Ecotourism

A Practical Guide for Rural Communities

S Beeton

• Publisher: Landlinks Press
• Year: 1998
• Print ISBN: 9780643063594
• eBook ISBN: 9780643102941
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Agribusiness
• Index: Business

Tourism, with its niche element of ecotourism, is one of Australia's fastest growing industries, overtaking the traditional export items of coal, wheat and wool in export earnings.

This book covers everything a person needs to think about before venturing into the ecotourism market. It explains what ecotourism is and who the ecotourists are. It describes how to work with the local community and the local environment, highlighting some of the constraints and pitfalls. It explains what is needed to make a successful venture work - and how to make it pay.

1 What is Ecotourism?

Introduction

The term “ecotourism” has already been referred to a few times, but what does it mean? The term was first used by Hector Ceballos-Lascurain in Mexico in 1988, and since then much heated debate has occurred about what it should mean and how it is actually being used by tourism operators. Some tourism operators use the word “ecotourism” purely as a marketing and advertising tool without offering their customers any type of environmental experience. The debate, which will probably continue in academic circles for ever, makes a great essay topic for students. However, there is some general agreement on the elements of ecotourism, of which there are three main ones:

1. Ecotourism is nature-based (occurs in a natural setting)

2. It is educative

3. It is managed in a sustainable manner

These elements will be examined in more detail in later chapters, but a brief overview is provided here to introduce these important concepts.

1 Nature-Based

This is the “eco” (ecological, not economic) element of ecotourism, and is really self-explanatory. Without some reference to nature and the environment, a tourism operation could not be considered ecological. “Nature-based” refers to both the flora and fauna of an area, and can be associated with environments that have been modified by man. For example, on a farm where parts of the land are being restored to some form of “natural environment”, by for example, restoring eroded river banks, this work could be regarded as nature-based. While the main reason for the work may be economic and agricultural, the attendant environmental benefits could become part of an ecotourism product.

Not all nature-based tourism is regarded as ecotourism — it must also include the other two elements, education and sustainability.

2 Education and Interpretation

With the increased interest in (and number of) nature-based documentaries on television and in other parts of the media, as well as a shift in education towards the environment, many people are becoming more socially and environmentally aware. As tourists travel more widely, they are becoming more adventurous and more questioning about what they see. Many people want tourism experiences where they are provided with information that helps them to understand the places they visit.

It is no longer possible to ferry tourists around in a bus, with a few obligatory photo stops, without providing other information. They are interested in what they see and want to know more, not only about the natural environment, but also about indigenous heritage and cultural aspects of the region. Ecotourism plays a particular role in this area, with the provision of information and other learning opportunities being integral to the product, not an afterthought.

However, this educational component must still be provided in an interesting manner — after all, the ecotourist is on a holiday. Many operators include personal knowledge, employ specialists as required (such as botanists, biologists etc) and carry a good reference library that they and their guests can use.

3 Sustainable Management

All tourism, not just ecotourism, should be handled in an environmentally sustainable manner. Apart from considerations about our responsibility towards the future of the planet, we are responsible for the future of our tourism businesses — if we destroy the natural attractions and environment that people came to experience, they will go elsewhere.

Sustainable management means managing the physical stresses on the environment, such as the number of people and the way they behave, by introducing minimal impact techniques of waste disposal and minimisation, and minimisation of energy use. Issues related to souveniring items and interfering with wildlife are also part of sustainable management. Some tourism operators have developed creative solutions to resolve some of these difficult problems and this area is covered in some detail in Chapters 4 and 5.

However, sustainability refers not only to the natural environment. Those involved in ecotourism recognise the need for local communities to benefit from tourism, and the aim to sustain the well-being (both culturally and financially) of local people is an important aspect of the ecotourism philosophy. This can be achieved by purchasing goods and services locally and employing as many local staff as possible, as well as through personal financial and time commitments. For example, an ecotourism operator may be on the local tourism association board, chamber of commerce, scout group, land care group, or provide money or physical services to conservation and other community projects.

Practising What They Preach

Award-winning New Zealand ecotourism operator, Catlins Wildlife Trackers Ecotours, takes its conservation commitments seriously. While on tours, guides make wildlife observations, trap predators and remove weeds. They also run a series of workshops that focus on practical ways to assist in a specific area, such as rare plant restoration and conservation, and penguin conservation. These are working holidays where guests provide their services to specific programs on a voluntary basis. By offering practical assistance the company is able to support local conservation programs in a way that is also interesting to their clients.

