Defining "Ecotourism" has proven to
be a difficult task given all the different players attempting to define it. People tend to define things in terms that
are beneficial to themselves, hence the variety of definitions. There are however several workable definitions currently
in wide use.
As stated on the home page, The International Ecotourism
Society defines Ecotourism as: "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environmental and improves the
welfare of local people".
The
Australian Commission on National Ecotourism Strategy calls it: "nature-based tourism that involves education and interpretation
of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable".
Since the publication of her excellent book "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 her 7 defining points:
1)
Involves Travel to Natural Destinations: These destinations are often remote areas,
whether inhabited or uninhabitated, and are usually under some kind of environmental protection at the national, international,
communal or private level.
2) Minimizes Impact:
Tourism causes damage. Ecotourism strives to minimize the adverse effects of hotels, trails, and
other infrastructure by using either recycled materials or plentyfully 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.
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". Essential to good ecotourism are well-trained,
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 (Colombia). 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.
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.
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 it's 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 and the one that foreign operators and "partners" most often let fall through
the cracks or that they follow only partial or formally.
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, whereas ecotourism strives to be culturally respectful and have a minimal effect
on both the natural environment and the human population of a host country (Colombia). 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. (I feel this is one of many strong points, in all this, because I have a continuing relationship with
the people of this town and region for 9+ years). 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. (again,
another strong point of mine). Part of being a responsible ecotourist is learning beforehand about the local customs
(which I have done), respecting dress code and other social norms and not intruding on the community unless either invited
or as part of a well organized tour (again, another strong point of mine). I have permission by the mayor, the police
commander and the townspeople, to organize such a tour.
7) Supports Human Rights and Democratic Movements: Although
tourism often is glibly hailed as a tool for building international understanding and world peace, this does not happen automatically;
frequently in fact tourism bolsters the economies of repressive and undemocratic states. Mass tourism pays scant attention
to the political system of the host country or struggles within it, unless civil unrest spills over into attacks on tourists.
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. Although not part of The Ecotourism Society's definition, giving
economic benefits and showing cultural sensitivities to local communities cannot be separated from understanding their political
circumstances. 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.
Ecotourist 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.
For example, the campaign by the African National Congress (ANC) to isolate South Africa through a boycott of investment,
trade, sports and tourism helped bring down apartheid. Determining whether to boycott or visit a country is not always
easy. Among the questions to ask are: Does the economic growth fueled by tourism really improve the chances of human
rights being respected? Will boycotting a country harm already impoverished workers more than it will corporate or government
titans? Or are the short term economic penalties more than offset by the ultimate benefits of change? If one visits
a repressive state like China, Indonesia, Peru or Syria, it is possible to make the trip rewarding both personally and politically
by consciously learning about the country beforehand, meeting with dissidents and average folks, as well as government officials
while there; and speaking about the political climate, not just the weather after returning home (I am always in constant
communication with dissidents, average folks, and in this case the mayor and police commander of Obando; regarding the political
climate in the region).
Clearly
this is a tall order to fill for anyone claiming to run "Ecotours" and it is highly doubtful that any one project
or operator can claim to meet all these criteria (in my case, I am striving to meet as many, and have met, if not all,
these criteria). However it does give a base of ideas to work from when looking into whether or not something is
or isn't "Ecotourism". Most operations which can truly be called Ecotourism are striving to meet as many
of these criteria as possible.
Properly understood then, the emphasis is ecotourism
is on a set of principles and how to put them into practice; on what ecotourism stands for and how these standards are being
implemented.
