Effective Environmental Impact Management through Ecotourism

The arna has seen the growth of tourism increase dramatically in the past fifty dollar bill years and with this growth comes a concern for the ethnic and environsal bear ons associated with it. Ecotourism is the immature breed of tourism establish around the apprehension of re regurgitateation and cultural appreciation, espo employ by numerous to bring signifi dismisst scotch benefits to the host countries as rise up as universe a sustainable substitutenative to celestial horizon tourism. The aim of this paper is to polish up the publications that focuses on the environmental imp motions of ecotourism. This leave behind be achieved by dint of the discussion of five recognize aras.First, the multitude of comments cont play ecotourism permit be examined with a view to identifying the core concepts. Second, the come upon players intricate in the ecotourism industry will be determine. Third, the substantiative and ban impacts associated with ecotourism wil l be discussed. Fourth, the contributing factors that de calline the aim of environmental impact. Fifth, the coming(prenominal) of ecotourism and how it send word be managed. Finally, conclusions and recommendations for future research.World tourism is growing in foothold of piece of travellers as well as in economic elaborateness (World Tourism Organisation (W. T. O), 1997) and as the humanitys largest industry (Nelson, 1993) it earns approximately $US 2. 5 trillion yearbookly (Dearden, 1993). Tourism takes on many different guises and reputation-tourism is bingle of these, which, in its most sustainable form has been label direct ecotourism. Within the planetary tourism industry ecotourism is nonp aril of the fastest growing sectors (Eagles, 1995) and agree to a 2001 W. T. O and United Nations Environment Programme capability ecotourism may fabricate betwixt two and four percent of global tourism (W. T. O, 1997).Although this is a relatively small percentage sha rgon it is non the volume that is meaning(a) but the fact that it is a type of tourism that attempts to minimise the negative cause of traditional mass tourism, be these economic, social or environmental (Doan, 2000). There has been a proliferation of ecotourism-related articles in professional journals since the late 1980s (Sirakaya, 1999) and cod to the expansive nature of ecotourism the literary works covers a multitude of topics. It is for this reason that for the social occasion of this paper I live with focused on the journals that are concerned fussyly with the environmental impacts of ecotourism.These journals take the form of definition articles (Edwards, 1998 Sirakaya, 1999 Fennel, 2000), articles on particular role studies (Burton, 1998 Doan, 2000 Thomlinson, 1996 Obua, 1997 Nianyong, 2001 Chin, 2000), and articles on impact related aspects from overmuch of a option commit of view (Beaumont, 2001 Tyler, 1999 Acott, 1998). particle 1 Defining the Concept of Ecotourism forward even off beginning to identify what environmental impacts ecotourism is having on the environment it is grave to clarify the concept of what it is.The problems of defining ecotourism wealthy person been debated at continuance (Blamey, 1997), and on that point is a tremendous amount of literature exploring the definitions of ecotourism. It can be detect that Ceballos-Lascurain (1983) was one of the first population to provide a working definition (Sirakaya, 1999 Thomlinson, 1996 Edwards, 1998 Fennel, 2001). His definition was normative and he kick uped that ecotourism incorporates the thoughts of travelling to relatively unswayed ingrained areas with the objective of enjoying and admiring the areas indispensable and cultural manifestations.From that period on the definitions came to include the notion of ecological sustainability and that ecotourism should provide economic benefits for local people, as well as provide monetary resource for conservat ion of the visited areas ( snort, 1990 Lindberg and Hawkins, 1993 Tyler, 1996). Researchers from the field of biological research bleed to focus chief(prenominal)ly on the environmental aspects of the definition (Tyler, 1999 Nianyong, 2001 Acott et al. , 1998) when using the boundary ecotourism in their research papers.While others deliver not included a definition of what they consider ecotourism to stand for (Obua, 1997 Burton, 1998), suggesting that people reading articles in the tourism journals are assumed to have a bun in the oven a comprehensive earning of what the term ecotourism operator. In the recent years research focusing on the definitions of ecotourism have been performed through substance analysis of pre-existing definitions, one such being by Sirakaya (1999) who looked at it from a supply side view and identified whether tour-operators in the Americas viewed themselves in fit with their own ecotourism definitions and policies.These definitions to a faultk a normative and corroboratory viewpoint that can in like manner be seen in Fennels (2001) article. He withal used a content analysis method and incorporated the concept of definition alterations over time as