Ecotourism & sustainable tourism pp satish menon

Ecotourism &
Sustainable Tourism
By Satish Menon

Ecosystem
 Ecosystem is the system in which we live -
the system which include the earth, the
water, the sky and of course the living and
the non-living objects in all these systems. It
is a dynamic complex of plant, animal and
micro-organism communities and their
non-living environment interacting as a
functional unit.

Tourism
 ‘The practice of traveling for pleasure.'
 Thus, a tourism which contains a visit to an
Ecosystem is known as Eco- tourism.

But, that is not all. Eco-tourism is not only
travelling to such Ecosystems, but also
conserving them.

What is Ecotourism?
 Perhaps the most over-used and misused
word in the travel industry. But what does
it mean? The International Ecotourism
Society defines it as "responsible travel to
natural areas which conserves the
environment and improves the welfare of
the local people".

What is Ecotourism?
 A walk through the rainforest is not
eco-tourism unless that particular
walk somehow benefits that
environment and the people who live
there. A rafting trip is only eco-
tourism if it raises awareness and
funds to help protect the watershed.

Defining The Experience:
 Eco-tourism
 Adventure Travel
 Sustainable Tourism
 Responsible Tourism
 Nature-Based Tourism
 Green Tourism
 Multi-Sport Adventures
 Cultural Tourism

Defining The Experience:
 Clearly all of these definitions are
debatable. What one person or company
calls "eco" another calls "sustainable" and
so on. The main distinction between these
terms is the motives and ethics behind
them. Is the environment being cared
for? Is there genuine effort to help the
local economies? Are resources being left
intact for future generations? Is the local
culture being honored and valued and not
just photographed?

What is Sustainable
Tourism?
 Any form of tourism that does
not reduce the availability of
resources and does not inhibit
future travelers from enjoying
the same experience.

What is Sustainable
Tourism?
 If the presence of large numbers
of tourists disturbs an animal's
mating patterns so that there are
fewer of that species in the future
then that visit was not
sustainable. Kayaking school on a
free flowing river is an example of
sustainable tourism. Big game
hunting in Alaska is not.

"Ecotourism and
Sustainable Development"
 Martha Honey's definition is
quickly becoming the
standard. Most serious
studies of ecotourism
including several University
programs now use this as the
working definition.

Here then are Martha
Honey’s 7 defining points:
 1. Involves travel to natural
destinations:
 These destinations are often remote
areas, whether inhabited or
uninhabited, and are usually under
some kind of environmental
protection at the national,
international, communal or private
level.

Martha Honey’s 7 defining
points
 2. Minimizes Impact:
 Tourism causes damage. Ecotourism strives to
minimize the adverse affects of hotels, trails, and
other infrastructure by using either recycled
materials or plentifully available local building
materials, renewable sources of energy, recycling
and safe disposal of waste and garbage, and
environmentally and culturally sensitive
architectural design. Minimization of impact also
requires that the numbers and mode of behavior
of tourists be regulated to ensure limited damage
to the ecosystem.

points
 3. Builds environmental awareness:
 Ecotourism means education, for both tourists
and residents of nearby communities. Well
before departure tour operators should supply
travelers with reading material about the country,
environment and local people, as well as a code
of conduct for both the traveler and the industry
itself. This information helps prepare the tourist
as The Ecotourism Societies guidelines state “to
learn about the places and peoples visited" and
"to minimize their negative impacts while visiting
sensitive environments and cultures".

points
 Essential to good ecotourism are well-trained,
multilingual naturalist guides with skills in natural
and cultural history, environmental interpretation,
ethical principles and effective communication.
Ecotourism projects should also help educate
members of the surrounding community,
schoolchildren and the broader public in the host
country. To do so they must offer greatly
reduced entrance and lodge fees for nationals
and free educational trips for local students and
those living near the tourist attraction.

points
 4. Provides direct financial
benefits for conservation:
 Ecotourism helps raise funds for
environmental protection, research
and education through a variety of
mechanisms, including park entrance
fees, tour company, hotel, airline
and airport taxes and voluntary
contributions.

