TOURISM - BIODIVERSITY

What I learned

BABU P GEORGE, PhD Associate Professor (Business/Services) Alaska Pacific University, USA

Based on my primary research

Businesses care more for quantity than variety
Biomass Vs Biodiversity

Personal ethics and values of individuals significantly determine their attitude towards the environment
Those with short-term utilitarian values are unlikely to give heed to the call of the environment
Except when there is immediate personal benefit from sustaining a bio-diverse environment The cost of biodiversity often exceeds intra-generational benefits even though it surely is lower than longer term inter-generational benefits

Based on my primary research

Education plays are major role
Individuals with an educational foundation in the humanities and the liberal arts develop a significantly higher level of eco-consciousness

Lived experiences play a major role

Individuals born and/or brought up in bio-sensitive regions develop a significantly higher level of ecoconsciousness

Biodiversity as a perceived attraction (E.g.: natural park) Vs biodiversity as a perceived impediment (E.g.: beach)
Tourists and businesses are more likely to behave responsibly in the former case

Based on my primary research

Attraction sequencing influences tourist behavior
Tourists who visit eco-sensitive geographic areas in the first part of a trip are more likely to behave responsibly throughout the rest of the trip, even while visiting destinations not so sensitive to impact.
Similar effect occurs when tourists are educated early on / before the trip

Based on my primary research

Small Vs Big debate
Small businesses individually possess a better developed eco-consciousness, as expected
But the aggregation of negative impacts of many small businesses in a region is at least in some cases exceeds that of a single large business
Economies of scale might be reducing the negative impact of serving per person.

Also, the management of ecological resources becomes problematic when a region has diverse stakeholder groups with often conflicting developmental objectives

Based on my primary research

Tourism related imagery can help a destinations resident population to better understand its shared heritage and promote conservation related values. Cultural determinism is complex
Some cultures by definition are ecologically more sensitive Extant theory informs us that long term oriented cultures are more likely to behave responsibly to the environment
But, Why CHINA and, of course, INDIA?
Contrary to popular belief, in long term oriented cultures, people are less likely to feel the immediate need for an intervention

Based on my primary research

Community based tourism (CBT) increases entrepreneurs favorable attitude towards the benefits of biodiversity
Biodiversity is vital, even if that means low tourism

Knowing that tourism businesses care for the environment induces tourists to demonstrate a similar attitude and vice versa. Awareness that an individual tourists action has a direct and significant impact upon the environment is a key tipping point in attitudinal change
Legitimacy + Feasibility + Effectiveness = Behavior

More during discussion / interaction! Thanks for your patience~ Babu George Email: babu.geor@gmail.com On Facebook: facebook.com/dewofspring On Twitter: babugeor Phone:+01-601-255-4431