Current Approaches and Emergence of Ecotourism - Essay Example

Running Header: Ecotourism Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code & Name: Date of Submission: Emergence of Ecotourism Ecotourism has emerged as an important sector towards ensuring sustainable and ethical tourism and it shares many characteristics associated with adventure tourism. It takes place in unspoiled natural areas and thus it is a form of tourism that seeks to conserve the environment, educate the tourists and improve the lives of the neighboring communities. According to Johnstone (2012) ecotourism emerged in the late 1980s in response to a growing interest on environmental conservation matters. It emerged with an aim of playing the role of conserving the environment at a time when species extinctions and habitat destruction was accelerating at an alarming speed and environmentalists were creating awareness about changes in the global climate. At this time ecotourism was considered as a small –based niche product in which it was a specialized form of adventure tourism or nature based. In the early 1990s the niche concept was changed and this made ecotourism to be regarded as a form of mass tourism. The emergence of ecotourism was mostly motivated by the need of tourists to discover new animals and new plants species and at the same time to discover new environments Smith, MacLeod and Robertson (2008) note that ecotourism is the fastest growing segment in the tourism industry and it grows at a rate which is three times as compared to the other sectors in the industry. Ecotourism has gained favor because of the fact that it conserves the environment and also facilitates the channeling of economic benefits to the local community. Moreover, it has gained favor because of its ideal characteristic of promoting sustainable tourism development in the face of escalating threats to biodiversity. Furthermore, the increased concern for the global environment conservation has made ecotourism to gain worldwide favor. Therefore, ecotourism acts as a form of sustainable and it promotes environmental conservation and economic sustainability hence this has made ecotourism to gain global favour. Current approaches to ecotourism According to weaver (2007) minimalist approach and comprehensive approach represent the current approaches to ecotourism. Minimalist approach to ecotourism occurs when the focus is on charismatic approach towards ensuring sustainability. Minimalist approach fosters a superficial or basic approach in understanding of specified charismatic mega flora and mega fauna. The approach does not aim to transform the behaviors or values held but it focuses on transforming the participant’s attitudes and behaviors. The objective of minimalist approach is to employ combined environmental, socio -cultural and economic variables that fully involve the community in order to ensure sustainability in ecotourism. The approach asserts that the ability to attain environmental and social cultural sustainability requires the implementation of comprehensive options. However, using the minimalist approach may hinder the achievement of sustainability objectives. Problems can arise from the trend in the basic model to construct hierarchies in the species. This arises where certain species in the charismatic mega fauna are valued more by the approach that the other species hence this may lead to neglect of some species. Moreover, the process of observing wildlife as advocated by the approach increases the risk of diseases, social disruption and stress on human beings due to increased contact with animals. According to Black and Crabtree (2007) the comprehensive approach emphasizes on a holistic outlook on the product that incorporates the ecosystem and the associated influences from the human beings. The approach adopts a transformational learning method and it enhances sustainability by assuming an enhancement based global environmental and social cultural technique to ecotourism. Weaver (2007) emphasizes that the comprehensive approach to ecotourism can act best in upholding global sustainability by accommodating both small scale and large scale characteristics. This enables the approach to benefit from the economies of scale that arise as a result of incorporating the large scale characteristics. Development of a comprehensive ecotourism requires fostering of environmental awareness and by use of activists to influence the society. The development of a comprehensive ecotourism product requires benefits from donations and keenness to fit in volunteer activities in order to conserve the environment hence ensure sustainability. This means that the approach places reliance on donations and volunteers in order to make it to be successful. However, the main problem with the comprehensive approach is that the sustainability implications adopted by the method may not be readily attainable. Two Ecotourism Products Adventure Tours Adventure tours are part of ecotourism products. They enable tourists to discover the different attractions that are offered by a country. Adventure tours provide tourists with unique experiences and adventures. According to the Luck (2008) adventure tours are conducted in energy intensive manner and this reduces energy consumption hence reducing the emission of green house gases in the ecosystems. Furthermore, adventure tours are conducted in a way that reduces generation and discharge of waste in the in the tourist sites and this assists in protecting the marine bio diversity and local terrestrial against damage. By reducing discharges, adventure tours has adhered to the principles of ecotourism and this assists in preserving the cultural practices as well as the traditions and heritage of the local people from threats of damage. Furthermore, adventure tours have the potential of creating new jobs to the local community and this leads to the reduction of poverty. This