ECOTOURISM and other Related Tourism Forms

Prepared By:

Ma'am L

Ecotourism is related to NATURE, CULTURE, FARM, WILDLIFE and ADVENTURE tourism, and cam be described as a sub-category of nature and culture tourism, a tourism form that can be practiced on farms or in wildlife, and consists of an adventurous nature.

Ecotourism is a sub-category of sustainable tourism and thereby contributes to sustainable development and sustainability. (Higham, 2007)

TOURISM FORM DEFINITION

Nature Tourism Travel to participate in outdoor activities utilizing the natural resources of an area.

Culture Tourism Travel to areas where culture can be studied or participated in.

Farm Tourism Travel to participate on a working farm.

Wildlife Tourism Travel to areas where wildlife can be watched

Adventure Tourism Travel that involve risk, danger and adrenalin; a tourism that may require physical stamina

NATURE TOURISM

Nature Tourism is defined as 'tourism focused principally on natural resources such as relatively undisturbed parks and natural areas, wetlands, wildlife reserves, and other areas of protected flora, fauna, and habitats'.

NATURE TOURISM encompasses all forms of tourism – mass tourism, adventure tourism, low-impact, ecotourism – which use natural resources in a wild or undeveloped form – including species, habitat, landscape, scenery and salt and fresh – water features. Nature tourism is travel for the purpose of enjoying undeveloped natural areas or wildlife (Fennell, 2008).

WILDLIFE TOURISM

Tourism based on encounters with non-domesticated (non-human) animals

This includes wildlife watching tourism, captive wildlife tourism in man-made confinements, and hunting and fishing tourism.

Wildlife Tourism product is placed into seven categories

1.Nature-based tourism and wildlife component, where wildlife is an incidental part of the overall NBT product.

2.Locations with good wildlife viewing opportunities, includes accomodation units that are located in wildlife-rich habitat and may attract wildlife through the provision of food.

3. Artificial attractions based on wildlife, which include, for example, human-made attractions where animals are kept in captivity.

4. Specialist animal watching, for special-interest groups like birders.

5. Habitat specific tours, which focus on areas or regions rich in animal life.

6. Thrill-offering tours, where dangerous animals are enticed to engage in spectacular bahavior for the viewing pleasure of tourists.

7. Hunting/fishing tours, in natural, semi-captive or farmed environments where animals are killed or released back into the wild (Fennell, 2008).

ADVENTURE TOURISM

Outdoor leisure activity that takes place in an unusual exotic, remote or wilderness destination, involves some form of unconventional means of transportation, and tends to be associated with low or high levels of activity (Fennell, 2008)

Soft Adventure activities are pursued by those interested in a perceived risk and adventure with little actual risk.

Hard Adventure activities are known by both the tourist and service provider to have high level of risk.