well as differentiating between definitions provided by politics and individuals (researchers) mainly in the Americas. Perhaps the most everlasting(a) study of definitions was undertaken by Edwards et al (1998), who conducted a content analysis of the ecotourism policies diligent by the government agencies of all the countries in the Americas.All these content analyses provide a fresh insight into the definition of ecotourism although they are biased receivable to the fact that they use very few definitions provided by researchers and governments step to the foreside of the Americas. A commonly cited definition that I think encapsulates the main findings of the three content analysis studies previously described (Sirakaya, 1999 Fennels, 2001 Edwards et al. , 1998) is one that originated from the Ecotourism Society (1993), and for the purpose of this review is the definition I shall be using. It is-Purposeful travel to intrinsic areas to understand the cultural and natural history of the environment, taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, while producing opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local citizens. Section 2 Identification of the Key Players in the Ecotourism Industry In this segmentation I will identify four different themes who have key office staffs to play in the ecotourism industry the communities residing in the host ecotourism ground/area, the phaetons, the tour operators, and the government agencies.All of the above groups are interconnected and uphold each other and in turn effect the environmental impact on ecotourism destinations, this will be discussed further in section four. The literature only provides very fleeting references into the nature of the communities that are take uped by ecotourism. The main way that local communities would appear to get involved in the ecotourism industry is through being employed in the local tourist activities.Be it through building accommodation (Obua, 1997), guiding (Chin et al. , 2000), or by being involved in local conservation projects (Nianyong, 2001). even even descriptions of these activities are very minimal and so will not be addressed further in this review. On a general take aim of description near the tourist group the authors tend to refer to them as eco-tourists (Beumont, 2001 Acott, 1998), and they are observed to be mainly westerners (Chin et al. , 2000).It is agreed that all eco-tourists have the underlying wish to travel to natural areas with a view to appreciating the beneficial environment (Tyler, 1999 Beumont, 2001 Acott, 1998) and within this concept is the discussion in the literature concerning the spectrum of nature ground tourists (Burton, 1998). Beumont (2001) identified a ran ge of different types of nature innovationd travellers by suggesting that each eco-tourist is unique in terms of their knowledge of the nature and attitude towards it.This idea can be seen in a ab kayoed different guise in Acotts (1998) research which takes a much much phenomenological approach and segments eco-tourists into sh give up and deep groups. Shallow eco-tourists are of an anthropocentric frame of mind in that they view humans as separate from nature and that nature is an doer that serves human ends. Deep eco-tourists adopt a much more holistic view of the world and view humans to be intrinsically linked with the environment.Burton (1998) identifies these differing types as casual and dedicated eco-tourists with dedicated ones having higher expectations in terms of the quality of the ecotourism scram. Eco-tourism as a increase is delivered by the ecotour operators and companies (Thomlinson, 1996). They characteristically have the parent employment located in the bas e country (predominantly western) who prepare nature tour packages and then aline with the other half of their business in the destination country (Higgins, 1996). The mass are small- casing operations (Blamey, 1995 McArthur, 1994).This enables the operators to practice environmentally obligated practices and to reassure high quality experiences for the tourists (Burton 1998 Thomlinson, 1996). In compliance with the definition of ecotourism ecotour operators i leasely should act in an environmentally responsible manner to that extent many researchers suggest that they are masquerading as ecotour companies and use the term ecotourism as a selling tool (Nianyong, 2001 Thomlinson, 1996 Beaumont, 2001 Burton, 1998).With respect to government agencies involvement and attitudes towards ecotourism the content analysis study conducted by Edwards et al. 1998) provides the most comprehensive insight into their agendas. As well as this empirical study the literature identifies them as pl aying an important role in the management of the ecotourism industry with them being the creators of the policies which control the exploitation of natural areas (Nianyong, 2001 Chin et al. , 2000 Beaumont, 2001 Burton, 1998). This is especially true when the ecotourism activities take place in field of study parks as designated by governments (Obua, 1997 Nianyong, 2001 Woodward, 1996).The influence they have on environmental impact