Nature-based Tourism

Introduction
Nature based tourism has to do with all the tourism events focused on natural environments. These
includes all types of tourism that happens in natural settings with a significance in apprehension and
preservation of the natural environments .This aspect of tourism can be catastrophic and adventurous it
can also be non catastrophic. We can’t mention nature without talking about ecosystem, the
relationship between the environment and tourism been in the banner for as long as we can remember.
Many parts of tourism turn to the environment for its standard in assets and desirability. Examples of
some areas with natural pleasing and beautiful sights would be the national parks of Africa where you
have wildlife resort as the major tourism attraction as well as the Canadian Rockies. In as much as nature
based tourism/ecotourism have the capacity to supply foreign exchange and economic honor for the
conservation of the natural system and wild life, ecotourism and nature based tourism can also
endanger and demolish the resources on which it turns to. Tour boats dumps garbage in the waters off
Antarctica, shutterbugs harass wildlife in National Parks, hordes of us trample fragile areas, Such
frenzied activity threatens the viability of natural systems. At times we seem to be loving nature to
death (Berle, 1990).

Is it ecologically sustainable development? Can it form the basis for community tourism in developing
countries? Will it further destroy the ailing conservation programs by adding internal pressures to parks
already under assault from external forces? Can we live with it? Can we live without it? In this study, the
essential elements of nature-based tourism are explored and examples from around the world help
illustrate its diversity of form. Existing literature is reviewed and an assessment made on the present
state of knowledge about ecotourism and some of the most pressing issues awaiting research. An
overall management perspective reflects the intimate link between nature-based tourism and nature
conservation.

Possible solutions;
The tourism industry is a very large one and a distinct action cannot solve the problem of unprincipled
tourism because it attracts million of people every year .we all need to make a conscious attempt to
change our polices and beliefs .Countries and companies all have to also make a conscious effort in
order to start reducing the impact of travelling on environment ,the role of individuals comprehension
of tourism’s impact is also very necessary/important to keeping nature. The legal curtailments are
difficult to talk about on the international level since a lot of countries depend on tourism as a source of
profit ,states should build their principles on environmental friendly blueprint that will protect people
and species without locking down the borders to people, maybe a restriction on tourist position and the
reduction in luxury or waste for implementation is compulsory to lower the constraint on the
environment. Another alternative is the initiation and growth of ecotourism; this should involve a setoff
mindful exercises that are concentrated on lowering of harmful things to nature. Finally I would say
tourists and firms should partake more in recycling and proper disposal, while presenting flora and
fauna, they can also give in to the restoration of the environment eg. plant trees,use renewable energy
sources , clean water and collecting of waste.
Annotated Biblography

Boo, E. (1990). Ecotourism: The Potentials and Pitfalls. Volumes 1 and 2. Washington, D.C.: World
Wildlife Fund.

Abstract: This book was the first to examine ecotourism, or nature tourism, and its links to
conservation and protected natural areas. The study evaluates economic and environmental
impacts of ecotourism in two protected areas in each of five countries: Belize, Costa Rica,
Dominica, Ecuador, and Mexico. The study highlights critical issues in the development of
ecotourism and offers several planning, development, and management recommendations for
all groups involved in ecotourism.

Budowski, G. (1976). Tourism and Environmental Conservation: Conflict, Coexistence, or Symbiosis?

Environmental Conservation, 3(1), 27-31.

Abstract: This groundbreaking article describes three different relationships that can exist
between tourism and nature conservation: conflict, coexistence, or symbiosis. Budowski
suggests that most cases have a coexistence relationship, moving towards conflict. This is
critically important, considering the rapid increase in tourism based on natural resources. Initial
steps to counter this negative trend are to keep visitor resources from natural areas and to ban
tourism agencies from controlling natural areas. In all occurrence, preservation should be given
highest importance for natural area planning. Several ways in which tourist can invest in
tourism.

Edington, J. M., & Edington, M. A. (1986). Ecology, Recreation and Tourism. Cambridge, U. K.:
Cambridge University Press.

Abstract: This comprehensive text examines interactions between people and the environment,
based on the base components of ecology, recreation, and tourism. In a chapter on observing
wildlife, the authors review the types of impacts and disturbances caused by wildlife viewing.
Later, several control measures are described to reduce disturbances (e.g. zoning, fixed viewing
points, and viewing guidelines).

Hall, C. M., & Johnston, M. E. (1995). Polar Tourism: Tourism in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions.
Chichester, England: John Wiley and Sons.

Abstract: This collection of articles takes a look at the issues surrounding tourism in our polar
regions. With a wide range of topics covered, the reader is given the opportunity to better
understand these areas and the challenges facing them in regard to tourism. No longer areas for
the few, the increasingly accessible arctic and antarctic regions are becoming highly visited and
prized tourist areas. With this in mind one is also reminded of the great fragility and ecological
sensitivity of these areas and the protection issues that must be addressed. The articles raise
questions and problems that the person interested in ecotourism needs to understand.
Ingram, D. C., & Durst, P. B. (1989). Nature-Oriented Tour Operators: Travel to Developing Countries.
Journal of Travel Research, 28(2), 11-15.

