Eco-Tourism in China - Essay Example

Major project: Wenhai Ecolodge Case Study Introduction For most people, China is always in the headlines for pollution and environmental protests given that it is the leading emitter of Carbon Dioxide or CO2 gases (Sebag-Montefiore n.p). As a result of its high level of pollutants, China is has 70% of its rivers and lakes contaminated and for a long time, these factors have prevented China from using “Green” as a selling point for promoting tourism. However, the situation in Chinese tourism is changing especially owing to adoption of laws that are opening up the nation to the rest of the world. As a result, millions of visitors globally are invading the nation to view its unique natural environments and promote the spectacular views available in Asia. In addition, China has also identified and defined an agency or China National Tourism Administration or CNTA to take charge of promoting tourism both nationally and internationally and this has been effective in promoting tourism awareness locally and internationally. Like the world, China is has taken up ecotourism which encourages travelers to walk calmly or give back to the communities and environments that they visit. In China, 2009 became the ecotourism year as designated by CNTA, where travelers were encouraged to exercise green travelling and experience eco-evolution. Although the aspect of ecotourism has remained amongst Chinese people and the world for long, CNTA is actively engaged in promoting eco-tourism in China as a free arrangement of tourism, environmental preservation and bridging cultural understanding. Consequently, tourists are not just visitors but also people who actively fight to preserve the setting (Ruan). In China, regardless of the favorable conditions required for ecotourism like plenty of biodiversity and beauty, the extent of success in ecotourism development is limited but the future is brighter in the presence of CNTA agency in promoting ecotourism it attracts visitors to Asia with the aim of leaving positive impact. In this case travelers are not just involved in looking through the window of a tour bus but getting muddy under your finger nails thereby experiencing a place by involving in the issues in that place. Scope In order to explore eco-tourism in China, the discussion in this paper focuses on one ecotourism site named Wenhai Ecolodge as one of the eco-tourism venues in the Southwestern region of China. The rationale for studying Wenhai Ecolodge is the fact that it is the first of Chinese “Green Resorts”(Fodors Travel n.p). It is located near Lake Wenhai and this contributes to the resort’ uniqueness since this lake is seasonal and is only present between July and March. Wenhai Resort in the Southwest of China has large variety of fauna since the lake is home to black-necked cranes, numerous duck varieties, and black stokes. In addition, this venue offers a good hiking environment given the presence of a valley and the opportunity to view scarce plants and animals like winter Wren and giant laughing thrush. For nature lovers, this venue is fascinating with a gorgeous setting (Fodors Travel n.p). Definition and criteria for meriting the ‘Ecolodge’ label According to Keough (65-66), ecotourism involves environmentally conscientious travel in ordinary area to enjoy and understand nature while promoting conservation and sustainability, and improving the wellbeing of the locals. Towards the promotion of ecotourism, it is apparent that the aim is to promote minimum impact on the environment, and economic and social benefits. Keough (65) further outlines the principles of ecotourism to include sustainable benefits to neighboring communities; promotion of cultural sensitivity and awareness; encouraging local communities participation in decision-making; and education for both the local communities and travellers. In addition, ecotourism supports the conservastion efforts of and financially benefits and empowers local communities, and conscientious, low-impact visitor behavior. It is this attributes of ecotourism that prompt agencies like CNTA to keenly suppliment increased tourism in sensitive natural areas with appropriate planning and management such that there is no threat on the integrity of the existing ecosystems and local cultures(Luck and Kirstges x). Besides degradation of the environment, visitors’ increase in ecologically sensitive areas could promote overdependence on tourism. According to Luck and Kirstges (x), an ecolodge is a nature-dependent tourist lodge that operates under the guidance of ecotourism. In this regard, the establishment and management of ecolodge observes environment sensitivity and protects the evironment where it operates. Additionally, is defined by the qualit of the surrounding environment in terms cultural and natural attractions. This way, an ecolodge manages to offer visitors the chance to remain in close contact with nature. Keough (66) summarizes the criteria for meriting an ecolodge using several attributes which include contribution towards conservation of the area’s flora and fauna; collaboratively working with local community; offering initiatives aimed at educating both employees and local communities regarding the immediate cultural