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Ecotourism: Its implications on marine environments & the community
Ecotourism is by its most basic definition a positive and beneficial alternative that fosters understanding and appreciation of many of natureÕs wonders, specifically within the ocean. But as seen in many cases, ecotourism also carries with it many implications of sometimes negative effects on the environment and the community that lives within it. Where the controversy arises is whether Ecotourism in its attempt to educate vacationers and travelers, is ironically contributing to the destruction of that which it hopes to protect. This is a question that has not been yet fully answered, but thoroughly debated within the science community.
Once again Ecotourism is defined by its basic goals which are the main component that separate it from other ordinary types of tourism. Ecotourism is a type of tourism where travelers observe fragile environments and habitats, looking to observe and understand there surroundings. The International Ecotourism SocietyÕs official definition of ecotourism is Òresponsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improve the welfare of local people.Ó (Press Release; Pg. 1) Areas such as the coral reefs are obvious and popular destinations for many tourists of this type. The major difference in Ecotourism is that it strives to remain low-impact on the environment to which it is observing. The expected benefits derived from such an experience are rooted in the assumption that the Eco-tourists who participate in such events will not only understand, but appreciate nature for its amazing beauty. This appreciation thereby fosters a growing awareness and dedication to the preservation of such environments, with possible financial contributions made to local conservation efforts. As Davidson boldly quoted in ÒThe Enchanted BraidÓ, first we must appreciate, we must understand.Ó(Enchanted Braid; Pg. 3) This respect for the natural environment must also carry with it a respect for the local culture and community. Many times native people of popular tourist locations bear the brunt of the negative consequences of such tourism, instead of sharing in its benefits. Ecotourism should instead serve in the same capacity as it does within the water, by understanding and appreciating the local culture as important and precious.
Ecotourism within the Bahamas specifically has more recently caught on, and now is growing into a major industry through things such as Òeco-toursÓ and Òeco-tripsÓ. In 2007, it was found that Ecotourism as an industry within the Bahamas is growing 34% each year; three times that of the regular tourism industry. (Press release news; Pg. 1) In 2006 there was a 1.4 million dollar grant towards the Bahamas Hotel Association for creating this Òeco-sensitiveÓ market for tourists (The Bahama Journal; 2006). Islands such as the Bahamas are major eco-tourist attractions because they obviously have one of the most treasured habitats, the coral reef. As the Enchanted Braid described it, the reef is an area with a comparatively immense number of marine life forms compared to other areas of the ocean (Enchanted Braid; Pg. 4). This unique area is alluring to many travelerÕs who hope to catch a glimpse at underwater life, and those who want to help preserve it are now using the ecotourism as a means of conservation. Tourists who come to the Bahamas to enjoy a low impact observation of the reefs, accompanied by donations to local conservation efforts are able to truly live out the goals set out by the ecotourism industry.
This popularity in the new eco-tourist options has not only arisen in the travelers themselves, but also the businesses. The new surge has sparked a change in many of local travel locations. A large effort is developing in many resorts within the Bahamas to become more environmentally friendly. There are various ways these resorts are attempting to protect the local environment. Outside of simply providing the tours, they also are doing things such as using energy-efficient light bulbs, and installing solar power systems. (Ecotravel Adventures; Pg.1) It remains to be seen though whether this reimaging is a genuine move towards eco-tourist ideals or just a marketing attempt at pulling in more guests.
With Ecotourism defined within these standards, its requirements hold within them the very positive outcomes it hopes to achieve. But outside just conservation and knowledge, there are other effects that positively impact the area used. While providing a more socially conscious alternative to the more destructive tourist options, Ecotourism has also grown to serve as a large base of domestic income for those areas who promote it. This impact and contribution to the local economy in itself provides the community and its people with a large percentage of its income. In addition, Eco-tourist resorts as in the Bahamas are businesses providing new employment to the local natives who would otherwise have no options. What has begun in many areas is local communities are now work alongside the government and the tour companies to develop more regulated and acceptable forms of tourism (Anthropology of Tourism; Pg. 15). This local control over the ecotourism industry is important to the sustainability of areas such as the reefs, and the protection of the local infrastructure.
All of these reasons promote Ecological Tourism as clearly the better alternative to other more destructive options, but the extent to which Ecotourism is held to its own standards is where the drawbacks begin to be observed and weighed. This issue lies partially in the widespread misuse of the term ÒEcotourismÓ by travel companies who only promote such terms for personal profit. This is a widely used marketing scheme that is in damaging for it conceals the true nature of its intentions. This misuse and abuse of the term is where opponents of Ecotourism make the case that it is merely a way in which the travel industry is able to legitimize its destructive and intrusive practices under the ÒsafeÓ term alternative of Ecotourism events (Ecotourism and Other Invasions; Nash). When trips to fragile areas such as the coral reefs are only done for tourist benefit, and serve no benefit to the community financially or through research, then these types of tourist events should in no way be classified as Ecotourism.
