ES295 Study Guide - Final Guide: Adventure Travel, Sustainable Tourism, Ecotourism
11 Jun 2018
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ES295 - EcoTourism
Module 1
Ecotourism
• Involves the observation and appreciation of wildlife and other aspects of natural environment while minimizing the
related ecological or sociocultural costs
Mergence of Ecotourism
• Ecotourism existed as both a concept and a practice long before the coinage of the term in the mid-s
• Elizabeth Boo put the first definition of tourism and is was:
o Tourism that consist of traveling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific
objective of studying and admiring the scenery as well as the cultural manifestations found in these areas.
Jafari 4 phases of tourism
• Mass tourism era
• ’s ad ’s was the advocacy platform
o tourism was regarded as an ideal activity that resulted In many positive consequences for destination (few
negative)
o Benefits
▪ Revenue, employment, indirect revenue, employment multiplier effect, history, stimulation of
development
• Early ’s the cautioary platfor
o Negative consequence of laissez faire mass tourism became more evident
o Tourism eventually results in net negative consequences for destinations unless careful regulations are put
in place
o Direct and indirect revenue flows to weak economies, these are eroded by leakages related to imports
o Inter-cultural conflict is a problem in mass tourism
o Butles S ue
▪ Destination begins in the exploration stage
▪ Involvement stage
▪ Development (where environmental and sociocultural thresholds exceeded) this leads to stagnation
and decline
▪ Rejuvenation
• Adaptacy Platfor ’s (table on page 5)
o Close to cautionary platform
o Efforts to propose and implement tourism options that are more positive outcomes for destinations
o (Alternative tourism)
▪ early forms include home stays, cultural villages, vacation farms (no focus on natural environment)
▪ where the emergence of ecotourism i s ae out
o Alternative and mass tourism seen as ideal types
o B s thee as a ealizatio that alteatie touis ould ee e oe the a loalized solutio
• Knowledge Based Platform
o Emergence of the sustainable development paradigm, takes ito osideatio a destiatios
environmental and sociocultural carrying capacity.
o Can be alternative or mass tourism
Definitions from pages 6 to 8
Criteria
▪ Blamey had three core criteria of ecotourism
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2
o A dominant nature-based element in the attractions (descriptive)
o An educational or learning component (Value)
o A requirement of sustainability (Value)
▪ Tourism (bracket on page 9)
o Leisure/holidays, business, or friends
o Leisure holidays and education are what qualify the ecotourism
o Tourism involves a spatial component
o Further differentiated on basis of time
4 categories of tourists
▪ Domestic Excursionist
o Travel to a destination within country
▪ Domestic stayovers
o Stay a min of one night
▪ International Stayover
▪ International excursionist
o Cruise ships
Ecotourism
▪ Focuses on some specific component of the ecosystem
▪ Elemental approach, the ecotourist is more interested in a rare species of flora than the broader ecosystem
o Charismatic Megafauna
▪ Dolphins, pandas, eagles, lions
▪ Mammals, then birds, reptiles and invertebrae (in order) of popularity
o Megaflora involves plants and trees
o Megaliths involve volcanoes, escarpments, and caves
Associated cultural Component
▪ Ceballos-Lascurain
o Secondary role of cultural attractions
▪ Very difficult to differentiate between the cultural and natural components of the land (indigenous cultures that have
lived on the lands for millennia)
▪ Some Ecotourists want to receive a highly structured interpretation of the product
o May come from live expert commentary, signage
▪ Some ecotourist want the informal interpretation by simply observing the nature
▪ Another dimension of learning is motivational, and considers the degree to which the ecotourist wants to be
immersed in the product
o Shallow end (participant satisfied with simple entertaining info)
o Deep end (broad understanding that may go beyond the focal ecosystem, climate change & globalization)
Pre-experience interpretation is important as it influences the decision to visit particular destinations
On site interpretations
▪ Self-guided walks
▪ Car tours
▪ Walking tours with commentary
▪ Tundra buggies
▪ Cableways, submarines
o Interpretation centers can provide a substitute for actual exposure to attraction and reduces negative impact
on the environment
Effective interpretation on page 13 points (bottom)
Sustainability
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3
▪ Sustainable development
o Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs’
▪ Closely linked to the knowledge based platform
o Accommodates the sustaining of the environment as well as continued development
Environment and socioculture
▪ Ecotourism should be locally oriented so it benefits the residents
Status quo sustainability or enhancement sustainability
▪ Status quo: objective is to maintain
▪ Enhancement sustainability is done when the environment must experience a new benefit as a result of
ecotourism
Monitoring and Implementation Issues
▪ What extent should operators be responsible for the indirect and induced effects of ecotourism
▪ How far and long effects be considered
▪ Cause and effect relationships
▪ There is no standard indicator for measuring the sustainability of the ecotourism
▪ Short term budgets sometimes inhibit the long term projects
Financial Viability
▪ Some operations are managed on a non-profit basis, and financial viability
▪ Most operations will go out of business if they are not financially sustainable
▪ This consideration focuses on consumer satisfaction as a means of ensuring revenue flow through repeat patronage
and positive word-of mouth advertising
ECOTOURISM DEFINITION OF TEXTBOOK
▪ Form of tourism that fosters learning experiences and appreciation of the natural environment. It is managed in
accordance with industry best practice to attain environmentally and sociocultural sustainable outcomes as well as
financial viability
o Form of tourism
o Attractions nature based, but includes cultural resources
o Education and learning outcomes fostered
o Managed so environmental and sociocultural sustainability outcomes are more likely achieved
o Importance of financial viability recognized
Minimalist ecotourism
▪ Shallow or superficial learning opportunities in conjunction with wildlife, and sustainability objectives that are status
quo
Comprehensive ecotourism
▪ Focuses on entire ecosystem
▪ Encourages deep learning, as well as behavior transformation
▪ Enhancement sustainability approach
Nature based tourism
▪ Tourism that relies on attractions directly related to the natural environment.
o 3 s tourism (Sun, sea, sand)
o ecotourism is a subset of this
o wildlife tourism
o captive tourism (aquariums, zoological parks)
o extractive tourism (hunting and fishing)
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Document Summary
Involves the observation and appreciation of wildlife and other aspects of natural environment while minimizing the related ecological or sociocultural costs. Inter-cultural conflict is a problem in mass tourism: butle(cid:396)(cid:859)s s (cid:272)u(cid:396)(cid:448)e, destination begins in the exploration stage, development (where environmental and sociocultural thresholds exceeded) this leads to stagnation. Criteria: blamey had three core criteria of ecotourism, a dominant nature-based element in the attractions (descriptive, an educational or learning component (value, a requirement of sustainability (value) Tourism (bracket on page 9: leisure/holidays, business, or friends, leisure holidays and education are what qualify the ecotourism, tourism involves a spatial component, further differentiated on basis of time. 4 categories of tourists: domestic excursionist, travel to a destination within country, domestic stayovers, stay a min of one night. Associated cultural component: ceballos-lascurain, secondary role of cultural attractions, very difficult to differentiate between the cultural and natural components of the land (indigenous cultures that have lived on the lands for millennia)
