eco tourism chapter 1

Determine carrying capacity by consideringNumber of visitorsAmount or type of use by average visitorQuality of resource management and facility development/designNumber of area residents and their quality of life needsNumber of other visitors

Carrying capacity changes when any one or more of above variables change

The popular appearance of ecotourism in the late 1980s was treated as a panacea to all tourism-related problems in the destination areas. Its popularity (Blamey, 2001; Orams, 2001) claimed to be associated with the:

•General search for natural attractions during a holiday•Eagerness to achieve sustainable development by any means•Potential employment opportunities in natural areas•Shift towards planning in protected areas



According to (WTO, 1998) it increases the visits for ecotourism-related purposes, whichit is claimed, accounts for around 20% of total tourism arrivals.

Ecotourism is treated both as a sub-component of alternative tourism and as natural-basedtourism, being part of the concept of sustainability.

In addition, other sustainable products (i.e. agrotourism, wine tourism, rural tourism)claim to have similarities with ecotourism as well as being part of nature-based andalternative tourism (jaakson, 1997).



CONCEPTUAL DEFINITIONS OF ECOTOURISM

Orams (1995) suggests that the majority of ecotourism definitions lie between the passiveposition (i.e. concentrates solely on ecotourism development, not enhancing the

antagonistic impacts or the ecotourist’s need to be satisfied) and the active position(i.e. actions of protecting the environment and the behavioral intentions of ecotourists).

Ecotourism was first defined as “Traveling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring, and enjoying the sceneryand its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestations (both pastand present) found in these areas’.



Other researchers elaborated this definition by emphasizing certain aspects of it.

Ziffer (1989) conservation, natural based, economic and cultural components.Boo (1991) not only natural and conservation components, but also the economic

and educational elements.Forestry Tasmania (1994) emphasized the nature-based, educational, social and

sustainability components of ecotourism by distinguishing between ecotourism and nature-based tourism.

Blamey’s (1995) four main components: nature-based, environmentally educated, sustainably managed and distance/time.

Lindberg and McKercher’s (1997) highlights the natural-based and sustainability components of ecotourism.



A comparison of these definitions indicates that ecotourism tends to have three maincomponents:

1. Natural-based 2. Educational3. Sustainable management

that includes economic, social, cultural and ethical issues. Although these themesare more or less clear, limitations arise by attempts to express all these components witha single definition that is applied in all circumstances and in all ecotourism research settings.

Unlike tourism definitions, there is no one established conceptual and technical definitionof ecotourism.



Trade-off technical definitions of ecotourism

Definition Elements

VERY WEAK Core Emphasis:Natural-based component: protected and non protected areas.

WEAK Core Emphasis:Natural-based Component: protected and non protected areas.Less emphasis:Educational component: Interpretation and training programsSustainability Component: economic and/or socio-cultural elements.

STRONG Core Emphasis:Natural-based component: protected and non-protected areasEducational component: interpretation and training programsSustainability Component: equal emphasis on economic and socio culturalElements



VERY STRONG Core EmphasisNatural-based component: protected and non-protected areasEducational component: interpretation and training programsSustainability component: emphasis on socio-cultural elements

rather than on economic elements

For ecotourism to be close to its main principles, only the strong and very strong definitionscan be operationalized.



The Natural Based Component

As ecotourism initially developed in tropical regions, the natural-based experienceshave seen to take place in a protected area, which is an area dedicated primarily to theprotection and enjoyment of natural or cultural heritage, to maintenance of biodiversityand ecological life support services.



In general tems, natural-based tourism has been claimed to contain three main components:

First, the nature of experience which is nature dependent, containing attributes such as intensity of interaction with nature and social sensitivity.

Second, the style of this experience, where different product elements such as willingnessto pay, group size and type, and length of stay are considered to be significance.

Third, the location of the natural-based tourism experience , such as accessibility, ownershipof location and the fragility of the resources used.



Activities of Ecotourism in a natural setting

Three main categories of natural-based tourism

Activities dependent on nature (e.g. Birdwatching)Activities enhanced by nature (e.g. Camping)Activities where the natural setting is incidental (e.g. swimming)



In a discussion concerning the classification of water recreational activities, smarton (1998)list four generalized types of recreation activity:

•Kinetic experiences were non-mechanically powered activities such as hiking, diving, swimming•Situation-based experiences entail a strong association with the destination as a unique

characteristic•A substitution or aesthetic experience includes observation of natural phenomena,

(e.g. birdwatching).•Harvest-based experience does not apply to activities such as hunting and the collection of

flora and fauna because ecotourism discourage consumption of natural resources.



