It is legitimate to ask whether and in what form tourism might contribute to

sustainable development. This is not the same as sustainable tourism which, as

a single-sector approach to development, may overlook important linkages with
other sectors. If tourism is to contribute to sustainable development, then it must
be economically viable, ecologically sensitive and culturally appropriate. 1

Ecotourism is considered as being a sustainable form of tourism, however

although it does in fact conserve and protect the environment to a certain extent,
there are many forms of eco tourism that are not sustainable.

According to the Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is being defined as the

purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture and natural history of
the environment, taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, while
producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural
resources beneficial to local people.

The concept of eco tourism has been influenced by that of sustainable tourism
development and began to be used from the late 1980s, when people started
realizing that their actions were destroying the environment around them and it
became a form of alternative tourism for Mass tourism, which was and still is
being promoted widely.

It is the tourism industry's fastest growing sub sector, with an estimated world-
wide annual growth of 10-15%. Governments as well as the tourism industry
promote eco-tourism, with its claims of economic and social sensitivity. But there
are well-founded concerns that it lacks adequate scientific foundations, and is not
viable as a solution to the world's social and environmental problems.2

1
http://moe.csa.com/hottopics/ecotour1/Key/ksci03.html
2
Anita Pleumarom: Ecotourism or Ecoterrorism. June, 1995.

1
Sustainable tourism is defined as an industry which attempts to make low impact
on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income,
employment and conservation of local ecosystems.3

Ecotourism is a form of tourism to relatively undisturbed natural areas for the

main purposes of admiring them and learning more about the related habitats. It
seeks to reduce negative environmental impacts on the areas visited and
contributes to the conservation of natural areas and the sustainable development
of nearby areas and communities, generating further awareness among
residents and foreigners.

Ecotourism therefore, can generate jobs, stimulate incomes and enhances the
standard of living. These opportunities allow for the developing countries and
developed countries to sustain a livable environment.

Some researchers believe that the conservation of endangered environments

can be achieved through the concept of ecotourism. This achievement can be
made through the creation of protected wildlife preserves and the maintenance of
national parks. Not only are the environments benefiting but also the surrounding
cultures. These parks and reserves can generate revenue, if entrance fees or
donations are collected and can also; along generate jobs for local people. Local
people can be employed as tour guides which would allow for the visitors to
become more educated about the environment. It not only allows for income to
be generated but enable locals to take an interest in their surroundings and
would moreover instill a sense of pride.

However as much as ecotourism can be beneficial to the environment, there are

many negative impacts of this type of tourism that do not make it a sustainable
form of tourism, since it harms not only the environment but locals as well.

As much as ecotourism promotes the conservation and protection of

environments, it also pollutes those very environments. Visitors to remote areas
3
TST 211- Facilities and attractions management: notes

2
have been known to damage the surrounding flora and wildlife. Many people
travel for recreation not realizing the damage that is being inflicted upon the
environment within which they travel. Many individuals believe that through
ecotourism, environments are being protected from destruction, pollution and the
loss of biodiversity but this is not always the case. Locals along with tourists bring
pollution to the areas through the competing of natural resources and a large
amount of non-point pollution.4 Non-point pollution is created when rain falls to
the earth or snow melts --- and the water runs across fields or pavement, taking
with it topsoil, bacteria, fertilizers, pesticides, pet waste, oil, and many other toxic
or harmful materials. This land run-off pollution has received the awkward name
of ‘non-point’ because it is the opposite of a direct pipe or "point" pollution
discharge. 5There is pollution from raw sewage and the dumping of toxic
materials into the water and loss of biodiversity from snorkeling, deep-sea fishing
and recreational diving, all of which are ecotourists activities. There is also
erosion and destruction of landscape owing to tourism facilities and associated
infrastructures.

The Caribbean is one of the best areas for viewing coral reefs as well as the
Bahamas and Florida Keys and many individuals are eager to view these.
However, as the carrying capacity is overwhelmingly expanding, those who want
to fish and snorkel are destroying these reefs.
Another problem is the pollution that is being generated through air and boat
travel being used by ecotourists to get to their destinations. Many ecotourists
travel to areas that are remote and are located very far from their locations.
Emissions from these modes of transportation pollute the water and air and
destroy the environment, the same environment that is being viewed.
The idea behind sustainability is the use of the environment and resources so
that other generations can benefit from what the world has to offer today but
many individuals do not follow this concept.

