ECOTOURISM NOTES.

Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel to natural areas, conserving the
environment, and improving the well-being of the local people.[1] Its purpose may be to educate
the traveler, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic
development and political empowerment of local communities, or to foster respect for different
cultures and for human rights. Since the 1980s, ecotourism has been considered a critical
endeavor by environmentalists, so that future generations may experience destinations relatively
untouched by human intervention.[2]:33 Several university programs use this description as the
working definition of ecotourism.[3]

Generally, ecotourism deals with interaction with biotic components of the natural environments.
[4]
Ecotourism focuses on socially responsible travel, personal growth, and environmental
sustainability. Ecotourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and
cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Ecotourism is intended to offer tourists an insight
into the impact of human beings on the environment and to foster a greater appreciation of our
natural habitats.

Responsible ecotourism programs include those that minimize the negative aspects of
conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.
Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of
ecotourism is the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of
economic opportunities for local communities.[5] For these reasons, ecotourism often appeals to
advocates of environmental and social responsibility.

Many consider the term "ecotourism", like "sustainable tourism", an oxymoron. Like most forms
of tourism, ecotourism generally depends on air transportation, which contributes to global
climate change. Additionally, "the overall effect of sustainable tourism is negative where like
ecotourism philanthropic aspirations mask hard-nosed immediate self-interest."[attribution needed][6]
That said, carbon offset schemes are being provided by (some) large airlines these days, and
passengers can make use of them to eliminate these impacts.

Principles and Guidelines of Ecotourism

Ecotourism attracts people who wish to interact with the environment and, in varying degrees,
develop their knowledge, awareness, and appreciation of it. The Ecotourism Society gives the
principles and guidelines of ecotourism. These are following as:

 Prepare travelers to minimize their negative impact while visiting sensitive environments
and cultures before departure.
 Prepare traveler for each encounter with local cultures and with native animals and
plants.
 Minimize visitors impacts on the on the environment by offering literature, briefing,
leading by example, and taking corrective actions.
  Minimize traveler impact on cultures by offering literature, briefings, leading by
example, and taking corrective actions.
 Use adequate leadership, and maintain small enough groups to ensure minimum group
impact on destination. Avoid areas that are under-managed and over-visited.
 Ensure managers, staff and contract employees know and participate in all aspects of
company policy to prevent impacts on the environment and local cultures.
 Give managers, staff and contact employees access to programmes that will upgrade their
ability to communicate with and manage clients in sensitive natural and cultural settings.
 Be a contributor to the conservation of the region being visited.
 Provide competitive, local employment in all aspect of business operation.
 Offer site-sensitive accommodations that are not wasteful of local resources or
destructive to the environment, which provide ample opportunity for learning about the
environment and sensitive interchange with local communities.
 Focuses on personally experiencing natural areas in ways that led to greater
understanding and appreciation.

Characteristics of Eco-Tourism

Ecotourism is travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact
and (often) small scale. It helps educate the traveler, provides funds for conservation, directly
benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, and fosters
respect for different cultures and for human rights.

Some important characteristics of ecotourism are following as:

1) Involves travel to the natural destination. These destinations are often remote areas,
whether inhabited or uninhabited, and are usually under some kind of environmental protection
at the national, international, communal, or private travel.

2) Minimize impact. Tourism causes damage. Ecotourism strives to minimize the adverse
effects of hotels, trails, and other infrastructure by using either recycled or plentifully available
local building material, renewable sources of energy, recycling and safe disposal of waste and
garbage, and environmentally and culturally sensitive architectural design.

3) Builds environmental awareness. Ecotourism means education, for both tourist and residents
of nearby communities. Well before the tour begins, tour operators should supply travelers with
reading material about the country, environment, and local people, as well as a code of conduct
for both the traveler and the industry itself. Ecotourism projects should also help educate
members of surrounding communities, schoolchildren, and the broader public in the host
country.
4) Provides direct financial benefits for conservation. Ecotourism helps raise funds for
environmental protection, research, and education through a variety of mechanisms, including
park entrance fees; tour company, hotel, airline, and airport taxes. And voluntary contributions.

5) Provides financial benefits and empowerment for local people. Ecotourism holds that
national parks and other conservation areas will survive only if, there are happy people around
the perimeters. The local community must be involved with and receive income and other
tangible benefits (potable water, roads, health clinics, etc.) from the conservation area and its
tourist facilities.