and natural environment; and ensuring minimum impact on the environment during after construction. In addition, Ecolodge work towards rhyming within the physical and cultural contexts uses local architecture, form, landscaping, and color; contributing towards sustainable development of local communalities via education and research programs; and observing water preservation, using passive designs, and ancient building materials and technology. Wenhai Ecolodge location in Southwestern China Wenhai eco-lodge is located in Yunnan Province in the Southwest of China. Yunnan ranks among the poorest regions with a burdening large population and low per capita GDP. However, the region possesses abundant cultural and biological diversities including the enormous variety of wild flora and fauna in China. The region also contains 25 of the country’s 56 ethnic minority groups. The lodge is owned by a cooperative of 56 families within Wenhai village. These families acquired, refurbished, and staff the Ecolodge offering rural cuisine in a ritualistic courtyard. Wenhai is a refurbished log house whose roofs are sloping and windows have hand-curved frames. The place is equipped with solar panels, water purifiers, biogas equipment, and a greenhouse. These features prove that despite being a small-scale ecotourism can thrive, that tourism profits can help improve and conserve the Wenhai Lake area, where indefensible agriculture and illegitimate logging threaten the sustainability of the forest around (Singer n.p). The Wenhai Ecolodge project is one of a kind and the Ecotourism Program in China for Nature Conservancy sponsors it. Since Yunnan’s geography supports three of China’s greatest rivers, Yangtze, Mekong, and Salween, the Ecolodge encourages trekking. Visitors to this venue can take three-day hike down to Tiger Leaping Gorge through a complicated, constricted path that does not allow the use of vehicles. For those with difficulties in trekking, waiting at the patio offers a sight of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountains in form of a cluster of 13 peaks at 18,467 feet above. Classification Wenhai as an Ecolodge Given the criteria for categorizing Ecolodge, Wenhai Ecolodge in the Himalayas foothills is a legally recognized Ecolodge under two criteria. First, the Ecolodge uses ancient building technology and materials where possible. The traditional building aspects are combined with modern building technology and materials where sustainability is needed even more. The location of the building in which the Ecolodge remained was through donated funds from the University of California Davis/Yunnan Academy of Social sciences project financed by Ford Foundation. Before the closure of the conservancy, Nature conservancy and the government of Japan issued grant assistance that covered all grant assistance programs for Grassroot projects. In order to fit the lodge to its surrounding, the building comprised of traditional materials and since the traditional materials designed in a manner that reflects architecture in the area. The Wenhai Ecolodge comprised of a dining area with two lodge buildings, a dining area, and a bathhouse. These buildings enclose the central courtyard with a greenhouse lying adjacent to the front wall and resembling a typical Naxi home combining dark wooden walls with white ones. Current condition of Wenhai Ecolodge Despite the prominent nature of ecotourism and its contribution to changing the social and economic dynamics of small mountain communities, much input requirement is essential towards the management of community based Ecolodge. Ecolodge are common in nations like Brazil, Kenya, Canada, China and Switzerland as well as Australia. Community Ecolodge in China is a very prominent and Wenhai Ecolodge together with Gyalthang are perfect examples. (Flournoy 1). Within the past years, Wenhai Ecolodge had retained the position of a cogent example of modern day and future successful developments of sustainable tourism destination in China. This destination located in Yunnan province benefited from the regions diversity in ethnicity, geographical, and biological aspects that make is a uniquely attractive destination for tourists. For instance, 2006 reported tourist revenue amounting to $6.2 billion that accounted for 12.5% GDP. The Northern part of Yunnan is also one of UNESCO’s world Heritage Site and this gives more reason for tourists to want to visit it. However, the Wenhai Lodge is currently not operational given the lack of proper industry management system. The main reason is that although tourism resources ownership and management is by the Chinese government, decision makers lack full information and awareness of sustainable tourism. Consequently, local governments only offer support in the promotion of the tourism industry for economic gains but offers not support in tourism project management. Further, government investment measures are only relevant depending on the profitability but not the market mechanisms and relevant laws and policies that bind government involvement in promoting tourism (Liburd, Jack and Edwards 10). According to Flournoy (3), one of the factors attributed to the success of community run Ecolodge is the presence of a well laid down