...of Contents INTRODUCTION 2 WHY ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS 2 WHAT MANY COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY DONE 2 INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP & ASSOCIATIONS 3 INVESTOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST VS. GROWING CUSTOMER AWARENESS 4 ECOTOURISM VS. “GREENWASHING” 6 CONCLUSION 7 WORKS CITED 8 Introduction There are an abundance of studies that show how tourism greatly impacts environmental sustainability in various ways. The purpose of this report is to explore and analyze the activities that occur in the tourism industry as a whole, which cause a negative impact on the environment. Tourism and the environment are interrelated in a complex way, with many variables. This report will address three main issues. This first issue is how the tourism industry faces a conflict of interest between investors wanting short-term return on investment and environmentally sustainable management. Second, environmental issues are often times limited to only natural environment, with a major focus on pollution, global climate change, resources consumption, and habitat/ecosystems. These issues remain very important, however, in order for effective environmentally sustainable management to take place, a broader topic of sustainability must be covered which includes dimensions of economics, equity and environment. This report will explain how ecotourism aims to address these issues. The third issue is “greenwashing.” A lack of standardization in ecotourism allows for some companies to deceive customers...
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...that aims towards sustainability alongside considering expenditure from tourists. Furthermore, it suggests a more practical set of strategies that distinguishes tourists. Gartner (1996) demonstrates how niche tourism consists of distinct interests, culture and/or activity built tourism including small proportion of tourist in authentic surroundings. Moreover, niche tourism can fall into more specific categories where cultural, environmental, rural and urban sectors are different components to consider when understanding the concept niche tourism (Robinson and Novelli, 2005). Drawing on key literature about eco-tourism planning and how ecotourism is marketed, this report studies the ecotourism prospects in Costa Rica. It also examines elements impacting this specific type of niche which considers the consistent alterations to make the destination more sustainable for tourists. This report will firstly focus on understanding the concept of ecotourism and the principles implemented. This leads on to discussion for focusing on the case study of Costa Rica and how it has developed into an ecotourism destination. Furthermore, a critical discussion of the approaches undertaken by the country will be conveyed, alongside stakeholder and partnerships that play a crucial role of the management of the destination. Finally, discussion will centre on the future directions and recommendations for Costa Rica in relation to help provide growth and become a leading ecotourism destination. Costa...
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...country economy growth. One of the earliest tourism was mass tourism; this kind of tourism did not take fully ‘sustainability’ into account. After several years, most of the countries realised that they are facing problems and issues associated with tourism industry (by the tourist and tourism entrepreneurs) either on the country’s economics, social and environment i.e. impacts that can be positive and negative. Due to this, new form of tourism emerged – sustainable tourism, as an alternative to the classic mass tourism. Concepts of Sustainability Tourism: Ecotourism After 1960, sustainability has become a commonly used term, however, the definition of term or concepts of ‘sustainable’ is ambiguous. This is due to the lack of guidelines, and some countries and researchers’ theories have different perspectives and interpretations. The notion that tourism could be “sustainable” is part of the dialogue on sustainable development. The WT0-OMT defines sustainable tourism as “sustainable tourism development meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protection and enhancing opportunities for the future. It is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems”. The concept of sustainable tourism has moved beyond the narrowly defined concepts of ecotourism to embrace all...
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...Ecotourism Essay Ecotourism involves responsible traveling to fragile, pristine and mostly protected areas. This takes place for different purposes, from educating the traveler, fostering respect for different cultures to directly benefiting the economic and political empowerment of local communities (Garana, 2008). Ideally, ecotourism incorporates the following criteria; promote biological and cultural diversity, touring unspoiled natural habitats, and the main attractions being local culture, flora and fauna. In short, ecotourism operations are defined by their commitment to the environment, education, nature and culture. The main objectives of ecotourism are providing nature-based, environmental education experiences for visitors and managing this in a sustainable manner (Badan & Bhatt, 2005). Education enables students to understand the interconnectedness of various aspects of the global environment. Ecotourism embraces cooperative education which is a structured educational strategy that integrates class work with learning through productive fieldwork experiences that for practical applications to be realized. The relationship between ecotourism and education is majorly concerned with ensuring that agencies deliver effective interpretations of cultural, environmental and resource management values (Morgan, 1999). This type of education involves explanation, stimulation, provocation, revelation and understanding in an interesting and enjoyable fashion. The main challenge...
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...An essay on ecotourism Ecotourism Essay Ecotourism involves responsible traveling to fragile, pristine and mostly protected areas. This takes place for different purposes, from educating the traveler, fostering respect for different cultures to directly benefiting the economic and political empowerment of local communities (Garana, 2008). Ideally, ecotourism incorporates the following criteria; promote biological and cultural diversity, touring unspoiled natural habitats, and the main attractions being local culture, flora and fauna. In short, ecotourism operations are defined by their commitment to the environment, education, nature and culture. The main objectives of ecotourism are providing nature-based, environmental education experiences for visitors and managing this in a sustainable manner (Badan & Bhatt, 2005). Education enables students to understand the interconnectedness of various aspects of the global environment. Ecotourism embraces cooperative education which is a structured educational strategy that integrates class work with learning through productive fieldwork experiences that for practical applications to be realized. The relationship between ecotourism and education is majorly concerned with ensuring that agencies deliver effective interpretations of cultural, environmental and resource management values (Morgan, 1999). This type of education involves explanation, stimulation, provocation, revelation and understanding in an interesting and enjoyable fashion...