4
Dawn Mann: Final Paper: Ecotourism in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas
5
www.cwac.net/non-point/index.html

3
The idea of generating revenue from ecotourism would also be difficult due to the
traveling inconsistencies of ecotourists. Many ecotourists travel to a destination
once and move on to explore other areas. A majority of these tourists can be
found traveling in organized groups rather than alone.6 The businesses that
organize such groups receive most of the revenue rather than the visiting area so
little or no revenue is put back into the establishment to keep it going or in other
words, to ensure its sustainability. This would also indicate loss of jobs for locals
who may depend on such tourism activities as a source of income.

Ecotourism is also considered as an ‘eco-façade.’- Many eco-tourism claims

concerning its benefits are exaggerated, or owe more to labelling and marketing
than genuine sustainability. Not only are such projects repeatedly planned and
carried out without local consent and support, but they often threaten local
cultures and economies. Critics regard eco-tourism as an `eco-facade': a tactic
concealing the mainstream tourism industry's consumptive and exploitative
practices by `greening' it.7 Although ecotourism to a certain extent conserves and
protects the environment, it is also detrimental to it, since it encourages pollution,
land degradation and species displacement: which are similar impacts of mass
tourism on the environment.

Ecotourism is not considered to be a sustainable form of tourism since it causes

deforestation and flora and fauna degradation. One of its most serious impacts is
the exploitation of virgin or untouched territories, that is, national parks, wildlife
parks and other wilderness areas, which are being packaged for eco-tourists as
the green option. Eco-tourism is highly consumer-centered, catering mostly to
urbanized societies and the new middle-class `alternative lifestyles'.8 Searching
for `untouched' places, travellers have already opened up many new
destinations. Resorts, including luxury hotels, condominiums, shopping centres
and golf courses, are increasingly established in nature reserves in the name of
6
http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/fieldcourses01/PapersMarineEcologyArticles/FinalPaper.Ecotourisminth.
html
7
Anita Pleumarom: Ecotourism or Ecoterrorism. June, 1995
8
Ibid.

4
eco-tourism. Such projects build landscapes, which are permanently going to
destroy plant and wildlife species. Trekking causes trail erosion and garbage
accumulation, wildlife in its natural habitat is disturbed and plants can be
damaged during ecotourism activities (for example, human feeding of fish tends
to encourage dependence on visitors, to the point that the animals no longer hunt
on their own).

In addition, local people do not necessarily benefit from eco-tourism. Local

communities are deprived of rightful economic benefits when food, beverages,
and souvenir items and products are produced elsewhere but sold in their area.
Tourism-related employment is greatly overrated: locals are usually left with low-
paying service jobs such as tour guides, porters, and food and souvenir vendors.
In addition, they are not assured of year-round employment and workers may be
laid off during the off-season. Foreign airlines, tourism operators, and developers,
who repatriate profit to their own economically more advanced countries, as with
conventional tourism, make most money.

Ecotourism is not considered to be a sustainable form of tourism since it leads to

patronizing local people and indigenous cultures. The claim that it preserves and
enhances local cultures is highly false. Frequent contact of hikers and trekkers
with natives can cause culture-shock and changes in the indigenous culture of
the area. Ethnic groups are viewed as a major asset in attracting visitors, an
`exotic' backdrop to natural scenery and wildlife. The simultaneous romanticism
and devastation of indigenous cultures is one of eco- tourism's ironies. 9 Locals
are being asked to showcase their culture for visitors and may feel invaded,
which leads to social tension among themselves. There is a decline in the social
structure of communities because of the introduction of new cultures from visitors
since some individuals may want to try new ideas, in turn affecting the private life
of the people.

9
Anita Pleumarom: Ecotourism or Ecoterrorism. June, 1995

5
Case Study: Ecotourism in Palawan
The province of Palawan is blessed with rich resources and with its historical and
cultural attractions which offers ample opportunities for varied activities. The
pristine environment setting is excellent for sightseeing, beach holidays, marine
sports, adventures etc. Palawan, the largest province in the Philippines, is
composed of 1769 islands and islets. The provincial capital, the City of Puerto
Princesa, is the chief seaport on the east coast and the centre of trade,
commerce and education. Tall mountain ranges run through the entire central
length bisecting the province into two areas, the east and west coast. The flora
and fauna of Palawan are predominantly Bornean in composition. This can be
explained by the fact that geologically the island province is part of the stable
Sunda shelf which comprises Borneo and other parts of the western Malaysian
floral geographic region. This uniqueness of Palawan has created many
indigenous flora and fauna, such as the Palawan tree shrew. The seas around
Palawan are a rich fishing ground for commercial and deep- sea fishing. The
irregular coastline, resulting in numerous coves and bays, is also a rich fishing
ground for municipal or coastal fishing and the province is a rich source of
mineral deposits. 10
However the resources of this province do not benefit the local population.
Degradation of the environment is very evident from the trampling of trails within
the mountainous areas and there is loss of biodiversity due to illegal hunting and
dynamite fishing within these areas. Deep sea fishing has lead to the destruction
of marine habitat, and locals have raised the issue that fish resources have been
steadily depleting due to dynamite and illegal fishing by visitors and other locals.
Many locals, especially those that are of the older generation complain about the
effect that western culture has had on the younger generation. Tourists bring with
them their dress, language, gifts and entice the younger population to forget their
roots and heritage. No form of sustainable development is achieved from the
promotion of ecotourism within the province.

