Definition of Ecotourism and Its Relation with Tourism - Essay Example

While conceptually sound, the practical realities are such that ecotourism remains a fundamentally flawed product: Discussion Introduction The self contradiction of ecotourism lies within the definition of Ecotourism itself. The contradiction is that the idea of ecotourism advocates for increasing ecological awareness of the tourists through the tourism in close contact of nature of nature but on the other hand the awareness itself complains the violation of the ecological balance of the environment and nature induced by the tourists (Cater, 1995). Also the concept of ecotourism does comply with the reality what it advocates for. In the saturated market of tourism ecotourism is introduced as a means of novelty to satisfy the hunger of hunger of the tourists with a view to growing awareness of the drastic environmental changes caused by global warming. But if the concept of ecotourism is compared with the ecotourism in reality, it appears, to a great extent, to be the manipulation of the consumerism of the industrial society to trap the foreign currency at home and abroad. Indeed it was initiated with the increasing concern about the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and ecology. But in order to mitigate the pressure of the scholars and the environmentalists regarding the harmful impacts of tourism on the environment, the concept of tourism ironically includes its ecological apparel that is supposed to grow the awareness of the tourists about the environmental change. Since then the concept of ecotourism is facing the dilemma of its true outline in reality, as in this regard Anja Touhino and Anne Hynoenen (2001: 1) say, “The tourism industry still feels that these definitions are unclear and that they confuse both consumers and tourism entrepreneurs. Terms related to ecotourism are often used without adequate definition and thus cause confusion, even in research” (Touhino & Hynoenen, 2001: 1). Definition of Ecotourism and Its Relation with Tourism Various scholars have defined tourism in different ways. But all these definitions are stitched together with a common thread that appears to be approach of these definitions to nature and environment. The concept of ecotourism evolved in order to mitigate the negative impact mass tourism on Environment. Therefore the evolution of the concept of ecotourism is closely related to the definition of mass tourism and tourism in general. In this regard Fennel (2003: 30) says, “Ecotourism has grown as a consequence of the dissatisfaction with conventional forms of tourism”. For Fennell (2003: 16), “ecotourism is distinct from mass tourism and various other forms of AT [alternative tourism]”. In the beginning the most accepted definitions of ecotourism always include the sustainability of nature and environment. The concept of ecotourism functions as a foil to the negative and harmful impact mass tourism on the environment. In this regard, Mowforth and Munt (1998: 139) consider ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people” (Mowforth & Munt 1998: 139). Though Weaver (2009) refers to the self contradiction within the conceptual frame of ecotourism, he tends to view it as complementary to the mass tourism industry. Weaver (2009: 104) points out the complementary function of ecotourism, “Ecotourism is widely perceived as a nature-based form of alternative tourism that embodies the virtuous traits that mass tourism supposedly lacks” (Weaver, 2009: 104). However David Weaver (2001) attempts to define ecotourism from a holistic point of view that includes the idea of sustainability both in environment and socio-cultural and economic sectors, as he says, “Ecotourism is a form of nature-based tourism that strives to be ecologically, socio-culturally, and economically sustainable while providing opportunities for appreciating and learning about the natural environment or specific elements thereof” (Weaver, 2001: 105). Characteristics and Dimension of Ecotourism The characteristics of ecotourism industry are intertwined with its nature-based objectives, functions and the consumers’ nature related demands. They are also determined by the philosophical outline of the relationship of human beings with nature. Therefore ecotourism industry endowed with the following dimensions: the demand dimension, 2. Ecological Issues, 3. the ecological Concerns of the tourist professionals and products. Consumers’ demand related dimensions often appear to be contradictory with the objectives of ecotourism. Ecotourism, as per the customers’ demand, often tends to assume the adventure dimension from its pleasure seeking one. In regard to the dimension of ecotourism Diamantis and Ladkin (1999: 40) note, “Dimensions of ecotourism includes four main components that of ecotourism that is nature-based, environmentally-educated, and