Ecolodge management since giving the Ecolodge to the community will depend on the management plan to drive the Ecolodge to survival. In addition, the successful running of an Ecolodge will require close contact between the community and the original NGO after project completion and handing over to the local communities. Close contact results to continued development of effective planning and provision of solutions to any arising problems. Lack of close contact between the Ecolodge initiating NGO and Wenhai owners led to communication and information gaps that lost track of changes in Wenhai thereby altering the course of the Ecolodge. At Wenhai, some families ceased their participation in the Ecolodge management, which then contributed to lack of profitability and absence of green sustainability in the Ecolodge. As a result, the Wenhai Ecolodge currently does not qualify as an Ecolodge that is working towards sustainability or environmental education program. However, the Ecolodge remains a good example of how a community managed Ecolodge can take place. besides poor management, Wenhai Ecolodge has not attained optimal management owing to tourists, employers and employees multiple misconceptions of eco policies like non-polluting or non-smoking requirements within the lodge and numerous tourists a do not observe these regulations and laws intended against pollution and environmental degradation by China’s tourism industry. The tourism industry compared to other sectors requires less initial investment and generates high abrupt profitability, which contributes to the misperception those tourism resources as being inexhaustible and with capability for perpetual utilization. As a result, most of the tourism resources investments do not take into account sustainable planning and no development measures put in place hence promoting misuse. A good example is Wenhai Ecolodge where sustainability has been misused and unmanaged tourism activities experienced in the recent past. The demise of mismanagement of tourism resource like Wenhai Ecolodge is attributable to lack of professional education and training of the industry constituents such that the right education background or training experience is available to guarantee tourism sustainability. In addition, education is essential for tourists to enable them to recognize their role in environment protection by proper litter disposal. The need to revive and preserve Wenhai Ecolodge According to Keough (66), numerous environmental issues faced by the Wenhai area promote the need for conservation project in the area. As a result, the Wenhai Ecolodge is timely and effective decision. First, the Wenhai region experiences a great problem of tree cutting and logging which has led to clear-cut hillsides. Without any environment conservation plans, the result is the continued instances of commercial logging and charcoal burning for local use and for sale. For the villagers, these practices result to economic and energy gains at the expense of creating a sustainable environment. Deforestation results to environmental degradation that promotes soil erosion and deposition of soil and other minerals into Wenhai Lake. Deforestation at Wenhai region can be attributed to the fact that the region lacks alternative means of supporting their livelihoods. With the presence of the Ecolodge, Wenhai residents receive employment, environmental awareness concepts that will minimize negative impacts on the environment, and provide direct monetary benefits for the conservancy and funds to promote conservation of the Lake and the forest around it. In addition, the presence of the Ecolodge will demonstrate support for human rights and democratic movements. In addition to tree cutting, the local residents around Wenhai region live among at least 164 birds’ species with some considered to be endangered or under threat of extinction. Interaction with birds is common especially during rainy seasons when the birds get to the lake and feed upon the crops of the residents of the villages in both the upper and lower neighbors of the lake. For the farmers, invasion by birds result to reduction in crop yields as well as the farmers’ income. For some of the farmers where birds invaded their crops, it is difficult to feed their families. With the presence of Wenhai Ecolodge, some of the conflicts between humans and the environment had been resolved like the provision of additional source of income for residents thus promoting less reliance on charcoal sale and increased dependence on income from crops. In addition, the presence of NGOs like Nature Conservancy led to the promotion of fuel efficiency stoves for most households in the area and this offers alternative energy sources unlike firewood and charcoal. The result is the use protection of flora and fauna in the region. The lodge also introduced the use of biogas fuel obtained from human and animal organic wastes that are subjected to fermentation to produce methane gas for use in the kitchen. In order to conserve the Wenhai water resource, the Ecolodge had a waste recycler that recycles water from the Ecolodge’s sinks and bathrooms before draining that water into the lake while the greenhouse served as a source of food used in the Ecolodge