It was a commercial enterprise, inevitably accused of turning virgin rainforest into a Disney-style theme park. Creating a network of underground rivers accessible to visitors also required a degree of earth-moving that led to criticism.
For some there was a clear contradiction between mass tourism and environmental protection. But there were other ecologists who recognised the global travel market was expanding very rapidly and, unless they worked with it, the tourist industry would continue to throw up unsympathetic and damaging resorts beside every sandy beach. This idea of eco-tourism needed a champion and, as serendipity would have it, he turned out to be a Mexican. Hector Ceballos-Lascurain was an environmentalist working with the World Conservation Union - an architect who wanted to design a framework around which eco-tourism could be built.
Since a child, Ceballor-Lascurain had been passionate about the ecology and history of Mexico, particularly the archaeology of the pre-Hispanic cultures. He believed there had to be a way to promote, protect and profit from his country's heritage. In the early s Ceballor-Lascurain devised a definition for this new concept of eco-tourism: "Environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy, study and appreciate nature and any accompanying cultural features - both past and present , that promotes conservation, has low negative visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations.
It was a concept that appealed to the Mexican government, keen to find a way to compete with other established Caribbean holiday destinations. One minister described their regional rivals as resorts that could offer "little more than sun, beaches and good hotels". Mexico's President Ernesto Zedillo demanded his country look to its "natural, ecological and cultural resources as fundamental inputs to greater development of tourism.
For the entrepreneurs at Xcaret, the political and economic winds were blowing at their backs. The United Nations had recently stated environmental protection must be an integral part of the development process. Mexico's National Plan focused on sustainable development and even used the word "eco-tourism" to describe how to protect natural habitats and rural communities.
Spanish money built a number of large resort hotels on the Riviera Maya, promising guilt-free holidays to conscientious travellers. Many chains worked with regulatory organisations like Earth Check to demonstrate their green credentials. At the Occidental Grand Xcaret next door to the park, for example, the manager stresses how the hotel had to be built around the mature trees on the site, paths in the gardens winding crazily to avoid important flora.
To this day they help us to follow the codes that allow us to get top ratings for sustainability. Sustainable tourism operators know that reputation is key.
For almost 20 years Xcaret park has had a breeding programme for the endangered scarlet macaw, one of the most famous birds of the Yucatan.
There are now about of these fabulous creatures in the park, and dozens have been re-introduced into the wild. In some cases, tourism development exacerbates existing income inequalities within destination communities, while in others it generates new financial elites. At some ecotourism destinations, residents benefit from revenue-sharing programmes that either provide cash payments or, more commonly, funding for community projects such as well or schools.
The impacts of ecotourism depend on what ecotourism is. The critical issue is that ecotourism should involve deliberates steps to minimize impacts, through the choice of activities, equipment, location and timing, group size, education and training, and operational environmental management.
There is now quite an extensive literature on impacts such as trampling, which is easy to quantify experimentally. However, very little is known about impacts such as noise disturbance, soil and water-borne pathogens, and interference with plant and animal population dynamics and genetics, which are likely to have far greater ecological significance. They are shrugging off the shackles of traditional tourism in search of knowledge and experience.
Their interest is not in lounging by hotels pools or hectic sightseeing schedules. They are interested in visiting wilderness, national parks, and tropical forests, and in viewing birds, mammals, trees and wildflowers.
They want to experience new lifestyles and meet people with similar interests to themselves and they want to see their traveling dollars contributing toward conservation and benefiting the local economy.
Ecotourists can be generally characterized as having higher than average incomes, largely holding tertiary qualifications and there tend to be more female ecotourists than men. Ecotourists are expecting discovery and enlightenment from their ecotourism experience.
Personal growth in emotional, spiritual, as well as intellectual terms, appear to be expected outcomes from ecotourism travel for the majority of these travelers. Ecotourism organizations are the administrative or functional structures that are concerned with ecotourism.
Ecotourism organizations help into to minimize the negative impacts and maximize the positive impacts of ecotourism. These organizations can be sorted into three categories:. Ecotourism organizations, found throughout the world, play important roles ranging from grass-roots advocacy to international policymaking.
