ECOTOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH

THE YEARS

Understanding ecotourism and sustainable development as concepts

Basics of ecotourism and sustainable development

The concepts of ecotourism and sustainable tourism or green tourism share some
similarities, including an emphasis on eco-responsible travel. However, there are also
some significant differences, and it is important that these differences are fully understood by
marketers, vendors, and travellers.
The word origin of the term ecotourism comes from the English "ecotourism.
Parallel to the term “ecotourism”, which is commonly used in science, this appeared in the
media and in the private tourist sector, among which nature-related travel offers were
marketed. Due to this inflationary use, there was a great deal of confusion about the
definition, since the term could be interpreted arbitrarily in all areas. So it is urgently
necessary to clearly define ecotourism. Ecotourism is a concept that combines nature
conservation and tourism. Ecotourism is a form of responsible travel in natural areas
where the experience of nature is central. Ecotourism minimizes negative ecological and
socio-cultural impacts, contributes to the financing of protected areas or nature
conservation measures and creates income opportunities for the local population.
Indirectly, ecotourism should increase the acceptance of nature conservation by
relevant social actors.
Ecotourism has a clear focus on travel to areas of natural beauty combined with
conservation and benefiting the local community. In contrast, sustainable tourism
focuses primarily on sustainability and less harmful travel. As a result, sustainable
tourism can encompass a greater number of different types of travel to a greater variety
of locations, while ecotourism has a narrower focus on conservation and conservation
efforts.
The resources of the earth are used today like in no age before. And this despite
the fact that they are often only available to a limited extent. Sustainability means using
resources sparingly. Here and now people should not live at the expense of people in
other regions of the world and at the expense of future generations.
Sustainability affects all areas of our life and business and is therefore a task for
society as a whole. The model calls for social development that is ecologically
compatible, socially just and economically efficient. We only have one earth. It is about
keeping this earth permanently and liveable for everyone under liveable conditions.
Above all, the environment is the limiting factor in the sustainability concept, not only
on a national but also on an international level: the planetary boundaries represent the
absolute limits of development.
Ecotourism is a form of tourism based on the concept of arranging trips to places
of natural beauty but in a way that avoids damage to the environment while helping
local people. It can be seen as a means of limiting the harm of traveling to natural areas
while leaving a positive legacy.
 In general, ecotourism places a strong focus on areas of plant, animal and
cultural heritage. Ecotourism often has an educational component as well, with
travellers aiming to learn something from their trip and to give something back to the
people who also live in the area.
Ecotourism is a type of responsible tourism and is particularly popular with
environmentalists and conservationists. Another important goal of ecotourism is to minimize
negative consequences that can be associated with human presence in places of natural
beauty, so that future generations can also enjoy them.
The concept of ecotourism originally came from Great Britain. The concept
came up there in the 1980s. According to the Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is
responsible travel to natural areas that protects nature and promotes the well-being of
local people. Since then, the travel concept has spread and is now known worldwide.
Today's ecotourism means sustainable and responsible travel. The form of tourism
refers exclusively to natural holiday destinations. So ecotourism trips do not take place in
cities or at cultural sights: they have natural and untouched landscapes as destinations, such
as national parks and nature reserves.
Crucial to ecotourism is the impact of the trip. Tourism should be as environmentally
friendly and socially acceptable as possible. This means minimal negative consequences for
nature and the local population. The income from the trip should not go to international travel
companies, but to the residents of the holiday region. In this way, tourism can become a
reliable source of income for developing countries, for example. In addition, the local natural
beauties can be protected by not being overburdened and damaged by tourism. A careful and
conscious approach to nature is therefore at the heart of eco-tourism.
On the other hand, the concept of Sustainable development exists also. It designates
development that serves the needs of the present generation without jeopardizing the
ability of future generations to meet their needs. The origin of the idea lies in the
concept of sustainability.
Today, the term usually refers to social, economic and ecological aspects of
sustainability and has been incorporated into political and scientific discussions at
international and supranational levels. In 2015, 17 goals for sustainable development
were adopted as part of the United Nations Agenda 2030.
The concept of sustainability in the meaning described here can originally be found in
forestry and was first mentioned in 1713 by Hans Carl von Carlowitz in relation to forest
management. The term “sustainability” was first applied to the overall economy in 1952. The
term later found its way into international specialist circles as sustainability.
The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment or World
Environment Conference, UNCHE (English United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment) for short, took place in Stockholm from June 5th to 16th, 1972 and was
the first United Nations conference on the subject of the environment and is considered
the beginning of international (global) environmental policy.
More than 1,200 representatives from 113 countries met to draw up a
“Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment”. The
adopted declaration contains 26 principles for environment and development. In addition, an
action plan with 109 recommendations was drawn up, which more explicitly describes
international environmental management measures. [1]
With their adoption, the states commit to cross-border cooperation in
environmental and nature conservation issues. As a result, the United Nations

