NAME: MUBARAK FATAI OLALEKAN

MATRIC: 180104088

DEPARTMENT: HISTORY AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

LEVEL: 300

COURSE TITLE: CULTURE AND TOURISM IN INDEPENDENT AFRICA

COURSE: HSS 338

ASSIGNMENT QUESTION: WHAT IS ECOTOURISM? EXPLAIN WITH ITS

IMPORTANCE WITH REFERENCE TO B.B FYANKA'S "CONFLICTS AND THE
DEGRADATION OF CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT IN AFRICA." (Chapter 6)

LECTURER NAME: DR. OMON MERRY OSIKI

 Ecotourism is a subset of the tourism industry that reflects an ethos of responsible
involvement with the environment and with local cultures. Ecotourism includes, but is not
limited to, nature hiking, diving, wildlife viewing, and cultural tourism, usually with some
attention given to the ecosystem, biodiversity education, or sustainability. The term was
formally introduced in 1983 by Mexican environmentalist and architect Héctor Ceballos-
Lascuráin, and the first organization devoted to ecotourism — The International Ecotourism
Society (TIES) — was founded in 1990. Since then, ecotourism has been one of the fastest
growing sectors of global tourism. Ecotourism has been widely promoted as an important
conservation tool and one way for people to have a positive impact on the environment.
Ecotourism has the potential to improve public education on cultural and biological diversity,
conserve wild habitats, and improve economic conditions for host nations.
Ecotourism entails more than just visiting natural sights or destinations; it also entails
doing so responsibly and sustainably. Traveling to natural regions with an emphasis on
environmental conservation is referred to as ecotourism. The purpose is to educate tourists
about conservation efforts while also providing opportunities for them to enjoy nature.
Ecotourism is viewed as an important instrument for conservation by the International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but it should not be viewed as a panacea for all
conservation issues. Ecotourists can help create value by marketing an ecosystem, species, or
scenery, and that value can help raise finances to protect and conserve those natural
resources. Three essential concepts should guide sustainable ecotourism: conservation,
community, and education. Important conservation activities like as recycling, decreasing
water consumption, and encouraging local crafts instead of mass-produced trinkets are also
taught to tourists. Tourists must be conscious of their impact on the places they visit in order
for ecotourism to be successful. Only then will they be able to actively contribute to the
protection of the local ecosystem.
Bernard Fyanka classified the physical characteristics of African cultural heritage into
three categories in the chapter dedicated to him in the book Dynamics of Culture and
Tourism in Africa. Monuments, groups of buildings, and sites are all examples of this. He
divided the monuments as architectural works, inscriptions, monumental sculpture and
painting works, archaeological elements or structures, cave homes, and combinations of
features of universal worth in terms of history, art, or science. He went on to define Groups of
buildings as groups of distinct or related structures that are of great universal importance in
terms of history, art, and science due to their architecture, homogeneity, or location in the
landscape. Sites, he continued, are works of man or combined works of nature and man, as
well as locations, such as archaeological sites, that are of exceptional universal worth from a
historical, artistic, ethnological, or anthropological standpoint. Ecotourism is a term that
encompasses all of these categories and has significant socioeconomic and political
implications.
To begin with, ecotourism plays a critical part in the political evolution of a society,
especially in a society with varied cultures like South Africa. Ecotourism, according to
Bernard Fyanka, was critical in the establishment of the Rainbow Nation, a concept created
by South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The term was used by the Archbishop to
characterize what he described as a diverse nation with people of many colors, ethnicities,
classes, and socioeconomic standing, as well as people of all religions and languages. Given
that the past can be renegotiated using its cultural environment and how a future African
identity can be forged, uniting diverse communities within the nation-state as a result of the
branded identity called the Rainbow Nation, there was a need to recreate a nation-state that
would unite and accommodate diverse populations using their rich culture and heritage.
Because South Africa has a history of numerous and clashing cultures, as a result of
apartheid, these cultures had to evolve independently, resulting in cultures that coexist but are
difficult to integrate together.
Bernard Fyanka also mentioned Nigerians while outlining how ecotourism might be
utilized to alleviate social tensions that often arise as a result of ethnic differences. Nigeria
and Nigerians have had to largely rely on Ecotourism for unity amongst their populace as a
result of the difficult background of ethnic variety. The name “Naija” was essential in uniting
the Nigerian peoples by providing a common platform for Nigerians of all cultural origins to
mingle. The word was coined by its cultural context to symbolize a single nation with no
ethnic divisions and a single cultural awareness. This contributed to the togetherness that
exists among Nigerians, allowing them to regard one another as one, as opposed to the past,
when ethnic backgrounds sharply divided them.
Furthermore, ecotourism is critical for the preservation of the ecosystem and its
resources. Ecotourism contributes to the preservation of natural habitats and unspoiled
environments. Natural resources such as forests, minerals, and land that might be used for
agriculture are typically related to the wealth of poorer countries. Exploiting these resources
frequently results in the destruction or alteration of wildlife habitats and attractive natural
landscapes. Ecotourism allows countries and communities to develop their economy while
preserving the environment, allowing native species to thrive and visitors to enjoy previously
unexplored areas. Travelers can raise their understanding of the necessity of conserving
resources and minimizing waste by visiting locations of breath-taking natural beauty, seeing
animals in their natural habitats, and meeting members of local communities. They’re
encouraged to live more responsibly at home, and they may learn more about and be more
sensitive to various cultures.
Finally, ecotourism activities have only lately emerged as a sector capable of
generating significant socio-cultural and economic transformation. On the one hand, the main
goal is to assure not just socioeconomic growth but also the protection of natural and cultural
landscape values in order to raise environmental awareness. Eco-tourism, at its ideal, is
ethical travel to natural regions that protects the ecosystem’s integrity while also providing
economic advantages to local populations that can inspire conservation. Eco-tourism is an
innovative approach of merging the goals of ecological protection and economic
development at the nexus of population and the environment.