In the international arena, many different organizations address ecotourism related issues. The United Nations Development Program UNDP is another international governmental organization that deals with ecotourism, through its international development assistance programme. WTO and UNDP are just two examples of how international governmental ecotourism related organizations can play a role in making ecotourism a tool for sustainable development.
At the international level NGOs also play a role. Tourism Concern, a UK based NGO dedicated to ensuring tourism is just and sustainable form of business has worked for many years to make tourism more sustainable. The US-based TES is dedicated solely to ensuring that ecotourism is a viable tool for biodiversity conservation and community development.
Government plays an important role in the national arena. Government related ecotourism organization active at this level generally come from areas: parks management agencies, universities, tourism ministries, and environment or natural resource ministries. For example, in Kenya, much of the government related ecotourism activities at the national level is performed by the Kenya Wildlife Services KYS , a quasi-governmental organization whose mandate is the management of wildlife in the country.
Every country has their national organizations for conservation and preservation of natural resources and ecotourism. Below the national level is found regional, state and local areas for action. Ecotourism organizations play a role at each of these levels.
Queensland Tourism and Tourism Saskatchewan are two examples of state-level public sector ecotourism organizations. Eco Tourism. Critics have similarly pointed out that some ecotourism initiatives have created more problems for local people than they solve. Poorly managed programs can lead to conflicts over land and resources, unfair profit distribution, and cultural exploitation.
This is what happens when the phenomenon known as greenwashing — the disinformation disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image— rears its ugly head. True ecotourism MUST provide financial benefits to local people, whether through direct tours, admission fees, and donations or indirect means such as taxes on travel or accommodation. It generally works best when there is smaller scale, slower growth, and greater involvement by local communities in all steps of the tourism development process.
Ecotourism initiatives should always strive to support human rights, economic empowerment, and democratic movements in a given destination. In addition to increasing awareness about sociopolitical and environmental issues facing a given destination, ecotourism initiatives should support local businesses and the rights of indigenous inhabitants to control their land and assets.
This principle is arguably the most problematic and contentious. Should tour companies or travelers boycott a given destination due to human rights abuses or unfair treatment of its indigenous population?
Becoming a more responsible traveler is the best way to ensure your adventures are positive for the local people and the planet. Whe n the core principles of ecotourism are applied, it can stimulate financial growth in developing nations, strengthening the global economy. Individually, one person taking these baby steps to going green might not seem to make much of an impact.
But if we all take simple strides towards being more conscious of our choices, collectively we can m ake a world of difference. Pack items that can be washed in the sink and are quick drying so they can be worn multiple times during your trip. We recommend but do not receive compensation from the ExOfficio brand, and wear it everywhere we travel.
Take shorter showers, turn off the faucet while shaving and brushing your teeth, and re-use towels for multiple days. This will save on harsh chemical cleaning supplies and the electricity of vacuuming and washing bed linens. When we were in the Riviera Maya near Coba, we saw tons of assembly line art. But instead we wound up buying from a man who taught local children and tourists the ancient craft of Mayan pottery and distributed profits equally among families in his village.
A Guide to Eco-Friendly Accommodations. Stick to marked trails to avoid harming native flora, and consider taking a bag to pick up trash along your journey. Not only is it a great way to help keep the outdoors beautiful, but it also protects wildlife that might eat or get tangled in the garbage.
Take time to immerse yourself in the local music, art and cuisine. Embrace the cultural differences that make it unique. Get to know the locals and how they view life. You might be surprised at the things you learn when you open your mind to new ideas! Women are forbidden to show skin in some Muslim countries.
For some, being photographed in like having your soul stolen. All over the planet people sell items made from non-sustainable hardwoods, endangered species, and ancient artifacts. It may be alright in their country to sell them, but you can still vote with your wallet by refusing to buy them. But Elephants are worth 76 times more alive than dead. Other heavily poached species, such as Lions and Rhinos , have shown to be similarly valuable alive.
Ecotourism offers a long-term alternative to exploitation, generating sustainable revenue and ensuring better overall health of the ecosystem. Nature reserves and national parks help prevent deforestation and pollution, while also protecting the habitat of endemic species.
It can also help ensure the long-term financial viability of the area. Naturalist guides also help travelers understand the value of a pristine ecosystem, and teach them about the importance of conservation.
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