Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. Responsible travel to natural and cultural areas that. Review topics in this lesson to boost your knowledge of the following. According to the world travel and tourism council wttc, in 2011 alone, travel and tourism made up 9% of gdp, employed 250 million around the world, and boasted a profit of 6 trillion usd. The implementation of green tourism and hospitality. The term ecotourism, therefore, refers on one hand to a concept under a set of principles, and on the other hand to a specific market segment. The research within the area of ecotourism still appears to be at its infancy stage. Pdf ecotourism impacts, potentials and possibilities. Ecotourism itself is meant to be a sustainable form of natural resourcebased tourism. While the details vary, most definitions of ecotourism boil down to a special. This means that ecotourism is much more than traveling around the globe and sightseeing. Ecotourism is not just better for the local people, its also cheaper for the consumer. This paper considers the ad hoc development of ecotourism at ostional, costa rica, and the potential bene.
Drawing upon emerging insights provided by preeminent scholars in the field it identifies and comprehensively addresses current critical issues. Sustainable tourism and ecotourism geographycasestudy. However, the various descriptions of ecotourism feature some recurring characteristics of the concept. Ecotourism as a very specific form is part of the broad concept of naturebased tourism, or it can be said that ecotourism describes a naturebased operation in the field of tourism.
It is defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the wellbeing of the local people, and involves. Pdf one of the fastest growing tourism sectors is ecotourism, which focuses on responsible tourism that has a positive effect on the host nations. Here are some definitions being offered by the tourism industry along with principles where applicable. This definition not only implies that there should be a recognition of, and positive support for, the conservation of natural resources, both by suppliers and consumers, but also that there is a necessary social dimension to ecotourism. The principles of ecotourism include even the kinds of clothes we wear. In 1991the ecotourism society board of directors defined ecotourism as. Whatever definition is used, ecotourism should have a positive impact on both natural areas and the local community. The identification of criteria for ecotourism practice in. Tourism that involves visiting scenic or remote natural areas while attempting to minimize negative. Tourism is therefore a subset of travel and visitors are a subset of travelers. Ecotourism in simple words means management of tourism and conservation of nature in a way so as to maintain a fine balance between the requirements of.
Low carbon green growth roadmap for asia and the pacific. In the absence of a common definition or set of key tenets the. It is clearly shows that the ecotourism providers do not really. The international ecotourism society ties previously known as the ecotourism society tes in 1991 produced one of the earliest definitions.
What is ecotourism the international ecotourism society. Ecotourism is the business of providing vacations and related services that are not harmful to the environment of the area. The international ecotourism society ties is the oldest and largest ecotourism society in the world. This misses a key issue, which is that ecotourism must be sustainable.
The definition provided by this association about ecotourism is more comprehensive and states purposeful travel to natural areas to understand culture and natural history of the environment, taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of the natural resources beneficial. Ecotourism is broadly defined as low impact travel to endangered and often undisturbed locations. There are differences in definition, principles and scope when it comes to terms such as sustainable tourism, responsible tourism, nature tourism, ecotourism and more. The definitional perspective of the concept is lacking both in terms of scope and criteria used, as well as in. Difference between tourism and ecotourism compare the. Both suggest that it was only in the 1980s that it sought to find common ground due to the expansion of global tourism and the increasing interest in the natural environment. International ecotourism society responsible travel to natural areas which conserves. Ecotourism, according to the international ecotourism society, is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the wellbeing of the local people, and involves interpretation and education. The characteristics of ecotourists and principles of ecotourism have been also described. Pdf the research within the area of ecotourism still appears to be at its infancy stage. Ecotourism is often perceived as being green tourism, such as visiting a rainforest. Ecotourism definition of ecotourism by merriamwebster. This means that those who implement, participate in and market ecotourism. Ecotourism explained although the concept of ecotourism is widely used, there is no universal definition.
Ecotourism meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Guidelines for communitybased ecotourism development. Review of criteria, procedures and legal framework for ecotourism in. Education is meant to be inclusive of both staff and guests.
A study on the environmental impact of ecotourism in can gio mangrove biosphere year 2011 pages 60 ecotourism is a new concept in the tourism industry of vietnam, which essentially developed since past 20 years. As an ecotourist, you decide to travel in a way that shows respect to nature and does not contribute to its degradation. Ecotourism also called sustainable tourism can be defined by a variety of travel practices, but it all comes down to a general set of ideas. Campbell university of western ontario, canada abstract. Chain restaurants and hotels are generally not compatible with ecotourism. Basic text book which defines ecotourism, provides information on how the private sector provides services in the ecotourism sector, how ngos work with ecotourism, government policy examples, development agencies and training options. Ecotourism sustainable tourism is a part of environmental conservation, and understanding what the needs of the people are who are local to the area so that you can help to improve their quality of life. Uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel extraordinary travel meets endless possibilities responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the wellbeing of local people. Critical issues in ecotourism seeks to shake the current stagnant literature on the subject of ecotourism out of a state of complacency. These distinctions are crucial for the compilation of data on flows of travelers and visitors and for the credibility of tourism statistics. Ecotourism definition, tourism to places having unspoiled natural resources, with minimal impact on the environment being a primary concern. Hence, it seems that ecotourism definitions could range from passive to active stances incorporating the three common concepts in the form of. Responsible travel to natural and cultural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well being of local people. Ecotourism impacts, potentials and possibilities book pdf.
The definitional perspective of the concept is lacking both. The history of ecotourism has been described by lindberg and mckercher 1997 and fennell 1999 described the convergent evolution of ecotourism. It must be consistent with a positive environmental ethic, fostering preferred behaviour. Nowadays, ecotourism is seen mainly as adventure tourism and carrying out extreme sports in a natural environment, with little concern for conservation or sustainable development issues. The term communitybased ecotourism takes this social dimension a stage further. Amongst stakeholders, confusion has resulted from the disparate nature of these definitions. Ecotourism definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Choosing holiday destinations that dont require air travel can be an important part of ecotourism. Definition of ecotourism in 1991the ecotourism society board of directors defined ecotourism as.
Ecotourism is now defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the wellbeing of the local people, and involves interpretation and education ties, 2015. Ecotourism has the potential to support conservation efforts, public education, and sustainable development, but more systematic evaluation is needed. Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a lowimpact and often small scale alternative to. Even though ecotourism lacks a concrete definition, there are many wellrecognized definitions. Ecotourism definition is the practice of touring natural habitats in a manner meant to minimize ecological impact. The official definition adopted by the iucn in 1996 geotourism. Geotourism is very similar to sustainable tourism and is a definition brought about by national geographic traveller the concept is the same but they focus on the sense of place in an area rather than the industrys efforts. Ecotourism refers to people travelling to natural areas with the intention of enjoying the natural beauty, conserving the environment and learning about the environment and local culture. Whale watching is a form of ecotourism as it is focused on the natural environment. It is different from traditional tourism because it allows the traveler to become educated about the areas both in terms of the physical landscape and cultural characteristics, and often provides funds for conservation and benefits the economic. A definition must clarify the descriptive and the prescriptive components of the ecotourism concept.
1288 581 1291 1088 1142 627 550 765 1423 602 973 82 503 1451 927 68 456 1128 376 369 221 596 1203 1085 110 269 295 353 1194 688 247