Ecotourism industry - Essay Example

?Assignment Two of Project Number: Department 0 Project Nature walk has become a universal trend in the ecotourism industry. The project seeks to espouse Nature Walk as the ecotourism activity within the Tropical forest biome. The activity has considerable benefits to the locals from the social and economic viewpoints. Venice, Florida, is the place of implementing the action (Alexander 2013). Generally, nature walk opens up the area for positive interactions and dealings with the neighbourhoods. Inhabitants will particularly find prime chance to watch amazing beaches, fruit farms, waterfalls, rivers, and the vegetation cover. Nature Walk will further embrace tourists emanating from different parts of Florida and beyond its borders. Besides, the activity would help visitors discover and learn the cultural values and practices of the locals from different outlooks (Alexander 2013). Significance of Nature Walk to ecotourism and humanity is the critical aspect the project seeks to accentuate. According to the proposal, hospitality and tourism units of Venice city will play pivotal role in arranging and managing series of nature walks for different categories of people. First, the unit will accord residents and their families the opportunity to watch and feel the splendour of nature of Venice together with its neighbourhoods (Alexander 2013). All the revenues collected from the tourists and inhabitants shall assist in maintenance and repair of various ecotourism facilities as well as construction of advanced hanging bridges, pathways, eatery and boats. The array of activities that characterize nature walk will provide significant back up to environmental conservation and management policy (Alexander 2013). 2.0 Overview of Environmental Impacts Nature Walk and related activities have momentous impact on the environment and nature conservation approach. The negative impacts of nature walk include the following: i. Might result to destruction of wildlife habitation Such activity might contribute to widespread destruction of animals’ habitats. It is imperative to clear a part of the vegetation to pave way for establishment of pathways for tourists and residents. Since the activity contributes to destruction of certain habitats belonging to certain animals, birds, microorganisms in the soil among others, it is important that size and frequency of the pathways be regulated. Adults and even children taking part in the nature walk might accidentally cause fires in forests. Sometimes, they spill chemical substance in water hence putting at risk the lives of certain animals and aquatic life (Davis & Davis 2011). ii. Killing of wild animals Individuals who take participate in this activity might resort to killing or inflicting serious injuries on wild animals they come across for fear of their own security. Although the measure seeks to give assurance to participants of their safety and security, it is a threat to wildlife just like unauthorized hunting and poaching (Davis & Davis 2011). Rampant killing of certain rare species of animals might render such species becoming extinct. iii. A hindrance to wildlife movements Nature Walk will compromise unrestricted movements within the ecosystem. In the process, some animal species will migrate from the forest or water body as they scamper for safety. Killing of wild animals will further scare away such animals, which would then mean they are confined to their habitats for much longer period (Davis & Davis 2011). The higher the population of participants during the nature walk the more the animals get restricted to their habitats. iv. May lead to pollution of air, water and soil Careless fires, decomposing food items and chemical substances are a threat to the surrounding. 3.0 Environmental Benefits of Project Apart from the negative effects, nature walk result to a number of benefits to the environment. These include: Nature walk as an ecotourism activity will the locals realize the significance of conserving nature. The economic and social benefits that come along with nature walk will motivate inhabitants of Venice to reconsider their discernment and sensitivity towards the surrounding as well as the area geography (Emerson, Thoreau & Nason 2012). Adults and children alike will acquire adequate knowledge and familiarity as far as natural resources are concerned. In particular, children find a rare chance to learn more about certain animals, tree species, and the aquatic life. Nature Walk promotes educational element of experience The ensuing effects of polluting air, water bodies and soil, destruction of forests, and killing of wild animals would highlight the fundamental reasons behind universal campaign to conserve the ecosystem and the surrounding in general. Nature walk is an alternative to conservation and protection plans to the ecosystem Whenever the residents and tourists participate in this noble activity, they come to learn and acknowledge the underlying benefits due to environmental and natural resource conservation. For instance, they realize how medicinal certain plants or animals could be. Furthermore, the locals will be in a better position to evaluate social and economic benefits of their own ecosystem (Emerson, Thoreau & Nason 2012). 