Eco-tourism and the Benefits of Host Community



Eco-tourism and the Benefits of Host Community

Introduction

A South-western state of India, Kerala has evolved into an important and recognized destination for tourism attracting tourists from all over the world. The expansion of the industry is attributed to connecting experience of tourism with nature. This linkage of tourism with nature is known as ecotourism. It is a form of nature-oriented tourism based on more sustainable practices that suggest a lower environmental impact than conventional mass tourism. It offers nature-based adventure and environmental education and interest at destinations that are considered ecologically intact (Sebastian and Rajagopalan, 2009). At the same time, ecotourism emphasizes a more responsible form of travel that is more sustainable, operates under a higher ecological and cultural awareness, and offers a higher benefit to local income and employment opportunities. Unlike other forms of travel, community-based ecotourism can be distinguished by its emphasis on conservation, the traveller's responsibility, education and participation active in the community, and a conservation approach environment (Pleumorom, 2001).

Discussion

The Impacts of Community-Based Ecotourism on the Environment

Ecotourism has a potentially less adverse effect on local culture than conventional mass tourism, and even a positive effect on some communities. Cultural appropriateness in interactions with the local population and a higher cultural awareness are easier to learn in smaller-scale ecotourism operations. Overall, ecotourism represents a significant opportunity for economic growth in rural communities because of its preference for remote destinations with little prior industrial activity. The small-scale nature of ecotourism makes local start-up businesses a viable option. Locally owned ecotourism operations can contribute to the income opportunities of the local population more effectively and make the local community socioeconomically stronger, thus contributing to local sustainability and poverty reduction. This may also have positive indirect effects such as capacity building or local empowerment.

A related critical point is the frontier-seeking nature of ecotourism. Ecotourism is fairly limited to a number of exquisite destinations with pristine nature, exotic cultural traditions, and overall unexplored locations that are perceived as “untouched.” Most areas in the world are either too close to industrial activity and human settlements, affecting the aesthetic view and nature-seeking experience, and other areas are too remote and lack transportation access to make ecotourism economically viable. Places that show a successful ecotourism development may also be considered potential candidates for further tourism development on a larger scale, attracting more external investors and tourists. Ecotourism is therefore sometimes considered a pioneer stage of tourism, as it may lead to new infrastructure and diversified mass tourism. When this occurs, ecotourism will tend to move on to new destinations, repeating the process.

The Characteristics of Community-Based Ecotourism

Faced with threats against biodiversity of ecosystems and the development of mass tourism and other forms of tourism is not properly planned and managed, community-based ecotourism, niche market, but still growing, therefore arises as a means to reduce environmental impacts and indeed, in some aspects, to promote protection of natural and cultural resources whose attractiveness is fundamental to the success of the tourism industry ...