Martha Honey’s 7 defining points
 5) Provides financial benefits and
empowerment for local people:
 National Parks and other conservation areas will
only survive if there are "happy people" around
their perimeters. The local community must be
involved with and receive income and other
tangible benefits (potable water, roads, health
clinics, etc.) from the conservation area and its
tourist facilities. Campsites, lodges, guide
services, restaurants and other concessions
should be run by or in partnership with
communities surrounding a park or other tourist
destination.

 More importantly, if Ecotourism is to
be viewed as a tool for rural
development, it must also help shift
economic and political control to the
local community, village,
cooperative, or entrepreneur. This is
the most difficult and time-
consuming principle in the economic
equation.

 6. Respects local culture:
 Ecotourism is not only "greener" but also less
culturally intrusive and exploitative than
conventional tourism. Whereas prostitution,
black markets and drugs often are by-products of
mass tourism, ecotourism strives to be culturally
respectful and have a minimal effect on both the
natural environment and the human population of
a host country. This is not easy, especially since
ecotourism often involves travel to remote areas
where small and isolate communities have had
little experience interacting with foreigners.

 And like conventional tourism, ecotourism
involves an unequal relationship of power
between the visitor and the host and a
commodification of the relationship
through exchange of money. Part of being
a responsible ecotourist is learning
beforehand about the local customs,
respecting dress codes and other social
norms and not intruding on the
community unless either invited or as part
of a well organized tour.

 7) Supports human rights and
democratic movements:
 Ecotourism demands a more holistic
approach to travel, one in which
participants strive to respect, learn
about and benefit both the local
environment and local communities.

points
 In many developing countries, rural
populations living around national parks
and other ecotourism attractions are
locked in contests with the national
government and multinational
corporations for control of the assets and
their benefits. Ecotourists therefore need
to be sensitive to the host country's
political environment and social climate
and need to consider the merits of
international boycotts called for by those
supporting democratic reforms, majority
rule, and human rights.

The Ecotourism guidelines
 The conscious attitude, actions,
participation and interactions on the part
of the individual traveller directly affect
the outcome for all involved. As a
thoughtful and responsible traveler there
are several things you can do before,
during and after your journey to ensure
the experience is in line with the values of
"ecotourism" and minimize your impact on
the host country.

10 Codes of Conduct for
Responsible Travellers.
 1. Prepare for your trip:
 Educate yourself about your destination.
Be on the lookout for news and current
events about the area. Learn about local
history, customs and culture as well as
vital ecosystems. Learn at least the basics
of the local language. A simple hello,
please or thank you goes a long way.
Approach travel with the desire to learn
rather than just observe.

 2. Respect local traditions and etiquette:
 Wear clothing that is accepted by the local
culture. Be aware of people's sensitivity to being
photographed; always ask first. Observe local
customs. Be perceptive of your own cultural
values and how they affect your judgment of
others. Remember that you are the visitor. There
are many different concepts of time, personal
space, communication etc. which are not wrong
or inferior, just different. Act as an example for
other travelers who are less informed than you.

 3. Avoid ostentatious display of wealth:
 What may not seem a display of wealth to you
may be considered extravagant by another
culture. For example, a camera hanging around
your neck or something as simple as a wristwatch
or wedding band. Tuck these items away when
visiting rural communities. Leave jewelry and
other unnecessary valuables at home. They only
create barriers and inhibit genuine interactions.
Don't hand out sweets and loose change, this
only serves to corrupt and create a begging
mentality where none existed before.

 4. Be flexible in your expectations:
 Approach your adventure with an open
mind and you won't be disappointed.
Sometimes plans change and an
opportunity for more in-depth learning or
a unique cultural experience presents
itself. Adapt yourself to the situation
rather than trying to adapt the situation to
you.

