finance and funds for Enhancing and Preserving Environment and Culture.