6) Respects local culture. Ecotourism is not only “greener” but also less culturally intrusive and
exploitative than conventional tourism. Whereas prostitution, black markets, and drug often are
byproducts of mass tourism, ecotourism strives to be culturally respectful and the human
population of a host country.

7) Supports human rights and democratic movements. The United Nations-sponsored World
Tourism Organization proclaims that tourism contributes to “international understanding, peace,
prosperity, and universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms
for all.

Functions of Ecotourism

Eco-tourism is nature-based, environmentally educated and sustainably managed. Ross and Wall
(1999) outline the five fundamental functions of ecotourism namely:

1. Protection of natural areas

2. Education
3. Generation of money
4. Quality tourism
5. Local participation

Economic Effects of Ecotourism

The job generated by ecotourism provide an important reason for interest in and support for, the
phenomenon. These jobs often occur in areas relatively untouched by traditional development
efforts and represent tangible economic benefits from natural areas.

Several studies have assessed the local employment benefits of ecotourism; not surprisingly, the
level of benefits varies widely as a result of differences in the quality of attraction, access and
other factors.

Some important economic effects of ecotourism are following as:

Fiscal Impacts (taxes, fees, expenditures)

Ecotourism not only generates government revenue through business and other general taxes but
also through industry-specific channels, such as payment of occupancy and departure taxes.

Reduced access to the resource

Tourism utilizes various resources as inputs into the products and services provided to visitors.
In the case of ecotourism, one of these products is nature in a partially or totally preserved state.

Preservation of natural areas often involves reduced local access to resources, such as wood or
medicinal plants. In so far as tourism is a partial or sole rationale for preserving an area, it also
causes reduced access to resources.

Inflation

Many destinations have experienced increased price for goods, services, and land due to tourism
development, and this is a cost borne by residents of the area who purchase these items.

Effects of the income distribution

In some cases, tourism development exacerbates existing income inequalities within destination
communities, while in others it generates new financial elites.

Revenue sharing

At some ecotourism destinations, residents benefit from revenue-sharing programmes that either
provide cash payments or, more commonly, funding for community projects such as well or
schools.

Environmental Effects of Ecotourism

The impacts of ecotourism depend on what ecotourism is. The critical issue is that ecotourism
should involve deliberates steps to minimize impacts, through the choice of activities,
equipment, location and timing, group size, education and training, and operational
environmental management.

There is now quite an extensive literature on impacts such as trampling, which is easy to quantify
experimentally. However, very little is known about impacts such as noise disturbance, soil and
water-borne pathogens, and interference with plant and animal population dynamics and
genetics, which are likely to have far greater ecological significance.

Some important environmental effects of ecotourism are following as:

 Crushing or clearance of vegetation.

  Soil modification.
 Introduction of weeds and pathogens.
 Water pollution from human waste.
 Air pollution from generator exhausts, noise from machinery, vehicles, and voices.
 Visual impacts.
 Disturbance to wildlife through all of the above, and through food scraps and litter, etc

Principles of Ecotourism:

Ecotourism refers to various principles and dimensions indicating natural and cultural
environments and social well-being of humans. The origin of the term “ecotourism” is not
exactly known. Hetzer (1965) was considered to be the first to use this term.

He provided four principles to this tourism:

minimizing environmental impacts;

(2) respecting host cultures;

(3) maximizing the benefits to local people, and

(4) maximizing tourist satisfaction.

The first of these was held to be the most distinguishing characteristic of ecotourism. The
concept of ecotourism was addressed in Miller’s (1978) work on national park planning for eco-
development in Latin America and in the document produced by Environment Canada in relation
to a set of road-based ecotours it developed from the mid-1970s through to the early 1980s.
Ecotourism was developed ‘within the womb of the environmental movement’ in the 1970s and
1980s.

Growing environmental concern coupled with an emerging dissatisfaction with mass and other
forms of traditional tourism led to increased demand for nature-based experiences of an
alternative nature. At that time, less developed countries began to realize that nature-based
tourism offers a means of earning foreign exchange and providing a less destructive use of
resources than alternatives such as logging and agriculture. By the mid-1980s, a number of such
countries had identified ecotourism as a means of achieving both conservation and development
goals.