4.0 Social and Economic Benefits and Impacts Nature walk has both social and economic benefits attached to it. Through nature walk, people learn about culture and traditions of other members of the population. It is also a source of income because tourists and inhabitants taking part in the walk might part with certain amount, which would be in turn useful to the process of improving the conditions of natural resources and wildlife (Farr 2012). Moreover, nature walk improves immune system of participants. It further improves self-esteem and confidence. It also helps in advancing cognitive function and brain activity. In certain occasions, an organization might sponsor the activity. Thus, the revenues obtained from such sponsor or sponsors might be used to conserve the ecosystem as well as improve the standards of living of the inhabitants of Venice. Nature walk conducted within the ecosystem is critical to understanding and appreciating disciplines or specialties such as geography, bionetwork and ecology (Farr 2012). 5.0 Mitigation and Monitoring Program Although nature walk is universally acceptable and tolerable as a way of alleviating depression and anxiety, it has dire consequences to the environment particularly from ecotourism point of view. It is necessary that the ecosystem management authority put in place stringent measures against those participants who engage in activities, which might lead to destruction of vegetation, wildlife, or aquatic life (Fennell 2007). Abolishing poaching and gathering during nature walk would substantially assist in the reduction of avoidable deaths to the wildlife. In addition, participants in the nature walk must be banned from carrying food items or chemicals to forests or water bodies as such measure will help minimize pollution to water, air and soil. Orderly movements inside the ecosystem will help avoid unnecessary destruction to the vegetation, pathways, bridges, or beaches (Fennell 2007). 6.0 Marketing Plan i. Market Analysis Target Market: Local community and tourists from different parts of Florida and beyond are the target participants of nature walk in the Venice region of Florida. The underlying factor of the activity is to promote domestic tourism and conservation of the ecosystem. Competitors: The competitors are diverse cutting across various states and countries lying within the Tropical Forest biome. Venice will step up activities such as nature walk with the primary objective of fostering local and international appreciation of its ecosystems (Fennell 2007). Market Environment: Nature walk will facilitate economic activities mainly in hospitality and tourism sectors. Economic factors: Nature walk that involves the local and foreign participants will help to open up Venice ecosystems to international attention and admiration thereby resulting to positive feedback to the economic development of the region. Social factors: The activity promotes cultural and educational exchange. Technological factors: The region might employ advanced forms of technology to enhance accessibility and awareness about its amazing ecosystems. ii. Marketing Strategies The organization must select a more viable marketing strategy to facilitate the development of the region’s ecosystem through adequate funding through sponsorships among other sources (Kirkland 2005). Conclusion Although nature walk contributes less towards the development of hospitality and tourism sectors, an effectual strategy ensures society acknowledges the importance of ecosystem to humankind. People get to know the benefits of forests, rivers, streams, and beaches when they explore such resources. Besides, there are varied economic values attached to vegetation, wild animals and water bodies. Finally, it is necessary to reiterate the role of hospitality and tourism units of Venice city in arranging and managing series of nature walks for different groups of individuals. First, the unit will accord residents plus their families a chance to watch and feel the magnificence of the scenery of Venice as well as its neighbourhoods. References Alexander, Mike. Management Planning for Nature Conservation: A Theoretical Basis and Practical Guide. Heidelberg: Springer, 2013. Internet resource. Davis, R., & Davis, H. (2011). Atlanta walks: A comprehensive guide to walking, running, and bicycling the area's scenic and historic locales. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers. Emerson, R. W., Thoreau, H. D., & Nason, T. W. (2012). Nature. Boston: Beacon Press. Farr, D. (2012). Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design With Nature. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Fennell, David A. Ecotourism: An Introduction. London: Routledge, 2007. Print. Kirkland, Jane. Take a City Nature Walk. Lionville, Pa: Stillwater Pub, 2005. Print. O'Keefe, M. T. (2009). Hiking central Florida: A guide to 30 great walking and hiking adventures. Guilford, Conn: FalconGuides. Read More