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...Ecotourism should support environment preservation, because ecotourism might lead to them. There are two sides to the issue - from education on preservation of nature to concerns with environmental health and safety. Both sides of the story will be covered here. The term "ecotourism" was popularized in 1983 by Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, with the Mexican Ministry of Urban Development and Ecology, when lobbying for conservation of wetlands in northern Mexico. However some claim the term was used as far back as the middle 1960's or early 1970's by Claus-Dieter Hetzer, an academic from Berkeley who gave tours in Mexico during that time. Ecotourism really started taking off in the mid 1980's and has experienced some of the fastest growth of all sectors of the tourism industry (annually by 10-15% worldwide). With an estimated 5 million eco tourists worldwide - and growing - opportunities for expansion continue. Some of the main reasons behind the growth is the increased environmental awareness of the public and therefore an increase in the desire to visit and discover remote locations of the world. This is a type of tourism that consists of visiting fragile, pristine, and typically protected areas of the world. This type of tourism is supposed to be low impact and small scale compared with traditional tourism. The goals might be to educate the tourist, raise money for conservation, raise funds for benefit of native cultures, or raise money for human rights of local residents. Sometimes...
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...Introduction Ecotourism is an important concept that puts into consideration biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability as well as securing tangible natural resources for future generation use. According to Kiper (2013), ecotourism’s perceived potential as an effective tool for sustainable development is the main reason why developing countries are now embracing it and including it in their economic development and conservation strategies. It helps in community development by providing the alternate source of livelihood to local community. Medina (2005) explains that a criterion for sustainable tourism should include indicators of social and economic sustainability adding up to indicators of environmental sustainability. Okomu...
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...basis on which to protect local systems of innovation through granting them intellectual property rights, whenever such innovations are discovered. But what is the link between Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and eco-tourism? As discussed in this paper, ecotourism - a fairly new concept emerged in the late 1980s to provide a firm basis for sustainable tourism principles. Indeed the emergence of ecotourism - which is arguably supposed to be sustainable was necessary given that conventional tourism popularly referred to as ‘mass tourism’ was becoming unsustainable and hence leading to high negative impacts/costs than earlier thought. As a result of this the world was begging for sustainable tourism development tourism that can last and benefit future generations the way it has benefited the currents ones. It should be noted here that sustainable tourism just like sustainable development hinges on four major pillars, namely: social, economic, environmental and cultural pillars. Ecotourism being a component of sustainable tourism is therefore analysed along theses pillars in terms of how it relates with Indigenous Knowledge System in Kenya. This paper attempts to discuss the definitions and concepts related to IKS and ecotourism, then...
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...THE TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM WORLD WIDE SUSTAINBALE TOURISM – A PRELUDE: Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy. The developing countries are attempting to cash in on this expanding industry with the objective to boost their foreign investment and financial reserves. The uncontrolled growth of this industry can result in serious environmental and social problems. Organizations like the United Nations contend that such negative effects can be controlled and reduced. With the basic tenet that ‘TOURISM NEEDS TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE', the world body ( WTO- world trade organization) organized a meeting with the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. This meeting aimed at bringing together national and local governments, the tourism industry, trade unions and activist groups to articulate the principles and the road map for the goal of sustainable tourism, which is popularly known as Ecotourism. OPPORTUNITIES ON THE WALL: If we consider the International travel statistics, it is clear that in 1950, from a 25 million tourists, it grew to a billion by 2012. 1 billion international tourists traveling the world in a single year. Around 5 billion more traveled domestically within their own countries. These tourists generated over US$ 1 trillion in exports for the countries they visited, which is close to 6% of the world’s exports of goods and services, and 30% of exports if we consider services alone. One in every 12 jobs worldwide...
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...movement. African Wildlife Foundation. (n.d.). Conservation Tourism. Retrieved from http://www.awf.org/economic/conservation-tourism This article is all about appreciation of Africa’s wildlife through promoting tourism in the wildlife areas at the same time protecting the environment and enhancing the businesses in these areas. One of the challenges is that the communities believe that wildlife is a threat to their livelihoods. Because of this AWF puts an effort at making them realize the benefits of conserving wildlife. AWF’s solutions are the following: developing successful ecotourism lodges throughout Africa, preserving a critical corridor with the creation of the Manyara Ranch, creating a partnership for Sabyinyo Silverback lodge in Rwanda and providing jobs and elephant conservation with Ngoma Lodge. Wikipedia. (2013). Ecotourism. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotourism Ecotourism, according to this reading, is a sector of the tourism industry that involves responsible travel to natural areas usually remote and different from the conventional tourist...