The first formal definition of ecotourism is generally credited to Ceballos-Lascurain (1987) who
defined it as ‘travelling to relatively undisturbed and uncontaminated areas with the specific
objective of admiring, studying and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well
as existing cultural features both past and present found in these areas’.

An essential point in this context is that visitors have long been traveling to natural areas under
the guise of recreation and tourism and some observers raised a doubt that whether ecotourism is
simply a new name for an old activity. Ceballos-Lascurain (1991a, b) drew the comparison
between mass tourists and ecotourists over the, natural-based utilization.

Both groups are keen to go to the natural areas but the mass tourist has a more passive role with
nature, participating in activities which do not relate to the true concern over nature or ecology
such as water sports, jogging, and biking. On the other hand, ecotourists are attracted to a natural
area and have more active role through a non-consumptive use of wildlife and natural resources,
through activities such as nature photography, botanical studies and observing wildlife.

The inference of this comparison is that activities which ecotourists participate in can only exist
in well- preserved or protected areas. Ecotourism’s association with protected areas is valid
because it enhances the conservation element although the definition does not mention the
responsibility of the ecotourism industry for environmental conservation.

Further, the definition does not address the economic impacts which this form of tourism can
generate, such as the resource degradation, visitor satisfaction, and positive impacts on the
wildlife. But, this form of tourism does not ignore the indigenous people who often inhabit such
natural settings, who are both part of the environment and their culture enhances the visitor’s
interests.

In this setting, Ziffer (1989) considered ecotourism from an active stance highlighting the
conservation, nature-based, economic and cultural components of ecotourism. The concept
enhances the increased pattern of visits to the natural environment, and also serves as an ethic of
how to turn to the natural environment ensuring a minimum impact on its resource base.
Ecotourism requires planning or a managed approach which balances economic, social and
environmental goals.

Boo (1990) defined ecotourism similarly to the definition given by Ceballos-Lascurain

emphasizing the nature-based component of the concept. Her definition emphasizes the nature
conservation, economic and education components. She states that ecotourists are generally more
accepting of conditions that are different from their home than other types of tourists. Their
characteristics include living according to the local conditions, customs and food, with their
activities ranging from a walk through the forest, to exploring and studying the natural
attractions of the destination.

The word ecotourism became a buzzword in the early 1990s but so many people used it in so
many different ways that it has become virtually meaningless. Ecotourism has also been defined
variously as “an economic process where rare and beautiful ecosystems are marketed”, or as
“tourism with a specific motive of enjoying wildlife and underdeveloped natural area” or a
“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”.

These definitions show two specific trends — consumer item and satisfying experience.
Ecotourism then is an environment friendly activity as it does not involve consumptive attitude
to nature, it fosters environmental ethics and ensures that the eco-tourists have an inspirational
and emotional satisfaction as it aims at benefiting the wildlife and environment and ultimately it
promotes local development and empowers the local communities.

These different conceptual definitions of ecotourism can be summarized as “ecotourism is

tourism and recreation that is both nature-based and sustainable. The nature component is
descriptive or positive because it simply describes the activity location and associated consumer
motivations. The sustainable component is prescriptive or normative because it reflects what
people want the activity to be. Sustainability incorporates environmental, experiential, socio-
cultural and economic dimensions.

Importance of Ecotourism:

The importance of this sustainability is tourism sustainability and it results only from a positive
overall balance in environmental, experiential, socio-cultural and economic impacts. Experiential
impact describes the effect of visitors on each other while socio-cultural impact refers to the
effect of visitors on local residents. The tourism activities that generate more positive net
benefits would be more sustainable than tourism activities that generate fewer positive net
benefits.

Ecotourism is an amalgam of two separate concepts – ecology and tourism, but viewed jointly.
The coinage assumes great significance for both ecological conservation and development of
tourism. Tourism has been recognized of late as a revenue earner with the potential for
generating employment for the local populace and, from ecological perspective, it is considered
significant for preserving the ecosystem of the earth.

Thus, ecotourism has drawn the attention of the world community as a positive contributor
towards the preservation of the natural and cultural resources and also towards the development
of tourism. Since mountains hold great tourist attraction for their grandeur, natural beauty and
the unique ecosystem, they have been viewed as haven for ecotourist activities, which are
generally outdoor and adventure oriented.