ensures that adventure tours adhere to the ideals of ecotourism hence create sustainability in the industry. Adventure tours focus on improving efficiency in energy, waste systems and water during the tours and this necessitates the need for increased hiring of the local people, sourcing and creation of significant opportunities in the in the tourism industry which are aimed towards enhancing the natural environment and the local culture. The United Nations environmental programs (2011) notes that adventure tours present the local people with an opportunity for development as well as with an opportunity to reduce poverty. Adventure tours center at making tourism to be more sustainable hence this requires the need to create stronger linkages with the local economy in which the tours are undertaken and this acts as a means of increasing the development in the local areas. Moreover, adventure tours make the tourists to purchase from the local people and also to recruit the local people in order to assist in guiding and directing them during their adventures. This in turn makes adventure tours to adhere to the ideals of ecotourism. Additionally, adventures tours create the demand for the locals to show case their culture heritage to the tourists. Adventure tours provide an opportunity for the tourists to observe and understand different cultures and at the same time to see different cultural heritage. This demand motivates the local communities to rejuvenate and continue with their traditions and this acts as a means of enhancing their culture and thus it creates sustainable tourism which is an ideology in ecotourism. Adventure tours offer unique environments to the tourists by presenting them with new environmental scenarios. This enables adventure touring to deliver destination goals that create sustainability in tourism. Adventure tours aim at developing and identifying new destinations where the tourists can gain natural experience and this requires the government, the community and the tourism authorities to establish mechanisms for protecting areas in order to offer the tourists with new experiences (Beard, Swarbrooke & Leckie, 2012). Moreover, it requires clear requirements which include zoning and setting environmental rules so as to ensure sustainability so as to offer the tourists with new experiences. Additionally, tourism planners are forced to provide an approach for supplying and developing new adventure destinations in order to ensure that the travelers are continuously offered with new experiences. Furthermore, the government and the public sector are forced to come up with a coherent destination planning policies in order to create a sound reputation with the tourists. This means that the country is forced to brand itself by creating differentiated natural destinations where the tourists can experience natural adventure. Creating new and differentiated destination enables the countries to full fill the needs of the travelers’ and this leads to the development of sustainable tourism which is an ideal in ecotourism. The success of adventure tours has been greatly contributed by the need of tourists to see and discover new environments and sites. According to Alberta (2008) adventure tours offer tourists with an entertaining way of discovering new areas and regions hence this has in turn contributed to the success of adventure tours. Furthermore, adventure tours have been successful because of the fact that majority of travelers travel with their spouses and children. This increases the number of travelers by a significant number hence it makes the tourists to have a good experience of the adventures and this makes the product to be successful. In addition, the underlying reasons that makes tourists to undertake adventure tours is due to the fact that it offers natural environment to see and experience adventure in it and at the same time to move away from civilization and crowds. The ability of adventure tours to offer natural environment has been attributed to be cause which enhances its success. Sanctuary Retreats camps Sanctuary retreats offer guests with a unique way of gaining an insight in the ecology of natural ecosystem and at the same time they assist in conserving animals and plants that are found within the ecosystem. They offer accommodation to guests in a way that is natural and at the same time they offer a safe haven to wildlife that surrounds the sanctuary. Weaver (2012) states that sanctuary retreats protect and conserve the natural environments in which they are located. This is due to the increased need to safeguard their operating environment in order to ensure that it continuous to sustain their operations. This makes sure that the retreat sites adhere to the ideals of ecotourism. Moreover, the sanctuaries are built with maximum respect for the environment and this means that they are geared towards preserving their surrounding environments. The owners of the sanctuary retreat sites assume the responsibility of conserving the wildlife and the natural resources that surround their properties. This enables them to offer their guests with attractive and natural accommodation hence enhance ecotourism. According to Vargnani (2007) sanctuary retreat sites aim at offering their guests with lifetime holiday experiences. This requires them to show their guests the natural ecosystems that surround them as well as the magnificent wonders that characterize their operating environment. Therefore, the sanctuary retreats are forced to conserve and safeguard their operating environment hence this makes them to adhere to the the principles of ecotourism and thus ensure environmental sustainability. Weaver (2012) emphasizes that it is integral for sanctuary retreats to conserve their worlds wilderness in order for them to be successful in their operations. Great care is taken in locating the retreat camps so as to avoid harming and distressing the