Transcript Document

Geo 302 - 11.03.02
 Tourism development trends
 Ecotourism
 Case from Costa Rica:
 Tortuguero, ”the ecotourism
prototype”
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… almost 400 million arrivals in 1999
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World Tourism
Organization
 http://www.world-tourism.org/
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Tourism in Developing
Countries
The many kinds of tourism:
 “Sun & Sand” etc. (mass tourism)
 Nature Tourism
 Adventure Tourism of many kinds
 Cultural Tourism
 Green Tourism
 Responsible Tourism
 Sustainable Tourism
 Ecotourism (“ecology / ecological tourism”)
 = priority sector in very many developing
countries
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Tourism in Developing
Countries
Tourisme & development, economic &
local, systematic typologies:
 Individual, Mass tourism
 “Informal”, “Formal” or Unorganised, Organised
 Pioneer, ”Backpackers”
 = ”anti-tourists”….?
 “Sandal tourist” / “Bubble tourist”
 = ???
 Typical turist destination development: TALC
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TALC - Tourist Area Life Cycle Model
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What is ecotourism?
”...While the details vary,
most definitions of
ecotourism
boil down to a special form of
tourism
that meets three criteria:
1) it provides for
conservation measures
2) it includes meaningful
community participation
and
3) it is profitable and can
sustain itself. …. ”
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What is ecotourism?
 Strictly defined "ecotourism" is relatively
low-impact group travel packages or tours
to destinations in nature;
 "adventure travel" may be individuals or
groups engaged in a consumer activity
associated with the outdoors: not
necessarily environmentally sensitive or
ecologically sound.
 One might speak of "true ecotourism" or
"false ecotourism" ("greenwashing").
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What is ecotourism?
 ”Sustainable tourism”:
 the most all-encompassing term for the cultural,
environmental... and fiscal, responsibility of the
tourism industry as a whole.
 Sustainable tourism would therefore include true
ecotourism and responsible adventure travel.
 ”Responsible tourism”: Originally used by social
activists often without a nature component
entirely… .
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World Tourism
Organization
"Sustainable tourism development
 meets the needs of present tourists and host
regions
 while protecting and enhancing opportunities for
the future.
 It is envisaged as leading to management of all
resources in such a way that economic, social
and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled
 while maintaining cultural integrity, essential
ecological processes, biological diversity and life
support systems." (WTO)
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What is ecotourism?
 ”Greenwashing" in tourism:
 falsification of objective
requirements for environmental
conservation, ecological
sustainability, and/or socio-cultural
responsibility.
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Ecotourism
Professionals working within the field of ecotourism
generally agree that it is characterized by:
1. Travel to a natural area.
2. Travel that supports the conservation of
biodiversity.
3. Travel that brings benefits to local host
communities.
4. Travel that leads to greater understanding of the
natural or cultural environment visited.
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Ecotourism
 Including these four components in a travel
package significantly restricts the number of
products that can genuinely be labelled ecotourism.
 Many confuse the term with nature tourism or
adventure travel, but they are not the same.
 Rather, ecotourism is one niche market within the
larger, and rapidly expanding, nature tourism
market.
 By our estimates, nature-based tourism now
comprises 20 per cent of the world travel market,
 and ecotourism 7 per cent.
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What is ecotourism?
 Different perspectives:
 Ecotourism as ideology / ethics:
 tourists
 suppliers
 Ecotourism as (government) development
strategy:
 resource mangement
 sustainable development
 Ecotourism as marketing strategy:
 opportunistic
 ”greenwashing”…?
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International Year of Ecotourism
 http://www.worldtourism.org/sustainable/IYE-MainMenu.htm
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 http://www.uneptie.org/
pc/tourism/
 UNEP Publication
 Ecotourism: Principles,
Practices and Policies
for Sustainability
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WTO-UNEP CONCEPT PAPER - INTERNATIONAL
YEAR OF ECOTOURISM 2002:
While there is not a universal definition for
ecotourism, its general characteristics can be
summarised as follows:
 1. All nature-based forms of tourism in which the
main motivation of the tourists is the observation
and appreciation of nature as well as the
traditional cultures prevailing in natural areas
 2. It contains educational and interpretation
features
 3. It is generally, but not exclusively organised for
small groups by specialised and small, locally
owned businesses. …..
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WTO-UNEP CONCEPT PAPER - INTERNATIONAL
YEAR OF ECOTOURISM 2002:
 3. …. Foreign operators of varying sizes also organise,
operate and/or market ecotourism tours, generally for small
groups.
 4. It minimises negative impacts upon the natural and
socio-cultural environment
 5. It supports the protection of natural areas by
 • generating economic benefits for host communities,
organisations and authorities managing natural areas with
conservation purposes,
 • providing alternative employment and income
opportunities for local communities,
 • increasing awareness towards the conservation of natural
and cultural assets, both among locals and tourists.
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WTO-UNEP CONCEPT PAPER - INTERNATIONAL
YEAR OF ECOTOURISM 2002:
 Over the years, it has also become clear that some
concerns still need to be wholly addressed in ecotourism,
such as:
 • land tenure and control of the ecotourism development
process by host communities,
 • efficiency and fairness of the current concept of protected
areas for protection of biological and cultural diversity
 • the need for additional precautions and monitoring when
operating in especially sensitive areas
 • indigenous and traditional rights in areas suitable for
ecotourism development,
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Tortuguero Conservation Area
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Tortuguero
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OUTSIDE WORLD
(US, World Market, Debt Crisis, “Brundtland”)
Government
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TORTUGUERO:
NAT. RESOURCES
LOCAL COMM.
“Caribb.”
or “Tico”?
“Commons”
Subsistence
M
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Comm. Co-op.
Local Market
Private
Import
Export
Tourists - Researchers - Environmentalists
C
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