 5. Conserve resources:
 Often times the resources in an area visited by
tourists are under a great deal of pressure
already. Be aware of the resources that are
being used because of your visit. This includes
your personal consumption of items like water
and wood for building fires or specialty foods that
had to be transported from afar. Don't allow your
guide to hunt endangered or threatened species
or harvest rare plants for your consumption. A
large luxury hotel in the middle of nowhere takes
far more resources to build and maintain than
does a small family run inn.

 6. Practice environmental minimum impact:
 Follow the International Leave No Trace Rules.
Pack out everything that you bring in including
toilet paper (if there is no toilet) or plastic water
bottles (use purification tablets or a filter). Go to
the bathroom at least 200 feet (70 paces) from
any water source. Remove litter that others left
behind. Do not remove any objects, plants or
animal products from nature. Be aware of local
endangered or threatened species so as not to
purchase souvenirs made from their skin,
feathers etc. Not only is this impacting on the
environment but it is also illegal.

 7. Choosing a tour operator or guide:
 Thoroughly research your tour operator or guide
by asking them pointed questions about
specifically what they do that is "eco" and how
they involve the local communities and
economies. The "greening of tourism" has led
companies to promote themselves as "eco"
simply to sell trips. The larger the company with
more luxurious accommodations, the less likely it
is to be true ecotourism. Be persistent in your
inquiries of an international or local tour operator.

 8. Support local economies:
 How will your visit directly benefit the
local economy or entire community? This
is an integral part of true ecotourism. Use
local transportation, guides, inns,
restaurants and markets. This helps create
a buffer zone for the environment
surrounding protected natural areas by
giving locals an economic alternative to
potentially destructive practices.
Community based ecotourism spreads the
wealth and workload.

 9. Bridging cultural gaps:
 Take the opportunity to be a cultural
ambassador. Much of the world's image of
western tourists is based on the unrealities
of television and magazines. Look for
situations for cultural exchange whereby
learning about each other's lives is
mutual. Getting to know the person
sitting next to you on a local bus or the
person cooking your food takes some
effort but is often a rewarding experience.

 10. Continued ecotourism:
 Ecotourism doesn't need to end with your
flight home. Follow through on your
commitment to conservation in your
everyday life. Share your experiences
with others to foster a greater
understanding of our world. You will have
seen and learned much from your
journey. While it is still fresh in your heart
and mind take action using the various
agencies, grassroots organizations
and resources available to you.

The Benefits of Ecotourism
 There are many different benefits that can
be derived from Ecotourism if it is used as
a tool by local communities rather than
large outside interests.
 However, the results are a direct reflection
of the motivation behind the project.
Since these motivations are often mixed it
follows that the results are often mixed
too.

The Benefits of Ecotourism
 It is a promising means of advancing
social, economic, and environmental
objectives in developing countries.
 It offers countries new opportunities
for small-enterprise investment and
employment and increases the
national stake in protecting their
biological resources.

The Problem
Forest and marine habitats are being destroyed and
some of the wildlife they contain is being driven
to extinction under the pressures of hunting,
logging, agriculture, and fishing.
Where areas have been officially reserved for
nature conservation, many developing country
governments lack sufficient funds to manage and
protect them. These areas are being destroyed
because they are not fully valued for their role as
nature's genetic reservoirs of the world's
biological resources.

The Win Win Solution
 A recent USAID evaluation has identified
ecotourism as an enterprise with potential
positive contributions to the conservation of
endangered biological resources.
 Contributions of ecotourism include raising local
awareness about the value of biological
resources, increasing local participation in the
benefits of biodiversity conservation (through
new sources of jobs and incomes), and
generating revenues toward conservation of
biologically rich areas.