management will be discussed further in section 4. Section 3 The Positive and Negative Environmental Impacts. The positive environmental impacts are essentially in pass benefits that are derived from educating tourists on environmental issues, and providing economic benefits for the destination country/area to aid in conservation of their natural resources. With respect to issue of education Beumont (1998) cites the writings of Boo (1991) and Goudberg et al. 1991) who argue that ecotourism provides environmental education or interpretation for participa nts which in turn creates awareness and pinch of the natural environment therefore creating support for conservation.This idea is supported by Chin et al. (2000 31) whose qualitative study based around a questionnaire absolute by 210 eco-tourists who visited Bako national park in Borneo. It showed that 90% of respondents indicated the importance of nurture about nature as part of their experience, suggesting that visitors to Bako would be highly candid to educational strategies. It is the ecotour operators who are essentially the main providers of the environmental education and Blamey (1995) notes that ecotour operators in Australia primarily set up their businesses because of their personal interest in the environment. economic benefits derived from ecotourism and that positively impact the environment take a progeny of forms. Boo (1990) argues that ecotourism can stimulate the economy and in turn generate direct funding for conservation.An example of this is where Doan (200 0) cites Wells (1993) who talks about mountaineering fees that are being used for the cleanup of Sagmarth National Park in Nepal, and has led to increased ecological quality. An indirect environmental benefit derived from ecotourism is that it provides an alternative to more damaging types of industry (Thomlinson, 1996). This can be seen in a case study (Obua, 1997) where forest ecotourism was introduced in the Kibale National Park as a sustainable industry instead of ruining the environment through logging.The definition provided by the Ecotourism Society suggests that ecotourism should not alter the integrity of the ecosystem, yet as Tyler and Dangerfield (1999) argue almost any level of human exploitation has impacts on an ecosystem. His qualitative research took the viewpoint of resource management, the resource being the ecosystems that are exploited by ecotourism, and points out that most of the ecosytems that are visited have real independently of human interaction and have to adapt rapidly to deal with the human incursion, depending on the level of human disturbance.Tyler (1999) does point out that naval environments are particularly susceptible to the cultivation of ecotourism, a topic researched at length by Mason (1998) who, through the use of a qualitative research tool assessed the potential effects on two ocean environments and found that predominantly negative biophysical effects occurred due to development of ecotourism. A study on forest degradation due to ecotourism (Obua, 1997) was the only quantifiable research on the subject of environmental impact that was found in the literature.Perhaps an area for future research? Other environmental impacts of ecotourism sketch in the literature take the form of general comments about how brute behaviour is disrupted with particular reference to altered eating habits (Burger, 1998 Tyler, 1999 Thomlinson, 1996). pollution created in the forms of rubbish as well as water and vehicle pollution wh ich is besides mentioned in the literature (Mason, 1998 Chin et al. , 2000 Nianyong, 2001) as well as damage done to vegetation due to trampling.An indirect environmental impact that is discussed in some depth by Burton (1998) and to a lesser extent Beaumont (2001) is the fact that most eco-tourists have the expectation of appreciating the natural environment without the presence of large poesy of people. This has led to the exploitation of previously untouched area in an attempt to provide ecotourists with quality experiences. Section 4 Determining the level of Environmental Impact In the literature one of the biggest debates is whether eco-tourism leads to mass-tourism and its associated environmental problems (Beaumont, 2001 Doan, 2000 Mason, 1998 Obua, 1997).Even if it does not lead to fully-fledged mass-tourism it agreed throughout the literature that an increase in visitors to sensitive natural environments causes an increase in associated environmental impacts. Discussion o n at what point the number of tourists is too much for a destination focuses on the concept of carrying aptitude (Doan, 2000 Thomlinson, 1996). This is the theoretical margin to the number of tourists that an area can sustain without deleterious effects (Boo, 1990).They also refer to Butlers life cycle model and Burton (1998) cites Thomlinsons (1996) empirical evidence, and argues that once the number of tourists reach a certain level then ecotourism turns into mass-tourism. So as described, the number of tourists converging on a destination is a key factor on the level of environmental impact, yet what factors contribute to