Although earlier we spoke of the economic benefits associated with Ecotourism, it also has some negative impacts to the community. Another drawback has been seen in the local resources and the strain tourism puts on the people. The same reasons behind the economic development in areas with strong ecotourism contribute to these drawbacks of the industry. When large masses of people, whether well-intentioned or not, travel to a small area, they inevitably put a strain on most all resources that are in that specific area. Large groups of people need places to stay, things to eat, and people to take care of there various needs. This idea ties back into the issue of industrialization by travel companies. As people come with the false promise of eco-tourist type vacations, they arrive at large scale resorts built to accommodate them, but at the same time these resorts are demolishing the areas which they have come to protect. When ecotourism or tourism in general becomes a major industry, it then has a major impact on resources such as food, water, and even waste management. (Assessing Tourisms Impact; Pg. 4) With these large groups of people also comes a shift towards urbanization in some areas. Small towns are being created into large urban resort locations, revamping the overall feeling of the area. (Sustaining Ecotourism; Pg. 5) Finally, the political pressures involved with any tourist industry are evident. Government involvement, unless in collaboration with locals as stated before, can have negative consequences on the aim and goals of Ecotourism. The true purpose becomes over shadowed by the need for profitability and development (Sustaining Ecotourism; Pg. 7). The As Ecotourism is a relatively new industry, research is lacking the on the true relationship it has with the local community, and whether the interaction between the two is positive. There also is an absence of research on the understanding of the actual response tourist who partake these types of eco-tours. Although there new appreciation for the beautiful environments they observe can be assumed, it is not actually looked at with sufficient clarity. (Anthropology of Tourism: Pg. 10 )
The debate still rages on when discussing EcotourismÕs true implications on conservational progression, but this controversy must be agreed upon and understood as a separation of Ecotourism in its practice and in its theory. As discussed thoroughly, Ecotourism by definition should remain an extremely valuable tool in the conservation of protected areas. The problem is in its practice where its purist intentions become watered down, and the corruption of the term begins to take place. The debate on Ecotourism should not center around the idea of whether it should be in fact used or not, but rather it should discuss how can those who care about such practices extract the poison of industrialization out of Ecotourism, and bring it back to its true form. How can the real eco-tourist practices isolate themselves from the deceptive marketing schemes, and push for strict observation of all standards held by Ecotourism? If there is a solution to the controversy over ecotourism, it lies within the answer to these types of questions.
WORKS CITED
Barker N, Roberts C. Scuba diver behaviour and the management of diving impacts on coral reefs. Biological Conservation [serial online]. December 15, 2004;120(4):481-489.
Benson, A and J. Clifton. ñAssessing TourismÍs Impact using Local CommunitiesÍ Attitudes toward the Environment.î In Sustainable Tourism, eds. F.D. Pinela and C.A. Brebbia.WIT Press, 2004. Pg. 3-12.
Boxill I, Severin F. An Exploratory Study of Tourism Development and Its Impact on the Caribs of Dominica. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration [serial online]. January 2004;5(1):1-27.
Carrier J, Macleod D. BURSTING THE BUBBLE: THE SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT OF ECOTOURISM. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute [serial online]. June 2005;11(2):315-334.
Ecotravel Adventures; Out Island Eco Friendly Resorts and Hotels (Description) http://www.myoutislands.com/natural-vacations/eco-travel.cfm
Moreno P. Ecotourism Along the Meso-American Caribbean Reef: The Impacts of Foreign Investment. Human Ecology: An Interdisciplinary Journal [serial online]. April 2005;33(2):217-244.
Nash S. Ecotourism and Other Invasions. Bioscience [serial online]. February 2009;59(2):106-110. Available from: Academic Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 2, 2009.
PRWeb- Press Release Newswire; May 1st 2007 http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/05/prweb522836.htm
SANDILYAN, S., THIYAGESAN, K., & NAGARAJAN, R. (2008, December 10). Ecotourism in wetlands causes loss of biodiversity. Current Science (00113891), 95(11), 1511-1511.
Scheyvens R, Momsen J. Tourism in Small Island States: From Vulnerability to Strengths. Journal of Sustainable Tourism [serial online]. September 2008;16(5):491-510.
Stronza A. ANTHROPOLOGY OF TOURISM: Forging New Ground for Ecotourism and Other Alternatives. Annual Review of Anthropology [serial online]. October 2001;30(1):261.
Wearing, S. Exploring Socio-cultural Impacts on Local Communities. In The Encyclopedia of Ecotourism, ed. David Weaver. CABI Publishing, 2001. Pg. 395-410.
Weinberg A, Bellows S, Ekster D. Sustaining Ecotourism: Insights and Implications from Two Successful Case Studies. Society & Natural Resources [serial online].
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