10
Nelson Palad Devanadera: Ecotourism in Palawan: a case study

6
Recommendations for encouraging ecotourism to become a sustainable form of
tourism.

As the concept of ecotourism grows, there are many individuals who want to view
areas that offer this type of tourism. However, there arises an issue when the
influx of tourists become too much to handle. It is recommended that hosts have
an optimum annual number of visitors and to limit their staying time as well as
their use of natural resources. This is a difficult task because it is not easy to hold
back the growing demand for tourism, however with proper rules and regulations
being established to monitor visitors, there can be a reduction in the number of
visitor arrivals to these areas. For example, national parks and protected areas
have been increasingly used for tourism development because of their natural
beauty and biological diversity, but if there is an exceeding amount of visitors,
this leads to trampling of ecosystems and destruction of wildlife and plant
species. It is therefore better to allow a certain amount of visitors at a specific
period to view these areas. This would allow the area to regenerate itself and
there can be effective monitoring of carrying capacity of the ecosystem.

For ecotourism to be considered a form of sustainable tourism, attention should

be paid to integrating education and training programmes into those potential
areas for development. At the same time, it is necessary to have appropriate
planning before encouraging ecotourism in a certain natural area so that the
negative impacts of tourism on environment can be limited, thus maintaining the
sustainability of tourism.

It is also necessary to understand and assess the relationship between

ecotourism and local communities for preservation of local cultures.

Visitors should respect local or indigenous cultures and traditions, without

attempting to alter these. There should be an appreciation of local culture and

7
visitors should be provided with preparatory information about the local customs,
dress codes and social standards and should be sensitive to these customs.
Visitors should understand that they should not intrude on the local communities
unless they are either invited or are a part of an organized tour.

There should be more investments in ecotourism facilities and attractions by local

individuals. Communities can come together and invest in land, creating their
own ecolodge and encouraging sustainable practices. They can plant their own
kitchen gardens and supply visitors with their own cuisine, teach visitors how to
conserve and protect the environment, in general, be their own boss. This would
ensure that the income generated will be repatriated to locals and will also
encourage local employment in all staff sub-sectors of the facility.

Ecotourism facilities should blend in with the environment. Genuine ecotourists

visit ecolodges because they know that they have the simplest facilities and
ammenties. There should not be any degradation of flora and fauna species to
create extravagant lodges. Local communities depend on the environment for
their livelihood and its destruction not only serves to displace wildlife but also
causes communities to lose their source of food, craft, and medicinal herbs.

Conclusion

8
Although ecotourism is being promoted as an alternative to Mass tourism, it can
be just as damaging because it encourages increased use of the natural
environment and this does not exhibit the concept of sustainability. Many
individuals consider it to be a sustainable form of tourism and although it does
adhere to some of the principles for sustainable development, it sometimes hides
behind terms such as ‘eco friendly’ and ‘green tourism’.

The concept of sustainable tourism emphasizes that there are benefits that are
enjoyed by local communities, the economy, and the country as a whole. There is
the protection of resources and utilization of these in such a way that it benefits
not only the present generation but future generations as well. Ecotourism may
follow some of the ideals behind this concept but it also proves to be detrimental
to the environment at the same time.

Sustainable tourism and ecotourism are not synonyms, many forms of

ecotourism may not be sustainable, and if ecotourism is to contribute to
sustainable development, then careful planning and management of resources
will be required.

References

9
TST 211 Notes

TST 316 handouts

Dawn Mann: Final Paper: Ecotourism in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas

Websites:

http://www.channelviewpublications.net/jost/009/jost0090317.htm

http://moe.csa.com/hottopics/ecotour1/Key/ksci03.html- Wall, G.Is ecotourism

sustainable?

http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/fieldcourses01/PapersMarineEcologyArticles/Fin
alPaper.Ecotourisminth.html

10