throughout the year. The Ecolodge also promoted the use of solar energy to heat water for use in the venue showers and for cooking while the villagers used the surplus energy produced. Finally, the recent energy conservation investment involved the renovation of doors and windows in the Ecolodge and rooms paneling intended at improving energy conservation. This aligns with the criteria that Ecolodge satisfies energy needs through their passive design and the use of renewable energy. Recommendation for improving Wenhai Ecolodge Education Wenhai Ecolodge falls short of education criterion and the result is language barrier between the Nazis and most tourists. Most of the Wenhai Ecolodge visitors are of western origin while very few fluently speak Chinese. Conversely, no one working in the lodge or living in the village had learnt using English (Flournoy 6). This language barrier links to negatives like lack of answers to questions regarding the posters giving directions in the lodge. As a result, visitors do not have proper understanding of the lodge or the Wenhai region itself. Additionally, the language barrier contributes to most questions regarding the lodge remaining unanswered. Additionally, the type of community education programs are questionable given that only informational posters are available just for the initial community and staff training but not for continued maintenance of the project. CNTA, in its promotion of tourism, should offer guidance policies that promote language acquisition by the Nazis such that language barriers do not prevent proper promotion and understanding of the area by visitors (Keough 5-7). In addition, sufficient information about the area including maps and other information should be available and accessible whenever needed. Besides education, the territory of the Wenhai Ecolodge needs definition and demarcation to reduce the impact of human and environment conflict. This is the case especially given that deforestation is causing destruction on land so close to the lodge and compromising the environment sustainability goal of the lodge. The Ecolodge territory might comprise of the lake, the Ecolodge itself, and extending to the village. With the territory clearly defined, compensation for the villagers’ crops lost to birds can be through the income obtained from the lodge. Promote Wenhai Ecolodge outside an ecotourist bubble Ecotourist bubble definition includes the aspect of ecotourism that isolates visitors from selected elements of culture or location under visit. Additionally, the ‘ecotourist bubble’ downplays the negative impact instilled on the environment like fuel usage and carbon monoxide emission (Keough 6-8). Nature Conservancy should work hand in hand with the government to ensure that there are clearly defined regulations of how to conduct self within the Ecolodge territory while protecting the environment at whatever cost. There should be continued education for the staff, villagers and tourists on how to preserve the environment and contribute to its sustainability. Conclusion Wenhai Ecolodge is a clear indication that local communities that are aware of the tourism resources in their area can work to preserve these resources. The Ecolodge is a crucial pace setter that demonstrates how local communities can benefit from ecotourism. Some benefits presented to the community by Wenhai Ecolodge include promoting environmental awareness, reduction of negative impacts to the environment, provision of direct funds to the conservation, offering funds for local community empowerment, and promotion of local culture and human rights. A visit to Wenhai Ecolodge opens up the beautiful scenery in China’s remote areas and a place where democratically elected board of directors functions within the communist China governed by power-hungry officials. With the current situation of mismanagement in the Ecolodge, CNTA should use it a case study to obtain relevant lessons for improving management in current and future Ecolodge. In addition, relevant education is required to inform Wenhai Ecolodge managers how to run the resource sustainably, and education to employees on foreign languages in order to ease communication with western tourists who are form the largest percentage if visitors. The Ecolodge is a useful resource to the Chinese government and the local communities both in terms of income and environment preservation. Works Cited Flournoy, Camille. Greening a community: Ecotourism witha Yunnan Twist. Memo. China: China Trip, 2012. Fodors Travel. Southwestern China Hotels: Wenhai Ecolodge. 2014. 3 July 2014. . Keough, Sara, Beth. "The Wenhai Ecolodge: A Case Study of Culture and Environment in Southwest China." Focus on Geography 53.2 (2010): 65-72. Liburd, Janne, et al. Innovation for sustainable tourism: International Case Studies. Australia: Heinemann, 2007. Luck, Micheal and Torsten Kirstges. Global ecotourism policies and case studies : perspectives and constraints. Clevedon: Channel View Publications, 2003. Ruan, Charlene. "Ecotourism: A new perspective." January 2009. 2 July 2014. Sebag-Montefiore, Clarissa. Chinas green shoots of ecotourism. 16 November 2012. 2 July 2014. Singer, Natasha. Wenhai Ecolodge. 1 March 2003. 3 July 2014. . Read More