As a concept, ecotourism has a set of principles and practices. Recent definitions have tended to
highlight various principles associated with the concept of sustainable development. Some of the
definitions of ecotourism that have become popular in the present times have been reported by
Blamey (2001).

The Ecotourism Society (1991a, b) defined it as “responsible travel to natural areas which
conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people”. Richardson (1993)
defined it as “ecologically sustainable tourism in natural areas that interprets local environment
and cultures, furthers the tourists’ understanding of them, fosters conservation and adds to the
well-being of the local people”.
Australia Department of Tourism (1994) defined it as “nature-based tourism that involves
education and interpretation of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically
sustainable.” It recognizes that natural environment includes cultural components, and that
ecologically sustainable involves an appropriate return to the local community and long- term
conservation of the resource.

Figgis (1993) termed ecotourism as “travel to remote or natural areas which aims to enhance
understanding and appreciation of natural environment and cultural heritage, avoiding damage or
deterioration of the environment and the experience for others. Tikell (1994) stated ecotourism as
“travel to enjoy the world’s amazing diversity of natural life and human culture without causing
damage to either.”

Boyd and Butler (1993) defined ecotourism as “a responsible nature travel experience that
contributes to the conservation of the ecosystem while respecting the integrity of host
communities and where possible, ensuring that activities are complementary, or at least
compatible, with existing resource-based uses present at the ecosystem.”

Goodwin (1996) treated ecotourism as “low impact nature tourism which contributes to the
maintenance of species and habitats either directly through a contribution to conservation and/or
indirectly by providing revenue to the local community sufficient for local people, and therefore
protect their wildlife heritage area as a source of income. According to UNESCO, ecotourism
involves nature-based tourism where the goal of both tourists and the operators is the
observation, appreciation and preservation of nature and traditional cultures.

These definitions indicate three dimensions to the concept of ecotourism—nature- based,

environmentally educated, and sustainably managed. The last dimension covers both natural and
cultural environments in supplying ecotourism experience. It implies a scientific, aesthetic or
philosophical approach to travel.

Some consider ecotourism has three eco-commercial segments:

(1) nature-tourism – it is based on the web of life or life forms;

(2) adventure-tourism based on sports activities in various natural environments; and

(3) culture-tourism on social and cultural heritage.

Ross and Wall (1999) described five fundamental functions of ecotourism:

(i) protection of natural areas;

(ii) education;

(iii) generation of money;

(iv) quality tourism, and

(v) local participation.

Guidelines of Ecotourism:

Therefore, ecotourism is literally a pilgrimage to nature to adore God’s creation and gifts to
mankind.

The principles and guidelines of ecotourism according to Wight (1994) and Lindberg and
Hawkins (1993) have been incorporated in Table 1:
Trends of Ecotourism:

Global tourism is on the rise recognizing the fact that natural resources and human cultures are
important traveling commodities. The present trend of ecotourism is that educated tourists are
growing gradually, especially from the average or above average annual family incomes—
suggesting in a way that there is an increase in the number of nature education and conservation
programmes.

The historic economies of different countries indicate that ecotourism is making a substantial
contribution to the economies, is growing globally faster than tourism and its demand is expected
to evolve over time warranting the need for ecotourism sites to adapt to these changes. The
natural areas are to be considered to take full advantage of ecotourism.

Protected areas have figured prominently in biodiversity conservation in the human dominated
landscape of the tropics and provide opportunities for recreation and tourism. The fourth World
Congress on National Parks and Protected Areas in 1992 recognized that the protected areas exist
only when the interests of local communities are protected.

The approach of ‘guards and gun’ is slowly changing to ‘care and share’. In India, there are some
successful stories in this approach. For example, illegal collectors of Cinnamomum bark turned
into true protectors of forests when involved in ecotourism in Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala
suggesting a dire necessity for similar models which decentralize conservation roles and
responsibilities.

The present ecotourism presents both challenges and opportunities for the managers of natural
areas. The growing rate of ecotourism is bound to put pressure on managers to maintain and
improve their present activities. Further, it also puts pressure on managers to take on new and
different responsibilities and perspectives.