1 Paun N. Adrian C., Istoria construcţiei europene, Editura Fundaţiei pentru Studii
Europene, Cluj-Napoca, 2000, pag. 76-82;
Environment Program was founded in the same year, which prepared further
conferences. Numerous environmental agreements resulted directly or indirectly from
the United Nations Environment Program:
 the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Wild Animal Species
(Bonn Convention);
 the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer with the
Montreal Protocol regulating CFC emissions;
 the Basel Convention on the Transboundary Handling of Hazardous
Waste;
 the Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Convention) with the
resulting Cartagena Protocol;
 the climate framework convention with the Kyoto protocol;
 the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (which,
however, had a 1971 predecessor).
The subsequent United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio
de Janeiro in 1992 (also known as the World Summit) is usually perceived as the highlight of
the UN conferences.
Apart from the few previous usages, the current meaning of the term sustainable
development represents in a sense, a diplomatic compromise or consensus formula to
reconcile the conflicting goals that often exist between environmental protection and
development. This conflict of goals was conceptually taken up in the ecological discussion
with general ecology. Since that time, the term has grown in popularity and has been charged
with different meanings through its use in politics, science, business, and civil society. A
significant change in meaning was already completed with a new focus at the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. The concept was
developed into a mainly technocratic concept through its discursive use, with the attempts to
solve ecological problems being based mainly on technology or scientific rationalities. In
addition, there are already works that extensively discuss and empirically document the
development of the importance of sustainable development and sustainability for the various
parts of our society (politics, science, economy).
When we discuss about ecotourism, we can look at the concept of sustainable
development from the perspective of equity.
On one hand, within the framework of intra-generational justice, a fair
distribution of life chances and use of resources should be achieved. On the other hand,
the future use of scarce resources should also be ensured for future generations through
intergenerational justice. Accordingly, sustained economic growth must not endanger
the functioning of ecosystems. In economic terminology, it was formulated that each
generation may only use the interest. The interest can represent the increase
corresponding to the natural regeneration rate - while the capital stock should not be
attacked by the current or future generations.

Principles of Ecotourism leading to sustainable development

Ecotourism is important because companies and individuals who adhere to the basic
principles and prioritize ecology and education in their travel habits help local people and the
world at large.
Traditional tourism can put a heavy strain on destinations because it increases
the number of people active there and dependent on its resources. At the same time, it
can encourage the destruction of nature as companies struggle to keep up with ever-
increasing demand.
Businesses that market and sell ecotourism products and services help educate
travellers about the negative impacts of many other forms of tourism, and this can aid
in conservation efforts. Ecotourism is also a growing trend, and eco-tourism is helping
to accommodate this trend while creating jobs.
The International Ecotourism Society defines the most authentic ecotourism as
ecotourism that conforms to certain principles. These are the seven principles of
ecotourism:
1. Minimize negative impacts on the environment and communities;
2. Creating respect and awareness, including environment and culture;
3. Develop positive experiences for tourists and residents;
4. Generate economic benefits that are used directly to protect the local
environment;
5. Guaranteed access to funding and encouraged participation in
community decision-making;
6. Awareness of the political, environmental and social climate of the places
visited;
7. Support universal human rights and local labour laws and regulations.
These seven principles are the starting point for understanding the depth of
ecotourism and its short- and long-term goals.
According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism can be defined as
“responsible travel to natural areas that protects the environment and improves the well-being
of local residents”. Therefore, when you talk about ecotourism you are talking about
responsible tourism and the environment and the local communities that live around it. In
other words, contrary to the original assumption, ecotourism is not any form of tourism
related to nature, but the relationship must always be based on respect and an ethical
perspective alongside nature.
In this way, if we take a trip to the mountains, for example, we can say ecotourism
because it is a natural environment. But what really determines whether our trip is an
example of ecotourism will be the relationship we develop with the mountain, not just the
location chosen.
In this way, when we create a route, our itinerary does not negatively impact the
mountain (We do not throw garbage into the environment, we do not harm the flora and
fauna of the environment and we do not interact with the unsustainable use of natural
heritage, local businesses or residents etc.) can be seen as an example of ecotourism.
On the other hand, if the same journey is made in an unsustainable way, for example
using facilities such as ski resorts (the impact of which is extremely harmful to the mountain
environment), even though it is a kind of natural environment and can create wealth for the
local population, we cannot really talk about ecotourism because the relationship that exists
between tourists and the environment means a deterioration in their tourism activities.
Eco-tourism has been booming, at least since climate protection has become
omnipresent. Combine the modern understanding of the environment with a unique travel
experience and environmentally conscious sustainable tourism is created. However, as
mentioned before, this form of tourism is not just about nature conservation.[ 2]
Terms such as gentle tourism, eco-tourism, nature tourism or intelligent tourism are
playing an increasingly important role in travel planning. Today the terms are often used

2 Courty G., Construcţia europeană, Editura C.N.I.Coresi, Bucureşti, 2001, pag. 33-45;
synonymously. But what is meant by these terms and how are they defined is different than
imagined. Green tourism essentially pursues three goals:
1. Ecological goals: protection of natural areas through minimal intervention,
sustainable resource management and climate protection concepts;
2. Economic goals: promoting the local economy and creating secure jobs with
fair working conditions;
3. Socio-cultural goals: To experience nature, culture and the environment as
intensively and authentically as possible without negative influences on
culture and tradition.
Gentle tourism can therefore not only be reduced to the ecological aspects, as the term
"ecotourism" incorrectly suggests. It encompasses more than traveling to nature reserves. It
consists of a combination of personal, ecological, social and economic interests: gentle
tourists want to harm the environment as little as possible during their vacation, experience
nature intensively and at the same time take into account the needs of the local population to
the extent that they are not close to nature and benefit from nature-friendly tourism. [3]
Soft tourism can refer to different aspects, depending on the type of trip. In addition to
the number one climate polluter when travelling, the plane, there are opportunities in almost
all areas affected by tourism to make a vacation as sustainable and ecological as possible.
This starts with the architecture of an accommodation and ends with environmental
protection. Soft tourism is based on different sustainability criteria, which can be taken into
account either individually or collectively.
Choice of Compliance with
ecologically and support for
compatible animal welfare
accommodation measures

Fair & social Use of low-CO2

working conditions means of transport

Consumption of
Environmental
regional and
Protection
seasonal foods

Figure 1.1. – Sustainability criteria

Source: 1. www.ecotourism.org

3 www.eur-lex.europa.eu