Abstract: The authors surveyed 32 tour operators that advertised nature-oriented activities in
developing countries. The most common activities promoted include hiking, bird-watching,
nature photography, wildlife safaris, and camping. Most common destinations were Kenya,
Tanzania, Nepal, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Most (72%) tour operators worked for
U.S.-owned firms. Brief discussions are made of client profile and growth constraints for these
tour operators. Future promotional efforts must account for small firm sizes, equal interest
between genders, individual travelers, and the use of rural accommodations.

Conclusion.
Tourism is a venture that permits people to see the world and study about other cultures and the
environment. Although,tourists and involved companies often show characters that destroys the planet
and leads to its vandalization, This is very prominent in regions where tourism is a major part of the
national economy ;Animals, plant and humans suffer from ample use of resources and waste brought
and left by visitors. Boo(1990) in her major study of Latin America uses the title 'eco-tourism' as
synonymous with 'nature tourism' which she uses throughout the work and defines as 'travelling to
relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring
and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestations'
(adopted from Ceballos-Lascurain). Lucas(1984) defines nature tourism as 'tourism which is based on
the enjoyment of natural areas and the observation of nature' and further specifies that such tourism
'has a low impact environmentally, its not labour intensive and contributes socially and economically
to the nation'. And for such tourism to be ecologically sustainable it must be appropriate for the specific
location and should produce no permanent degradation of the natural environment. This also put into
considerations, some the issues and prospects of Nature-based Tourism e.g Social Carrying Capacity,
Wilson and Laarman (1987, p.1) point out that 'nature-oriented tourism usually is constrained by low
social carrying capacity. It will also need very careful management if it is to be sustainable, other
examples are Environmental Carrying Capacity, Political and Management Issues etc. this could also be
controlled by Ecological Sustainable Developments – i.e providing clear sustained and adequate benefit
to the local community from the nature-based tourism venture; a clear link between the tourist choice
of destination and locally protected nature; and appropriate local management and skills to provide
satisfaction to both the visitors and the local community.

Finally , there is a strong need for Research on Nature-based Tourism, As Boo points out (1990, p.4),
'despite rising expectations regarding the value of nature tourism in many fields of expertise, there are
great gaps in the information necessary to manage the nature tourism industry'. There is a clear role for
research into this aspect of tourism and perhaps a need for a central repository to collate and
disseminate the accumulated experience as more countries test the waters and walk the forests of
nature based tourism.
References
Boo, E., 1990, Ecotourism: the potentials and pitfalls, 2 Vols., World Wildlife Fund, Washington D.C.
Borst, B., 1990, Ecotourism: environment friendly international travel, International Herald Tribune,
March 3-4: 9,12-13

Budowski, G., 1976, Tourism and conservation: conflict, coexistence or symbiosis, Environmental
Conservation, 3 (1): 27-31

Cassells, D.S., Valentine, P.S., 1990, Recreation management issues in tropical rainforest, Proceedings
institute of tropical rainforest studies workshop no 1, Institute of Tropical Rainforest, James Cook
University, Townsville NATURE-BASED TOURISM 125

Dixit, K. M., 1989, An obsession with tourism, Himal, July/August: 3-12

Doak, W., 1988, Encounters with whales anddolphins, Hodder and Stoughton Ltd., Auckland

Duffie, J., 1981, Who will watch the birdwatchers? Wildlife Review, X (7): 23...,.24

Edington, J.M., Edington, M.A., 1986, Ecology, recreation and tourism, Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge

Ferrario, F.F., 1982, Method approach for evaluating tourist resources: case of South Africa, 114-135 in
T.V. Singh and J. Kaur, eds, Studies in tourism and wildlife parks conservation, Metropolitan Book
Company, New Delhi

Gell, R., 1989, Antarctica, Houghton Mifflin, Melbourne

Gonsalves, P.S., 1987, Alternative tourism - the evolution of a concept and establishment of a network,
Tourism Recreation Research, 12 (2): 9-12

Goudberg, N.J., Cassells, D.S., Valentine, P.S., 1991,The prospects forecotourism in northern Queensland
wet tropical rainforests, Proceedings of the future research strategies workshop No 1,Institute of
Tropical Rainforest, James Cook University, Townsville

Graham, F., 1979, Case of the ugly birder, Audubon, 81 (4): 88-100

Hall, C.M., Tourism in Antarctica: activities, impacts and management, Journal of Travel Research,
forthcoming

Ingram, C.D., Durst, P.B., 1987, Marketing nature-oriented tourism for rural development and wild lands
management in developing countries: a bibliography, USDA Forest Service general technical report SE44,
US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Asheville (North Carolina)

Ingram, C.D. and Durst, P.B., 1989, Nature-oriented tour operators: travel to developing countries,
Journal of Travel Research, 27 (2): 11-15

Laarman, J.G., Durst, P.B., 1987, Nature travel in the tropics, Journal of Forestry, 85 126 PETER S.
VALENTINE (5): 43-46
Laarman, J.G., Perdue, R.R., 1988, Tropical tourism as economic activity: OTS in Costa Rica, Forestry
private enterprise initiative working paper no 33, Southeastern Center for Forest Economics, Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina

Luard, N., 1985, The wildlife parks of Africa, World Wildlife Fund/Salem House, New Hampshire Lucas,
P.H.C., 1984, How protected areas can help meet society's evolving needs, 72-77 in J.A. McNeely, and
K.R. Miller eds, National parks, conservation, and development, Smithsonian Institution Press,
Washington D.C.

Sheck, R.S., 1990, CostaRica:a natural destination, John Muir Publications, Santa Fe, New Mexico

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