As well ill commercial ecotour operators. volunteer environmental groups such as the Australian and New Zealand Scientific Exploration Society, the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers, and Earthwatch, also run scientific expeditions. Their contact details are in Appendix Three.

A relatively simple definition of ecotourism that covers all the aspects outlined above has been adopted by the Ecotourism Association of Australia:

“Ecotourism is ecologically sustainable tourism that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.”

Many academic papers look at other definitions and complexities. If you are interested in more information on the search for a definition of ecotourism, some papers are listed in the References.

While researching the tourism industry, you will come across references to other types of tourism, such as rural tourism, nature-based tourism, farm tourism, adventure tourism, industrial tourism, indigenous tourism, cultural tourism and so on. It can be confusing working out where ecotourism fits in to the picture, but basically it is part of the broader rural or nature-based tourism industry. Also included in the rural and nature-based area would be farm tourism and adventure tourism (and possibly indigenous tourism), elements of which can be incorporated into ecotourism. The main difference between ecotourism and other types of tourism that are based in the natural environment is the educational aspect and its associated ethical stand of supporting and encouraging ongoing conservation and direct benefits to the local community.

So, if you are thinking about starting any other type of tourism enterprise (such as adventure or farmstay) this book will still be useful as many of the areas covered here will be relevant and transferable to your enterprise. The concept of ecological sustainability is not just for ecotourism — all tourism must be sustainable, both ecologically, socially and economically.

How Big is Ecotourism?

As part of the overall tourism industry, ecotourism is regarded as a niche enterprise that caters for particular interests of certain tourists. It has only been recognised as a separate form of tourism for the past ten years, so it is certainly not as old as, say, cultural tours of Europe. Although it is still relatively small in numbers, it shows a higher rate of growth than any other tourism niche market.

The emergence of a “conservation ethic” in most western societies has encouraged the development and growth of ecotourism. Although statistics on ecotourism are not easy to obtain, the world Tourism Organisation predicts that by 2000 most of the increase in worldwide tourism will come from active, nature and culture-related travel, while other reports indicate a 25–30 per cent growth in nature-based tourism (with tourism in general growing at around 7–8 per cent). In Australia the number of international visitors from 1989 to 1994 undertaking a bushwalk increased by 60 per cent, and the number who went on a safari tour increased by 70 per cent. Although this growth comes from a relatively small base, it certainly indicates a fantastic potential.

In 1995 Australia had 600 identified ecotourism operators, employing the equivalent of 4,500 full-time staff. These businesses had a combined annual turnover of $250 million, and their growth is expected to double by 2000.

Types of Ecotourism Development

Regardless of where or how they are travelling, tourists need to be accommodated, whether it be in commercial accommodation or with friends and relatives (known as VFR — visiting friends and relatives). An enormous range of tourist accommodation can be incorporated into an ecotourism product:

• eco-resorts (medium to large scale)
• purpose-built campsites, both permanent and semi-permanent
• caravan parks
• bed and breakfast (B&Bs)
• lodge/backpacker hostels
• guest houses
• farmstays
• huts/cabins
• marinas
• house boats
• yachts
• cruising vessels

As well as utilising existing natural resources such as those found in national parks, ecotourism projects can also create attractions, such as:

• sanctuaries (can be privately as well as publicly owned and managed)
• aquariums and zoos (not all these are “eco”)
• education, information and interpretation centres
• outdoor museums providing natural as well as cultural heritage Considerable infrastructure may be required to run an ecotour, such as:
• boardwalks
• look-outs
• hardened pathways, steps
• barbeque and picnic facilities
• pontoons/anchor points
• restaurants and cafes
• signage
• interpretation centres
• toilet facilities
• car parking facilities

Local councils and land management agencies provide much...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Contents
• Introduction
• 1 What is Ecotourism?
• 2 What is an Ecotourist?
• 3 Working with the Local Community
• 4 Working in the Environment.
• 5 Working with the Environment
• 6 Making it Work
• 7 Making it Pay
• References and Further Reading.
• Appendix 1: Codes of Practice and Tips for Operators
• Appendix 2: Sample Business Plan for ”Ecotours Pty Ltd”
• Appendix 3: Contacts