the differing verse of ecotourists? A common idea in the literature is the attitudes of the governing bodies towards the development of ecotourism sites (Thomlinson, 1996 Obua, 1997 Chin et al. 2000 Nianyong, 2001). A common theme is that governments have been tempted by the panorama of making a quick buck, and therefore do not put in place policies limiting exploitation of their countries natural resources, and policies limiting numbers of tourists. Although one country that has minimised environmental impacts through limiting the number of western tourists is Bhutan (Brunet, 2001), yet not totally as they still allow an straight-out number of Indians to cross their borders, a policy controlled by the governmentNianyong (2001) also illustrates that governments should be instrumental in helping to develop environmentally responsible policies within their country as well as providing funds for research. Yet in the case of Nianyongs research which was a survey conducted in China, he points out that a lot of ecotourism destinations are in the third world, this is can be seen in the way that most of the case studies on ecotourism are based in the third world. These host countries cant afford to provide funds for appropriate ecotourism development, a point corroborated by Chin et al. 2000) whose study was based in Malaysia. Yet paradoxical ly authorities were responsible for increasing the number of eco-tourists to the Bako national park in 1988 through tourism promotion. Chin et al. (2000) suggests that this was drive by economic interests. The next area of discussion focuses on how eco-tour operators affect the level of environmental impact that ecotourism destinations experience. As previously mentioned it is suggested that eco-tour operators are solely exploiting the concept of ecotourism by using it as a marketing tool.Burton (1998) cites a number of researchers who suggest that surveys indicate that a large number of eco-tour operators cannot be considered to act in an environmentally responsible manner (Botrill and Pearce, 1995 Weiler, 1992 Holden & Kealy, 1996 Jones, 1993). This obviously has austere implications for the level of environmental impact and in Belize supposedly ecotourism companies have destruct large swaths of mangrove swamps in order to develop luxury bungalows (Thomlinson, 1996).to a fault although most eco-tour operators are small businesses there are so many of them they can negatively impact the environment through a cumulative effect (Thomlinson, 1996 Beaumont, 2001). As illustrated the number of ecotourists descending upon an area is one of the main factors determining the level of environmental impact Yet there are references in the literature that point out that it is the innate attitude of the unquestionable eco-tourist towards pro-environmental causes that plays an important part in the level of environmental impact that ecotourism destinations experience (Acott, 1998 Chin et al. 2000 Beaumont, 2001). Acott (1998) who discusses ecotourism in terms of shallow and deep differentiates different types of eco-tourists in terms of the level to what extent they pursue environmentally sustainable lifestyles. He uses the example of a low impact eco-traveller who stays in very basic accommodation and pursues a minimal impact experience compared to a large group of bi rd watchers staying in a luxury hotel with the expectation of a westernised ecotourism experience.Section 5 The Future of Ecotourism The focus of this section is to identify the numerous variables correlate with the success of ecotourism as a sustainable option for the future, and the recommendations documented in the literature to ensure the long-term success of ecotourism. As it is recognised that large numbers of tourists have detrimental affects on the environment, many of the researchers talk about limiting visitor numbers (Burton, 1998 Thomlinson, 1996 Nianyong, 2001 Chin et al. 2000). Yet how many is too many? Tyler (1999) and to a lesser extent Doan (2000) suggest that the resource base (the ecotourism destination) as an ecosystem needs to be considered primarily, and to define saleable products that will have an absorbable impact. In relation to actually controlling the number of visitors it is in the main agreed that government tourism agencies are ones who have the powe r to impose these controls.Thomlinson (1996) suggests that infrastructure should be extra thus discouraging large scale tours, this was actually achieved in Bako National Park Malaysia, whereby the authorities decided not to build a main road into the park and only allow tourists access to the park via river boats. Nianyong (2001) also suggests that operators wishing to establish ecotourism businesses in national parks should have to obtain licenses thereby maintaining the integrity of the industry.There are also suggestions that as ecotourism is subsequently all a business, causing small eco-tour operators (who have less of an impact on the evironment) being forced out of the market by larger operators. These larger operators are seen to be the tip edge of mass tourism and achieve greater profits through economies