 Wildlife and its habitats in developing countries
are becoming increasingly popular attractions for
international tourism.
 Many of the richest areas, biologically, are in the
developing world. Growing numbers of
ecotourists are flocking to the mountains of Nepal
and Madagascar, the tropical forests of Costa Rica
and Thailand, and the beaches of Belize and Sri
Lanka.
 Nature tourists bring with them money to spend,
money that creates jobs and incomes for
households and communities in and around
national parks and other protected areas.

 Ecotourism enterprises, tour
agencies, guide services, lodges and
private reserves as well as such
satellite activities as crafts
industries, transportation and food
services, also generate revenues and
foreign exchange. Governments can
use this income in operating and
protecting natural habitats.

 By recognizing the importance of protecting
biological diversity, ecotourism is raising
appreciation for biological resources and leading
to better conservation practices by developing
country populations.
 It must of course be properly regulated and
managed to protect against adverse
environmental and cultural effects that can come
with overbuilding of tourist facilities and influx of
populations around fragile ecosystems. Assuming
such oversight, nature tourism can benefit both
the environment and economic development.

 These experiences suggest that
ecotourism can be a constructive
component of strategies to promote,
at the same time, both
environmental protection and
development of private enterprise.

Promoting Ecotourism
 1. Identify and mobilize
funding for potential private
nature tourism investments.
Ecotourism enterprises, like most
business ventures, need operating
capital.

 2. Formulate fiscal policies to promote
nature tourism and to maximize its
economic and environmental benefits.
Encourage public policies (such as visitor
fees, regulations for tourism operations,
and investment incentives and land-use
zones for tourist facilities) that promote
environmentally sound tourism as well as
community involvement in providing
services and products such as guides,
lodging, transport, and crafts.

 3. Encourage international exchange
of information and know-how about
nature tourism opportunities and
operations. Foster participation by
developing country public agencies and
private service providers in international
nature tourism associations that can help
them, through technical and management
training, to meet the needs and interests
of international and domestic nature
tourists.

 4. Monitor and certify the
performance of ecotourism activities.
Support emerging international
movements aimed at promoting "green
tourism." Green tourism takes ecotourism
a step further, promoting environmentally
responsible tourist operations that
conserve energy, recycle waste, and
instruct staff and tourists on proper
behavior in parks and protected areas.

 5. Fund research on ecotourism's
developmental and environmental
impact. Information is needed to
demonstrate to decision-makers the
economic contributions nature tourism can
make. Better understanding of the impact
of ecotourism (such as in resort
development) is needed to regulate and
enforce against environmentally damaging
investments.

Outstanding Issues:
 Risk:
 Unregulated, nature tourism can
damage the environment and
corrode local cultures. Pollution from
runaway resort and hotel
development around fragile park
areas in Costa Rica, Nepal, and
Thailand exemplifies poorly managed
tourism activity.

Outstanding Issues:
 Perceptions:
 Developing countries fear that their
parks and protected areas will
become playgrounds for international
tourists, with the land reserved for
conservation and no longer available
for farming to feed and employ their
growing populations.

Outstanding Issues:
 Lack of information:
 More and better information is need about
the actual and potential economic
contributions of nature tourism ventures
and practices. Inclusion of visits to natural
attractions as part of regular recreational
tourism needs to be explored along with
"purer" forms of nature tourism and
travel.

Outstanding Issues:
 Distribution of benefits:
 Where international travel and resort
chains or urban investors control the
tourism industry, the local economic effect
of ecotourism may be reduced. Early
studies of ecotourism expenditures
suggest that in such cases not much
perhaps 20 to 30 % of the tourist money
stays in the national economy; even less
reaches local communities.

Ecotourism in India
 In India too the movement is
gathering momentum with more and
more travel and travel related
organisation's are addressing the
needs of the eco-tourists and
promoting eco-tourism in the
country.