sustainably-managed and distance / time”. In the first place ecotourism deals with two topics of tourism. First it takes the tourists’ interest in nature into consideration. Secondly it is concerned with the ecological balance and the environmental changes induced by the tourism related activities of human beings. The essential characteristics of ecotourism are as following: a. Nature based and Eco-cultural activities of the tourists b. Eco-cultural sustainability of the tourism industry c. Ecological awareness of the tourists about the conservation natural and cultural assets d. Inclusion Pro-environmental elements within the tourism industry e. Concern of the tourism professional within the industry to reduce the negative impacts of tourism on both environment and cultures f. Reservation and safeguarding the natural properties of the tourist spots g. Employing the community based economic activities in order for the development of socio economic status of any cultural communities. David Weaver (2001) attempts to identify the characteristics of ecotourism in terms of its ideal types, as it is in the following table: Source: Weaver, 2001: 108 The Concept of Sustainability and Practical Reality in Ecotourism The idea of sustainability is considered to be a key factor within the ecotourism industry. In ecotourism two types of sustainability are considered to the central theme tourist-environment relationship: environmental sustainability and cultural sustainability. Also economic sustainability is counted in the community based ecotourism. As to the sustainability of ecotourism Jeremy House (1997: 93) says, “Sustainability can be described as a contemporary buzz word which reflects concern, but not necessarily action to analyze and address the problem of human impacts on environments”. But the idea of sustainability can be approached in several ways. It can be approached in both ways: sustainable ecotourism and ecologically sustainable tourism. Though the two phrases regarding the sustainability of ecotourism seem to yield synonymous meanings, they deal with two different meanings of ecotourism. Sustainable ecotourism necessarily refers to the sustainability and feasibility of the entire of industry. Within the area of the sustainable ecotourism longevity of the entire system plays one of the key-roles. But the concept of the ecologically sustainable tourism significantly the pivot on the idea of a tourism system that contributes and feeds the economic and at the same time the environmental cause of the tourism industry. In order to point out the demarcation between these two closely related ideas of sustainability of ecotourism David Weaver (2001) says, “While some definitions emphasize this notion of ecological sustainability, most also include an economic or socio-cultural dimension, on the assumption that these can neither be easily divorced from each other nor from ecological sustainability”. Conceptually Sound but a Fundamentally Flawed Product: Merit and Demits of Ecotourism While ecotourism appears to be conceptually sound, a close analysis of the realities related to ecotourism can prove it, to a great extent, as a fundamentally flawed product. In context of growing awareness of the drastic environmental and ecological changes worldwide, the offers and imperatives of the ecotourism can be praised as to its attempts to raise the tourists’ awareness of the environment (Cater, 1995: 22). Ecotourism necessarily grabs the outstanding position in comparison with other forms of tourism because of its environment-friendly and other sustainable characteristics. Indeed the conceptual appeal of ecotourism lies in the following factors: First in the first place it focuses on the environment both as a means of pleasure and as a means of human survival on earth. Secondly it deals with the tourists’ learning as well as providing the pleasure of travel. Finally it deals with the concept of sustainability, as Singh (2006: 120) et al note, “In contrast with other forms of tourism, ecotourism is better geared towards sustaining the socio-cultural and natural environments. In other words, while ecological sustainability is naturally associated with ecotourism, it is also pertinent to recognize the sustainability of the socio-cultural system”. The idea of ecotourism appears to be grossly flawed to a significant extent because of the self contradiction within itself and the contradiction between the expectations and the reality. After all the term ecotourism is controversial and confusing (Cater, 1995: 22). It is contradictory in the sense that while it advocates for awareness of nature, it tends to violate the sanctity of nature by increasing misbalancing presence of human beings in ecology. Therefore the concept of sustainable ecotourism is proposed to uphold ecotourism more specifically. But according to researcher ecotourism