Other trends include increases in the overall travel market, growth in popularity of vacations to
natural areas, particularly dramatic growth rates to parks and natural areas in developing
countries and recognition of the importance of tourism within the field of sustainable
development. Many economic development professionals have been increasingly viewing
natural-area visitation as a tool for providing employment in regions that have experienced
decline or lack of development in other industries.

Many conservation and resource management professionals have been increasingly viewing
natural area visitation’ as an avenue for enhancing natural area finance and providing
conservation-related benefits, particularly to residents living near natural areas. There has been
increasing attention paid to improving the sustainability of all tourism activities, including those
occurring in natural areas. Ecotourism—may not represent an abrupt departure from historic
recreation and tourism, but it does represent a change in the level of visitation for many areas and
a change in the goals that various stakeholders attach to this visitation.
Ecotourism has to develop as an academic subject and enough trained manpower in the field is
indispensable for the development of ecotourism industry. It should be the role model in
popularizing the responsible tourism and fair trade in tourism. It should help the visitors for a
learning experience of a diverse environment, ambience, causing minimum damages to Mother
Nature and its various components.

It should be a philosophy and way of life. Practitioners of serious ecotourism should develop a
separate mind set other than normal tourism professionals. A serious ecotourism practitioner
should look into the possibilities of always choosing for the right materials. Ecotourism
practitioners are honorary emissaries to function as role models for the sustainable ecotourism
practices.

Successful ecotourism practitioners are glittering rays of hope for the betterment of humanity as
well as Mother Nature. Ecotourism practices and principles have more relevance than ever in the
21st century as tourism is becoming the biggest economic activity in the world.

impacts of ecotourism

The eco-tourism movement has continued to impact where people choose to spend their
vacations.

Eco-tourism serves to promote increased environmental awareness, sustainable communities,

cultural experiences and environmental preservation and conservation.

Yet the inherent nature of tourism demands that there be developments, which haven't always
benefited the environment. Nevertheless, for those planning a sustainable vacation, it's important
to keep eco-tourist considerations in mind.

Eco-tourism benefits

With eco-tourism comes curiosity — about both environment and experience. Instead of going to
popular tourist destinations like China, Italy, Spain and Germany, vacationers are expanding
their searches and destinations.

More destinations mean more opportunities for employment within indigenous populations of
lower-income communities and countries. Locals act as guides, experts, demonstrators,
merchants and hosts to visiting tourists. Increased traffic means more money funneling directly
back into the community along with a higher standard of living.

Community outreach and tourism allow people from all over the world to come into an
impoverished community and restore it by providing services and patronage. In one instance, a
vacation could mean volunteering, building or serving in an impoverished community. Another
impact would come from immersive experiences in the lives of indigenous peoples that sustain
their culture and environment.
Eco-tourism also provides cultural literacy. By incorporating local cultural lodging, food, history
and activities, communities can improve their welfare as well as educate a wider population.

Plus, taking some press away from the typical tourist destinations means that some pressure is
taken off the surrounding environment and ecosystems. The money that results and is saved from
releasing the environmental pressures is put back into conservation and preservation efforts.

Negative developments

With increased tourism comes increased pressure to develop areas and make them more
inclusive and resort-like. Building more accommodation, businesses and amenities within these
communities and destinations damages and destroys habitats. By damaging the local
environment, you increase the pressure on native species.

Eco-tourism calls on vacationers to redefine what it means to take a vacation — not only where
you go and how you get there, but also what you do while you're there.

Increased competition for resources between invading tourist activity and indigenous populations
— both locals and wildlife — means wildlife and certain ways of life disappear. In their place,
these cultures and environments take on the same features and characteristics of previous popular
sites.

Indigenous cultures are distorted to consumer culture to keep tourists coming, which leads to the
exploitation of resources and wildlife that's currently destroying destinations like the Bahamas
and the Philippines.

Not all eco-tourist destinations are what they appear to be. Some eco-tourists book vacations
thinking they're going to have an authentic, sustainable experience when that's not the case.

Even cycling and hiking close to home can have devastating effects on the environment and
wildlife. While vacation should be an enjoyable and memorable experience, the environment is
not to be exploited for a stellar photo album.

Thankfully, instances of irresponsible excursions such as reckless mountain biking and enclosing
wildlife for display and hunting have diminished.

Vacation impact

Eco-tourism calls on vacationers to redefine what it means to take a vacation — not only where
you go and how you get there, but also what you do while you're there.