Treated activities in terms of human and wildlife interaction

The non-consumptive use activities are those in which the organism is not affected by human interaction (e.g. bird watching, whale watching, nature walks and photography.)

The consumptive use activities impose certain purposefully intended impacts on the organismsuch as forms of hunting and fishing.



SUSTAINABILITY COMPONENT

Sustainability- one of the significant aspects of ecotourism.

In 1987 the World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainabledevelopment as growth that brings benefits to people today without damaging resourcesor prospects for future generations.

Sustainable management concerns resource management. It recognizes the that world’sresources are limited and they being used up everyday without consideration of replenishing or protecting them.



Tourism’s interest in sustainable development becomes therefore very logical, consideringthis industry sells the environment and the resources it provides as its product.

For local inhabitants, sustainable development concentrates on promoting the well beingof people through the stipulation of healthy and supportive economic and social conditions.

Sustainable tourism development concerns not only developing environmentally friendlyproducts, but also those aspects of the industry that make all stakeholders more resourceconscious.



Planning for sustainability regarding the tourism sector involves not only in the host community but also the government on both regional and national levels.

All stakeholders need to be involved, this includes the locals, the private sector, thegovernment and visitors.

Carrying Capacity is interlinked with the concept of sustainability. this relates to predetermined limits of development, population, pressure and infrastructure in a particular area.

Three areas that are subjects to limits are the ENVIRONMENT, SOCIETY AND ECONOMY.



Local Issues

One of the most vital elements of ecotourism is the involvement of the host community.

Indirect Form such as share of revenue generated, employment and most importantly, control in development and implementation of ecotourism.

Empowerment: The community is given the responsibility to make decisions or, at least,to be part of the decision-making process.



There are at least five areas where local people can help to bring about nature tourismactivities:

1. Information Gathering2. Consultation3. Decision Making4. Initiating action 5. Evaluation

The local community needs to be involved from the beginning of the project to establishthe area as an ecotourism destination.



The multiplier effect increases through improved employment and higher earnings of the local population.

Import leakages decline and revenue earned by expatriate workers also diminish.

Care must be taken so the local population is not actually being exploited by introducing ecotourism to the area. In several destinations, the indigenous population is promoted as a major attraction, they are used as guides and provide accommodation in traditionalvillages and houses.



Educational Component

Ecotourism appeals to people who wish to interact with the environment and, to varyingdegrees, develop their knowledge, comprehension and appreciation of it. The aim of ecotourism is to educate the visitor about the value of natural environments.

Ecotourism operators are in an incomparable position to offer environmental and culturalinterpretation . This type of information can be provided during and after the event inthe form of brochures, videos, local guides and through walks and talks.



The visitor will encounter different learning experiences during an ecotourism journey, themain focus is the natural environment but also, where indigenous people are involved,their traditions and culture will be part of the individual learning process.

Providing education and interpretation as a part of the experience makes the visitor awareof the environment and how their actions can contribute to the conservation of the same.

This third criterion is interlinked with the second, concerning sustainability. In the desire tounderstand and appreciate the natural attractions of a destination lies a desire to ensurethat those attractions are not destroyed but sustained for future visitors.



ECOTOURISM MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: IMPACTS PERSPERCTIVE

Governments and private organizations around the world are developing and promoting ecotourism in protected areas to benefit local communities and to help preserve theenvironment and different ecosystems.

However, as with all forms of tourism, impacts of both a positive and negative nature dofollow.



•To reinforce the positive impacts of ecotourism, it is necessary for the inhabitants to beintegrated in the planning and development of ecotourism projects at an early stage.

•Locals should be attentive to the impacts and supportive of the development.

•The locals should have a crucial level of awareness of the prospective benefits and costsof tourism to contribute effectively in the planning process.

• Evaluation of the knowledge of ecotourism impacts can be considered by understandingthe host community’s sensitivity of the positive and negative environmental, economicaland social impacts of ecotourism.



ECONOMIC IMPACTS

The impacts of ecotourism, or any economic activity, can be classified into three categories:

Direct- arising directly from tourist spending, Indirect- when a restaurant is purchasing supplies in order to cater to touristsInduced- When an employee who works in a restaurant buys goods and services from wages

earned.

One main advantage of ecotourism is that expenditure by ecotourists is, in general, greater that that of the average tourist.



The revenue that is gained can be used for various development projects, infrastructure andto ensure long-term sustainability of local areas.