wildlife that may be in close proximity to them. The sanctuary retreat camps ensure that the wildlife have a right of way. Furthermore, the camps use recyclable energy in order to provide lighting in their premises. The camps also ensure efficient management of water so as to conserve it. Moreover, the sanctuary camps provide employment to the local people, help to improve the lives of the local communities and provide market for their products. This ensures that the sanctuary retreat camps adhere to the ideals of ecotourism. The success of the retreat camps can be attributed to the fact that they offer wildlife experience to their guests. Sanctuary retreat camps provide the guests with an opportunity to experience life in the wilderness hence this makes them to be successful. Additionally, guests obtain an easier opportunity to view wildlife and undertake game drives as well as carry out fishing while they are in the sanctuary camps. Furthermore, the sanctuary camps offer their guests with a privilege to go on night game drives and see animals that are rarely seen hence this makes the sanctuary camps to be successful. Potential of Ecotourism to deliver sustainable Tourism Development Sustainable tourism development meets the needs of the needs of the current tourists and at the same time it protects and enhances the opportunity for the future (Khanal & Babar, 2009). Ecotourism promotes the conservation of the cultural heritage of the local community and these acts as a means of promoting sustainable tourism. Ecotourism rejuvenates the culture and traditions of the local community and this in turn attracts tourists to come and see the cultural heritage and the tradition held by the communities. This forms a basis through which future tourists can come and enjoy seeing the traditions and culture held by the community hence ensure sustainable tourism development. Furthermore, ecotourism considers the well being of the local communities in order to ensure sustainable tourism. Ecotourism allows the local communities to offer services and products to the tourism industry so as to enable them to enjoy improved and sustainable standards of living. This acts as a tool for enhancing sustainable development in the community. Additionally, ecotourism involves group of peoples undertaking adventure tours so as to conserve energy and also to preserve as well as to enhance the ecosystem so as to ensure sustainability in tourism. Adventure touring also requires the government, the community and the private sector to come up with new and unique destinations where the tourists can visit. Developing new destination sites acts as an effective way of promoting sustainable development. In addition, the ecosystem products like sanctuary retreat camps assists in protecting and safeguarding the environment. The sanctuary retreat lodges are located in areas where they do not interrupt with the wildlife. The camps also assume the responsibility of protecting their surrounding environments hence these acts as a tool which enhances sustainable development. Ecotourism requires small number of tourists in order to control the local benefits and the carrying capacity of ecotourism sites. However, it is difficult to control and monitor the carrying capacity of different sites hence this may present a challenge in the realization of ecotourism ideals. This challenge can be solved by finding a balance in managing the tourists by considering cultural and environmental conservation, fair share on benefits to the community and political interest. Negative impacts can also arise from tourism in situations where the number of tourists exceeds the ability of the environment to support them and this can create a barrier towards the achievement of the principles of ecotourism. This problem can be solved by managing the tourists so that they do not exceed the acceptable limits hence this can ensure long term sustainability. Conclusions In conclusion, ecotourism emerged in the late 1980s due to the need to conserve the environment. Ecotourism is favored because it promotes the conservation of the local environment and also it facilitates the channeling of economic benefits to the local communities. The current approaches to ecotourism include the minimalist approach and the comprehensive approach. Minimalist approach focuses on charismatic approach towards ensuring sustainability while comprehensive approach aims to incorporate the ecosystem and the associated influences from the human beings. Furthermore, sanctuary retreat camps and adventure tours are products of ecotourism which promote environmental conservation and social development. However, failure to control the benefits of tourism and failure to control the number of tourists can create a barrier towards the achievement of ecotourism ideals. References Alberta, M.(2008). Tourism Opportunity analysis. Economic Development, 4(2), 50-74. Beard, C., Swarbrooke, J., & Leckie, S.(2012). Adventure Tourism. London:Taylor & Francis. Black, R., & Crabtree, M.(2007). Quality assurance and Certification in Ecosystem. Cambridge: CABI Ltd. Johnson, A .(2012).Tourism. London: Earthscan Luck, M.(2008). The Encyclopedia of Tourism and Recreation in Marine environment. Cambridge: CABI Ltd. Khanal, B., & Babar, T.(2009). Ecotourism for Sustainable Tourism Development. CUTs Hanoi Resource Centre, 1(1), 1-7. Smith, M., Macleod, N., & Robertson, M.(2008). Key Concepts in Tourism Studies. London: SAGE Publications. Taylor, J., Naude, G., & Ardila, S. (2008). The Economics of Ecotourism. Economic development and Cultural Change, 3(1), 1-10. United Nations Environment Programs.(2011). Combating Climate Change. Geneva: United Nations. Vargnani, L. (2007) .Eco Lodges. Life etc, 1(1), 120-123. Weaver, D.(2012). SustainableTourism. Oxford: Elsevier Ltd. Weaver, D.(2007). Comprehensive and Minimalist Dimension of Ecotourism. Annals of Tourism Reserch, 32(2), 439-455. Read More