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Ecotourism Tourism is a big business. As the world’s biggest industry, it currently accounts for more than ten per cent of  global employment and the annual number of tourist trips worldwide is predicted to double to 1.6 billion by 2020. The high number of people travelling around the world as a major, and ever increasing, impact on both people and nature.

Mass tourism clearly  not sustainable. Innapropriate tourism developments and practices degrade habitats and landscapes, deplete natural resources and generate waste and pollution. Ecotourism is often seen as the solution, as well as a panacea  for sustainable development in communities that  have few other resources.

But are the current ecotourism practices always a responsible alternative? The building of roads, car parks, and accomodation in national parks is just one example of the dubious ecotourism development. Lack of regulation has also led to ecotourism being used as a profitable marketing label for adventure holidays instead of an indication that our operators are practising responsible tourism. In addition, some local communities have complained that they were never consulted about ecotourism development plans, or that the benefits are far from what they were led to believe.

A deeper question is whether  ecotourism is even desirable in some areas. A few ecotourists in a fragile environment may have a greater impact than hundreds of tourists in an existing holiday resort – and may open the way for mass tourism to follow. Critics of ecotourism, such as the Third World Network,  fear that if all holidaymakers become ecotourtists, then hordes of travellers will invade villages and protected areas, instead of going to existing tourist centres – a development that could increase the undesirable impact of tourism rather than alleviate existing problems.

Recognising the impact of ecotourism, both good and bad, the UN declared 2002 the International Year of Ecotourism, offering all stakeholders the chance to review the effect of ecotourism on the environment and communities.

 A.      Are these statements true or false? Quote from the text to support  your answers.1.        The tourism industry gives employment to a good percentage of the population.

2.        It is estimated that the number of tourists will decrease in the near future.

3.        Tourism can have serious negative impacts on the environment.

4.        Ecotourism is seen as a good solution for poor communities.

5.        Ecotourism always takes into account environmental management issues.

6.        Local people have  benefited a lot from ecotourism.

 B.      Match the words on the right with the equivalents on the left.1.      currently (line 1)                                               a) very large groups

2.      degrade (line 5)                                                 b) remedy

3.      generate (line 6)                                                c) produce

4.      panacea (line 7)                                                 d) at the present moment

5.      hordes (line 17)                                                 e) spoil

C.       Answer the following questions. Use your own words, as far as possible.1.        What is ecotourism?

2.        What problems may tourism bring about?

3.        Do you think ecotourism is an alternative to mass tourism? State your reasons.

4.        What are the Third World Network’s concerns about the ecotourism?

5.        Why did the United Nations declare 2002 the International Year of Ecotourism?

 IIA.Use the verbs in brackets in the correct form1. __________________(you/listen) to the radio every day? No, just occasionally!

2. We usually  ________________(grow) vegetables in our garden, but this year, _______________  (not/ grow) any.

3. They  ___________________(arrive) more than one hour ago, but I _________________ (not/see) them yet.

4. The annual meeting on ecotourism ________________(take) place next month.

5. The meeting __________________(start) at 10 o’clock.

B. Rewrite as indicated below.1. Our planet is sick because we don’t care about the environment.

If  we cared more about the environment,_____________________________

2. I didn’t know  about our school’s recycling project. I didn’t get involved on it.

If I had known about our school’s recycling project, ____________________

3. If we don’t  take action now, the situation will get very dark.

Unless ______________________________________________________

4. Inappropriate tourism  practices degrade habitats and landscapes.

Habitats and landscapes ________________________________________

IIIA. Bearing in mind the short story “Names” by Maya Angelou, comment on  Marguerite’s reaction at the end of the story. (how she reacted; why she reacted like that; the meaning of her reaction). Write about 80 words on it.

IVChoose one of the following topics and write about 120 words on it.A.      Comment on the following statement: “When the last tree is cut, the last river poisened  and the last wild life species lost, then we will discover that we can’t eat money”.

B. “Genetic manipulation: How far can we go?”

Give your opinion on this  issue, justifying all your arguments. Don’t forget to refer  the risks, as well as the  ethical and moral problems involved.