Employment, even in small numbers, does make a positive impact on the economy. In protected areas, ecotourism also plays a significant role as it raises political and financialawareness and support for the conservation, which is one of the goals of ecotourism.



Environmental Impacts

The environment is the natural asset that ecotourism thrives on; if it is not developed and managed properly ecotourism can result in negative environmental impacts which wouldundermine the whole concept of sustainability.

Environmentally, ecotourism is anticipated to offer motivation and incentives for preservation of natural areas and regions.

Ecotourism will help to raise environmental awareness and ethics which will take backwith them to their home destination.



Ecotourism is usually concentrated in sensitive and unique environments, which may havelimited capability to resist use pressures and ultimately will cause negative impacts onthe environment. (harassments of the animals and disturb the natural settlement.)

Other negative impacts include damage to plants, forest clearance, soil compaction, pollution(water, noise and air) and marine resource destruction such as coral damage and overfishing.



Social Impacts

Occur everywhere when people from different cultures and societies meet and especiallywhen tourism development takes place it becomes more noticeable.

To benefit local communities and be socially sustainable, ecotourism must foster environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.



There are different factors that influences the socio-cultural impacts of ecotourism,including the following.

1. Scale of Tourism Development – this concerns the number of tourists in relationto the host population.

2. Economic level of host community – in many locations, the residents if the Third Worldare visited by people from highly developed countries.

3. Cultural differences bet. Host & guest- when tourists arrive in their destination, theybring with them different beliefs, values and behaviors that will influence the contact theyhave with the host population.



There are several positive impacts that do arise from encounters between visitor and host population. New facilities and services become accessible to the host population.

New Facilities and servicesThe create of unique jobsFunds to re-establish the local arts, traditions and cultural activities.Value the natural and cultural assets and take pride in its heritage.

Social impacts cause more immediate changes in a local community’s social structure andway of life while cultural impacts cause longer-term changes in community norms andstandards, social relationships and cultural practices .



It becomes important to protect the host population from negative socio-cultural impacts.

Example:

Changes in Value systems, traditional lifestyle, family relationships individual behavior of community structure.



Ecotourism Management considerations: A marketing perspective

According to USDA, marketing is the process of planning and executing the conception,pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create and maintainexchanges that satisfy individual, organizational, and societal goals in the systemic context of a global environment.

Can sustainability and profitability go hand in hand?

The same goes for long-term vs. short term goals.



Ecotourism is related to ecological and social marketing.

Ecological marketing- is the study of positive and negative aspects of marketing activitieson pollution, energy depletion and nonenergy resource depletion.

Social Marketing- seeks to influence social behaviors not to benefit the marketer but to benefit the target audience and the general society.



Marketing 4Ps,

•Product•Place•Price•Promotion

One of the main difficulties concerning eco tourism products and services is that there is no set definition of the word ecotourism.



Eco Tourism Management considerations: a demarketing perspective

Demarketing and ecotourism is a relative new concept (Beeton, 2003.

Three Classifications of demarketing:

1. General demarketing: required when an organization wants to shrink the level of total demand

2. Selective demarketing: required when a company wants to discourage the demand coming from certain customer classes.

3. Ostensible demarketing: Involves the appearance of trying to discourage demand as adevice to actually increase it.



Ecotourism Management Considerations: A practitioner’s perspective

Code of Practice for ecotourism operators1. Strengthen the conservation effort for and enhance the natural integrity of the place

visited2. Respect the sensitivities of other cultures3. Be efficient in the use of natural resources (water, energy).4.Develop a recycling programme.5.Supports principals (i.e. hotels, carriers etc.) who have a conservation ethic.6. Keep abreast of current political and environment issues, particularly of the local area.7.Network with other stakeholders (particularly those in local area) to keep each other

informed of developments and encourage the use of this Code of Practice.8. Endeavor to use distribution networks (e.g. catalogues) and retail outlets to raise

environmental awareness by distributing guidelines to consumers.



9. Support ecotourism education/training for guides and managers10. Employ tour guides well versed in and respectful of local cultures and environments.11. Give clients appropriate verbal and written education (interpretation) and guidance with

respect to the natural and cultural history of the areas visited.12. Use locally produced goods that benefit the local community, but do no buy goods made

from threatened or endangered species.13.Never intentionally disturb or encourage the disturbance of wildlife or wildlife habitats.14. Keep vehicles to designated roads and tracks.15. Abide by the rules and regulations of natural areas.16. Commit to the principle of best practice.17. Comply with Philippine Safety Standards.18. Ensure truth in advertising.19. Maximize the quality of experience for hosts and guests.