This strategy affects how people choose where to stay. With home-sharing sites like Airbnb
growing more popular with five million listings worldwide, many people are opting for a more
cost-effective, authentic experience for their vacations. (Airbnb has itself been criticised because
of its impact on local communities and economies).
There's also been an increase in the demand for energy-efficient hotels and resorts that benefit
the local cultures as well as the environment. Food is something that everyone should consider as
well. Trying the local dishes and delicacies is part of every vacation, and you're supporting the
local farmers when you buy from local vendors.

With immersion in the homes and lifestyles of the cultures surrounding you, you can grow to
appreciate them and the environment more. It also makes you more curious about what else is
out there. With local guides, you'll realise how many activities are available that wouldn't be
found in a resort.

Eco-tourism is often close to home too. A study of 160 countries found that tourism accounts for
eight percent of the world's carbon emissions and is increasing each year. If you're worried about
the effects of your traveling, consider a low-carbon vacation, which means forgoing the standard
airfare travel and road trip in favor of one closer to your own backyard. Instead of staying at a
hotel, it can mean camping, climbing, hiking, backpacking or biking.

Eco-destinations

If you already know what you're looking for, go somewhere that's likely to give you the right
experience. Here are some common goals for traveling as well as corresponding destinations:

 For the community and culture: Cambodia, India, Kenya and Ethiopia
 For the conservationist efforts: South Africa, Belize, Malawi and Thailand
 For the outdoors: Peru, Argentina and the United States
 For the history: Japan, Jordan, Ethiopia and Vietnam
 For the wildlife: Finland, Canada, the Azores, India, Borneo and Uganda

Eco-Tourism Tips

For the best experience with eco-tourism, consider the following tips:

 Do your research: When it comes to taking a sustainable vacation, make sure all the details are
spelled out. Do some research into the company you're staying with, the excursions you'd like to
go on and the places you're visiting.
 Avoid taking more than you need: Whether you're going abroad or just camping on a local
mountain, a light suitcase or backpack will complement a high sense of adventure. When you're
packing for a hike or a flight, remember to keep it quick, easy and light, including the clothes you
wear, the tools you use and the food you eat.
 Always keep the environment in mind: As long as you're keeping the health of the environment
in mind when you plan your vacation, you'll be doing your part as a responsible traveler.

Eco-tourism has had an impact on the way people think about leisure and how they feel about
vacation. Fun doesn't have to be sacrificed for sustainability and a greener planet. In fact, these
lifestyles open up more opportunities to see the world and make every vacation an adventure.
Ecotourism facility
The NC Act defines ‘ecotourism facility’ as a facility
that:
a) is designed and managed to facilitate the presentation, appreciation and conservation of
the land’s natural condition and cultural resources
and values (the primary purpose); and
b) is managed in a way that does not allow an activity to be carried out on the land that:
i) is inconsistent with the primary purpose; and
ii) would require a significant change to the land’s natural condition or would adversely
affect the conservation of the land’s cultural resources
and values (e.g. a golf course, amusement park or casino).
The NC Act defines ‘ecotourism’ as tourism that is ecologically sustainable and primarily
focused on experiencing an area in a way that fosters understanding, appreciation and
conservation of the area and its natural and cultural values. This means an ecotourism facility
should focus on presenting and appreciating an area’s natural and cultural values, and not
involve modification of the natural environment for activities inconsistent with this
purpose.
For example, the Queensland Government has
determined that ecotourism opportunities
incorporating ziplines are considered inappropriate
for national parks.
In deciding whether a proposed ecotourism facility
meets the NC Act definition, the department will
consider:
• how, and to what degree the facility will contribute
to presenting, appreciating and conserving the
land’s natural condition and cultural resources
and values (the primary purpose), including: ▸ the facility should make a fair and reasonable
contribution to the conservation of the
protected area estate, including the park in
which the facility is located ▸ whether or not the facility involves activities
that are consistent with presenting,
appreciating and conserving the land’s natural
condition and cultural resources and values;
and ▸ if some of the activities are inconsistent,
whether or not they would have significant
impacts on the land’s natural condition or
adversely affect the land’s cultural resources
and values.
Each proposal for an ecotourism facility will be
assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure the
requirements of the NC Act definition are met.