Ecotourism in India
 Though it sounds clichéd, India is one of
the most unique countries in the world.
The physical, economical, cultural and
religious diversity of India has always
been an enigma for the rest of the world.
Hence, people from all over the world
have been attracted to this huge and
mysterious land in the east. With India
rapidly emerging as a major economic
stronghold, every sector in the nation is
witnessing tremendous growth and
development

Ecotourism in India
 The varied nature of destinations
provides comparative advantages for
tourism in India. Most of these
destinations, such as hill stations,
archaeological monuments, and
pilgrim centers had been developed
historically

Ecotourism in India
 In general, ecotourism is mostly confined
to wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks,
the mountainous regions of Himalayas and
the islands.
 Some of the most prominent forms
include Wildlife tourism, Agro tourism,
Village tourism and even Religious
tourism. Of these, wildlife tourism is
emerging as one of the most popular
forms of ecotourism in India.

Ecotourism in India
 Every part of the country is hoarded
by heaps of eco regions full of
natural sightseeing locations. The
great Himalaya alone is home to
many of world famous eco sites and
let tourists avail eco excursion like
trekking, wildlife viewing, orchid
viewing, glacier viewing, birding,
mountain-biking, nature walk.

Eco regions in India
 Eco regions of India are result of
integration of different geographical
structure and its varied topography. Like
other regions in possession of single or
less diverse geographical feature, India
divides itself in many eco regions, each
having their own climate and physical
structure. Whether it is Western Ghats,
North-Eastern regions, Western
Himalayas, Gangetic plains or Eastern
Himalayas, each of the eco regions are
different from one other.

Eco regions in India
 With their significant differences in
their state and characteristic of
natural resources, vegetation and
wildlife inhabiting, the eco regions of
India conceal in its lap great wonder
to be viewed and offer to eco
traveller what only few regions on
the earth have to show off.

Best time for Eco travel in
India
 The best time to take your eco trip to india
depends upon the places you are willing to
visit during the tour. As the country is
famous for its diverse topography, many
eco place have their own specific time to
visit. Due to diverse climate factor, it is
tougher to tell what time it is best for eco
travel to India

Best time for Eco travel in India
 The time between October and March are said to
be the best time to visit India. And also for
wildlife viewing, which is indeed the biggest eco
delight in the country, these months are the best
time to visit India. This is the time when most of
the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are
open for visitors. Besides, most of the
celebrations and festivals like Dussehra,
Deepawali, Christmas, Eid, Holi, Camel fair at
Pushkar and Chariot procession at Orissa occur
during this time (October-March). Traveling
during this season assures you having the best
possible view of popular Indian eco places along
with exploring its uniqueness of its diverse
culture, tradition, custom and rich history.

Why Ecotourism in India?
 As the fastest growing sector in the
tourism industry, ecotourism is an
attractive investment proposition.
 The World Tourism Organization
predicts that: India will be hosting
6.00 million tourists in 2012.That
figure will rise to 8.90 million by
2020.

Why Eco Tourism in India?
 Ecotourism if properly implemented
can integrate conservation and rural
development by helping to protect
valuable natural areas, by generating
income.
 Stimulating economic development
through tourism expenditures and
providing jobs and market for local
goods.

Why Eco Tourism in India?
 • Work opportunities for local people
 • Indirect employment generation for people
 in other states
 • income for business and individuals
 • broadens economic base
 • inter-sectoral linkages can occur
 • multiplier effects
 • encourages entrepreneurial activity
 • infrastructural provision
 • improvement of services
 • promotes regional development
 • Increased economic benefits from intact
 environment will also increase community
 support for habitat conservation.
 • Enhances local understanding of the
 importance of Eco Tourism
 • Supports conservation though profits
 generated through ecotourism enterprises.

Constraints to Ecotourism
development in India
 Size of the area
 Accessibility
 Underdeveloped tourist facilities
 Lack of capital and expertise
 Cultural compatibility

Ecotourism & sustainable tourism pp satish menon

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Ecotourism & sustainable tourism pp satish menon