ECOTOURISM

Why is ecotourism not promoted as a major sector of the UK tourism market?

Why is ecotourism not promoted as a major sector of the UK tourism market?

Tourism is often described as the world's largest industry and, while a small component of the overall industry, ecotourism is believed to be one of the fastest growing sub-sectors. Definitions of ecotourism are many, and have proliferated since the term was popularized in the 1980s. One consequence of multiple definitions is the associated difficulty in measuring the size of the ecotourism market; estimates range from 2 to 25 percent of all leisure travel. A second consequence is that ecotourism has been so broadly interpreted that its value as a tourism category has been questioned.

Ecotourism options range from overnight stays in remote huts made of local materials and without modern amenities to luxury stays in exclusive ecospas costing thousands of dollars per night. Activities can include bus tours of natural areas, passive bird watching or whale watching on guided tours, or active trekking and bush camping, sometimes without a guide. Regardless of definition, amenities, or activities, however, the popularity of ecotourism is reflected in a variety of ways; for example, the United Nations declared 2002 the Year of Ecotourism and The New York Times tagged ecotourism as the “buzzword of the year” for 2006.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

While there is no universally accepted definition of ecotourism, several key characteristics appear are evident, although with varying emphasis and importance attached to them. First, ecotourism occurs “in nature,” and tourists travel purposefully to areas where they can enjoy, see, and interact with nature. Second, ecotourism (and associated infrastructure) should be “low impact,” with minimal disturbance to the environment. This has implications for tour operator, service provider, and tourist behavior. Third, some portion of the profits generated from ecotourism should fund conservation efforts.

Increasingly, a small but growing number of ecotourists directly donate their time and labor to work for conservation, an activity labeled volunteer ecotourism. Fourth, ecotourism should educate both tourists and local people about nature (and its value). Fifth, ecotourism should provide economic opportunities for local communities, with the idea that these will translate into incentives to preserve nature. Finally, ecotourism development should be undertaken with respect for local cultures, and ideally with local participation in planning and management.

Generally, over time, ecotourism definitions have been expanded from an early focus on the purpose of ecotourism (to visit nature, provide educational opportunities and fund conservation) to incorporate principles of ecotourism (responsibilities for minimizing impacts, supporting local economic development and respecting local cultures). This evolution reflects a shift from descriptive definitions of ecotourism to more normative ones, and the normative emphasis reflects ecotourism's inclusion in the broader category of alternative tourism. Alternative tourism was popularized in the 1980s and 1990s, partly in response to the increasing evidence of the negative impacts of mass tourism on economies, cultures, and environments. Its concern is with the well being of host communities rather than that of the tourism ...