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...Ecotourism Investment and Development Models: Donors, NGOs and Private Entrepreneurs Susan Heher smh53@cornell.edu Johnson Graduate School of Management School of Hotel Administration Cornell University December 2003 -1- 1. 1. INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND ECOTOURISM 3 7 7 8 12 15 17 17 20 22 26 27 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 39 39 42 46 55 58 61 64 70 75 77 79 81 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND ECOTOURISM COMMUNITY BASED ECOTOURISM THE SCALE OF ECOTOURISM MARKET DEMAND 2. DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FROM DONORS AND AID AGENCIES THE RISE OF DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PROJECTS OVERVIEW OF TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS AND ASSISTANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AND NGOS THE ROLE OF CONSULTANTS THE PROJECT PROCESS: ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION CONCLUSIONS 3. PRIVATE SECTOR ENTREPRENEURS AND DEVELOPERS PROFILE OF ECOTOURISM ENTREPRENEURS SOURCES OF FINANCING AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE GROWTH, PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY: THE ABILITY TO HAVE AN IMPACT CONCLUSIONS 4. 5. HYBRID: NGO VENTURE CAPITAL CASE STUDIES A. INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, IADB B. US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, USAID C. WORLD BANK: LESOTHO D. THE EUROPEAN UNION: SWAZILAND E. WORLD BANK IN SWAZILAND F. THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, TNC G. CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL, CI H. CONSERVATION CORPORATION AFRICA, CC AFRICA I. TURTLE ISLAND J. MAHO BAY K. KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, MALULEKE COMMUNITY AND MATSWANI SAFARIS 6. CONCLUSION -2- 1. Introduction...
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...86, p94). Ecotourism more than any other form of tourism depends on the environment of a destination. Of course the growth of all forms of tourism leads to modifications of the environment. Ecotourism strives to keep these modifications to a minimum. In order to do this it is important to take account of these modifications and assess what their impacts on the environment are. There are several difficulties involved in assessing the impacts of tourism on the environment. Andrew Holden in Environment and Tourism tells us there can be difficulties in establishing a base level against which to measure changes; difficulties in separating human-induced | ------------------------------------------------- Top of Form | | | | | | | | | | | | Bottom of Form | | | | | | | | | | | Eco or Not? .... What will be the environmental impacts of ecotourism if the activity is not successful in bringing about development in communities? .... (435 2 ) | | | | Ecotourism .... natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural .... However, in practice, its impacts are broader and .... Ecotourism plays a particularly important role because .... (797 3 ) | | | | Tourism .... To counter tourism 's economic, social, and environmental devistation, we must learn to .... There has been little analysis on the impacts of ecotourism. .... (1742 7 ) | | | | Hospitality Service Trend (Ecotourism) .... be helpful...
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..."Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts: * the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and * The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs." All definitions of sustainable development require that we see the world as a system—a system that connects space; and a system that connects time. All definitions of sustainable development require that we see the world as a system—a system that connects space; and a system that connects time. When you think of the world as a system over space, you grow to understand that air pollution from North America affects air quality in Asia, and that pesticides sprayed in Argentina could harm fish stocks off the coast of Australia. And when you think of the world as a system over time, you start to realize that the decisions our grandparents made about how to farm the land continue to affect agricultural practice today; and the economic policies we endorse today will have an impact on urban poverty when our children are adults. We also understand that quality of life is a system, too. It's good to be physically healthy, but what if you are poor and don't have access to education? It's good to have a secure income...
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...This article was downloaded by: [UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE LIBRARY] On: 10 May 2012, At: 20:20 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Journal of Sustainable Tourism Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rsus20 Synergies between Australian indigenous tourism and ecotourism: possibilities and problems for future development Jeremy Buultjens , Deborah Gale & Nadine Elizabeth White a a b a Regional Futures Institute, School of Commerce and Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, Australia b School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Southern Cross University, Lismore, Australia Available online: 23 Apr 2010 To cite this article: Jeremy Buultjens, Deborah Gale & Nadine Elizabeth White (2010): Synergies between Australian indigenous tourism and ecotourism: possibilities and problems for future development, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 18:4, 497-513 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669581003653518 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-andconditions This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly...
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...TOURISM SUSTAINABILITY IN KENYA Overtime, an increasing number of destinations have opened up and invested in tourism development, turning modern tourism into a key driver for socio economic progress, through the creation of jobs and enterprises, infrastructure development, and the export income earned (UNWTO2009). Tourism has become one of the major international trade categories. The overall export income generated by international tourism including passengers transport reached US$ 1.1 trillion in 2008, or US$ 3 billion a day (UNWTO2009). Tourism exports account for as much as 30% of the world’s exports of commercial services and 6% of overall exports of goods and services. Globally, as an export category, tourism ranks fourth after fuels, chemicals and automotive products. For many developing countries it is one of the main income sources and the number one export category, creating much needed employment and opportunities for development (UNWTO2009). Ecotourism and sustainable tourism development has become the catch word today. The concept of sustainability has its origins in the environmentalism that grew to prominence in the 1970s. The explicit idea of sustainable development was first highlighted by the International Union Today sustainable development has become an international catch word and its import for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN, 1980) in its World Conservation Strategy. The importance of the sustainable development in the global...
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