cannot always be sustainable, as in this regard, Singh (2006: 120) et al say, “Socio-cultural and natural environments are likely to be affected due to the very nature of the activity – where the outside world interacts with the natural environment and the socio-cultural setting, leaving its footprints in both”. If the term ‘sustainability’ is peeled off from ecotourism, it appears to be some self-pleasing activities of the tourists performed during the travel. Even sustainable tourism also has some negative impacts on the environment and economy. In fact it is not consumer friendly as it imposes some restriction upon the tourists’ activities. Therefore hard type tourists who are more active will be discouraged by these restrictions of ecotourism (Weaver, 2001). Hard Ecotourism can easily turn into irresponsible activities of the tourists due to the lack of proper monitoring and supervision. In an article Orams (1995) attempts to indentify the responsibility level of the tourists and the possibility of ecotourism according to him, the responsibility level of the tourists and the possibility of ecotourism related to each other in inverse ratio. Therefore as completely responsible ecotourism is impossible, the nature has to bear the negative consequences of ecotourism to a significant extent. As it is evident in the following table: Merits and Demerits of Ecotourism Ecotourism has both positive and negative impacts on ecotourism. If proper steps for monitoring and supervision are taken the positive impacts can be enhanced relatively. But comparatively negative impacts of ecotourism are overwhelming. The positive impacts are as following: a. Increase awareness and knowledge of wildlife, environment and ecological balance b. Increase awareness of the local people of the protection of wild life, rare species of floras and faunas c. Improve socioeconomic condition of the communities around the tourists spots d. Improve employment possibilities for the locals e. Increase cultural awareness of both the local and the tourists f. Development of living standard and improved healthcare g. Improvement of the education of the local The negative impacts of ecotourism are as following: a. Environment pollution by the tourists b. Disturbance of the seclusion of wild life, habitat destruction c. Threat to the rare species of flora and fauna, alteration of hunter-prey relationship d. Soil erosion and soil compaction e. Drastic change in population f. Changes of cultural and religious values of the native people g. Changes of native language h. Spread of HIV/AIDS and health problems for local people i. Increasing Crimes scopes for international criminal gang j. Insecure economic condition due to the seasonality of jobs k. Increasing chemical waste disposal by the tourists Conclusion The concept of ecotourism first started its journey several decades ago in the field of tourism. Regarding the origin of ecotourism in an article, ‘Anthropology and ecotourism in European wetlands’ Andrew Russel notes (2007: 226), “Ecotourism as a term has its origins in the 1980s and 1990s as an alternative to the negative social, economic and environmental effects of ‘mass tourism”. Though in the beginning the idea of ecotourism has been appreciated highly, the negative impacts and self-contradiction of ecotourism prove it, though not completely, to be a flawed idea to a great extent. References Cater, E. (1995). Environmental contradictions in sustainable tourism. The Geographical Journal, 161(1), 21-28. Diamantis, D. and Ladkin, A. (1999) The Links between sustainable tourism and ecotourism: A definitional and operational perspective. The Journal of Tourism Study. 10(2): 35-46 Fennel, A. D. (2003) Ecotourism: An Introduction. London: Routledge House, J. (1997). Redefining Sustainability: A Structural Approach to Sustainable Tourism. In M.J. Stabler (ed.), Tourism and Sustainability. Principles to Practice. CAB International, Oxon and New York, 89-107. Mowforth, M. & Munt, I. (1998). Tourism and Sustainability – new tourism in the Third World, Routledge: London. Orams, M.B. (1995a). Towards a more desirable form of ecotourism. Tourism Management, 16(1), 3-8. Russell, A. (2007) Anthropology and ecotourism in European wetlands: Bubbles, babies and bathwater. Tourist Studies. 7(225), 225-244 Singh, T., Slotkin, M. H. and Vamosi, R. A. (2007) Attitude towards ecotourism and environmental advocacy: Profiling the dimensions of sustainability. Journal of Vacation Marketing 2007; 13; 119 Touhino, A. and Hynoenen, A. (2001) Ecotourism – imagery and reality. Reflections on Concepts and Practises in Finnish Rural Tourism. Internet. http://www.matkailu.org/jarvimatkailu/pdf/anja_Ecotourism.pdf. Accessed 01/11/2009 Weaver, D. B. (2001) Ecotourism as Mass Tourism: Contradiction or Reality?. Cornel Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly. 42(104): 104-112 Read More