of scale (Burton, 1998, Thomlinson, 1996). Therefore they argue that government agencies need to promote and perchance subsidise the smaller operatives and restrict the growth of larger operators.Yet the focus that exists with governments, especially in third world countries, is that they lack funds and by limiting the number tourists they are limiting the economic benefits provided by the ecotourism industry. These government agencies have to realise that although increase in visitor numbers means greater profits, eco-tourists want to experience nature without being crowded by other humans (Burton, 1998). Boo (1990 96) noted in reference to the environmental effects of ecotourism that tourism, if not managed properly, can destroy tourism.The issue of educating eco-tourists is the other implicit in(p) tool that can be used in maintaining the sustainability of ecotourism. By creating positive attitudes towards environmental preservation amongst tourists it fosters awareness about the future implications of ecotourism amongst the very people who are the consumers of the product, and who directly impact the environment they are visiting. Fortun ately harmonize to Sirakayas (1999) research according to tour operators, ecotourism also includes involvement in after travel to inspire personal responsibility.The raises the point addressed at length by Beaumont (2001) that it is the responsibility of the eco-tour operators to provide quality education to the tourists. Nianyong (2001) also points out that local communities in the host destination need to be improve and involved and encouraged to participate in environmental conservation. A point only briefly touched upon in other articles. Section 6 Conlusion Five lines of enquiry were discussed, each focusing on different aspects. However, these aspects are highly interconnected.The first section outlined how research into the definitions of ecotourism had mainly been qualitative. belatedly however the research has tended to be functionalist in nature with quantitative studies employing content analysis techniques as a means to attempt to settle the definition debate. I observ ed definite core themes in the research yet felt as did the most recent researchers did that pinpointing an exact definition was act of futility, due to the global nature of ecotourism.Yet the definition I used at the bottom of section 1 provided the basis of reference for the age of the review. In the second and third section the research findings illustrated the interconnectedness of the key players in the ecotourism industry and the effects they are having as a tout ensemble on the environment. The articles that were found to provide the best insight into the detailed effects of what environmental impacts ecotourism has on host countries were found in Case get word articles, where various regions were examined in depth.Although a problem with these case studies was that they were slightly limited in that they all examined ecotourism activities in national parks. I would suggest future research that focuses on areas that are not national parks, but which do accommodate ecotouri sm, one such place being Kodaikanal in gray India, a place where as an ecotourist myself, inspired this review. There was also a distinct lack of detailed quantitative research of a geographic nature into environmental impacts, yet research of this nature is inherently knotty due to the complex nature of ecosystems.Section four and five viewed ecotourism and its capacity to minimise environmental damage in the context of the bigger picture by pulling together the previous sections. The literature acknowledged that ecotourism is a business after all and that market forces as with nearly everything in this world are driving factors behind whether ecotourism is a success or not in the future. Yet it can be seen just through observant the recent initiation of new journals such as the Journal of sustainable Tourism that there is concern for the well-being the environment, especially with the dramatic annual growth of tourism.Therefore research into the ecotourism industry will almost surely continue apace. This is fortunate as Tyler (1999) points out there are a multitude of dimensions and paradigms associated with ecotourism research, ranging from philosophy to ecological economics. To conclude, the future of ecotourism is an uncertain one. Negative environmental impacts have definitely been observed, although in other areas where effective policies have been utilize the environment has apparently not suffered and the sustainability of the industry is assured.There is evidence that supports the system that ecotourism leads to mass tourism and its associated problems. Yet, I would observe that the commonality amongst all these issues is that geographical location causes the differing variables associated with ecotourism development and is the deciding factor as to whether ecotourism can be implemented successfully to protect the environment. This is where further research should be order enabling future ecotourism planners to have a reference point according to their global location.