CHAPTER 2

ECOTOURIST AND
GEO TOURISM
 The National Geographic Society
defines goetourism as tourism that
sustains or enhances the geographical
character of a place – its
environment, culture, aesthetics,
heritage, and the well-being of its
residents.
 Geotourism adds to sustainability
principles by building on a
destination’s geographical character,
its “sense of place,” to emphasize the
distinctiveness of its locale and
benefit visitor and resident alike.
GOETOURISM IS SYNERGISTIC
All the elements of
geographical character work
together to create a tourist
experiences that is richer than the
sum of its parts, appealing to
visitors with diverse interest.
IT INVOLVES THE COMMUNITY
Local businesses and civic
groups join to provide a
distinctive, authentic visitors
experiences.
IT INFORMS BOTH VISITORS AND
HOSTS
Residents discover their
own heritage by learning
that thing they take for
granted may be interesting
to outsiders.
 IT BENEFITS RESIDENTS
ECONOMICALLY
Travel businesses hire
local workers, and used local
services, products, and
supplies.
IT SUPPORTS INTEGRITY OF PLACE
Destination-savvy travelers seek out
businesses that emphasize their
character of the locale. In return, local
stakeholders who receive economic
benefits appreciate and protect the
value of those assets.
IT MEANS GREAT TRIPS
Enthusiastic visitors
bring home new
knowledge.
GOETOURISM
•Is “best practice” tourism that
sustains, or even enhances, the
geographical character of a place,
such as its culture, environment,
heritage, and the well-being of its
residents.
 Geotourism incorporates the concept of
sustainable tourism – that destinations should
remain unspoiled for future generations – while
allowing for ways to protect a place’s character.
Geotourism also takes a principle from its
ecotourism cousin – that tourism revenue should
promote conservation – and extends it to culture
and history as well, that is, all distinctive assets of a
place.
 Geotourism deals with non-
living parts of the natural and built
environments. “Looking at the
environment in a simplistic manner,
we see that it is made up of Abiotic,
Biotic and Cultural (ABC)
attributes.
Starting with the ‘C’ or cultural
component first, we note that of three
features it is this one which is generally the
most known and interpreted, that is,
through information about the built or
cultural environment either in the past
(historical accounts) or present
(community customs and culture).
 The ‘B’ or biotic features
of fauna (animals) and flora
(plants) has seen large focus
of interpretation and
understanding through
ecotourism.
The ‘A’ or abiotic features including
rocks, landforms, and processes that has
received the least attention in tourism, and
consequently is the least known and
understood. This then is the real power of
geotourism, in that it puts the tourist
spotlight firmly on geology, and brings it to
the forefront of our understanding through
tourism”.
 Geotourism was first defines (Hose, 1995)
in England. But there are two viewpoints of
geotourism:
1. The geological and geomorphological. It
is mainly followed in the world, and 2. The
geographical. It is followed in the United
States of America (USA) where the emphasis
is on the geographical sense of place in
general.
 So, the latter, National Geographic’s
Geotourism (NGG-tourism program)
is “best practice”tourism that sustains,
or even enhances, the geographical
character of a place, such as its culture,
environment, heritage, and the well-
being of its residents.
 National Geographic’s Geo-tourism
program incorporates sustainability
principles, but in addition to the do-no-harm
ethic focuses on the place as a whole. The
idea of enhancement allows for the
development based on character of place,
rather than standardized international
branding, and generic architecture, food, and
so on.
THE GEOTOURISM CHARTER
The Geotorism Charter:
Governments and allied organizations
that sign this statement of principles
take a first step in adopting a
geotourism strategy
 The National Geographic Society
defines geotourism as tourism that
sustains or enhances the geographical
character of a place – its environment,
culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the
well-being of its residents.
 National Geographic Society has also
drawn up a “Geotourism Charter” based on
13 principles:
1. Integrity of place. Enhances geographical
character by developing and improving it in
ways distinctive to the local, reflective of its
natural and cultural heritage, so as to
encourage market differentiation and cultural
pride.
2. International codes. Adheres to
the principles embodied in the World
Tourism Organization’s Global Code of
Ethics for Tourism and the Principles of
Cultural Tourism Charter established by
the International Council on
Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
3. Market selectivity.
Encourages growth in tourism
market segments most likely to
appreciate, respect, and
disseminate information about
the distinctive assets of the
locale.
4. Market diversity. Encourages a
full range of appropriate food and
lodging facilities, so as to appeal to
the entire demographic spectrum of
the geotourism market and so
maximize economic resiliency over
both the short and long term.
5. Tourist satisfaction.
Ensures that satisfied, excited
geotourist bring new vacation
stories home and encourages
friends to experience the same
thing.
6. Community involvement. Bases
tourism on community resources to
the extent possible, encouraging local
small businesses and civic groups to
build partnerships to promote and
provide a distinctive, honest visitor
experience and market their locales
effectively.
7. Community benefit. Encourages
micro- to medium-size enterprises and
tourism business strategies that emphasize
economic and social benefits to involve
communities, especially poverty alleviation,
with clear communication to the destination
stewardship policies required to maintain
those benefits.
8. Protection and enhancement of the
destination appeal. Encourages businesses to
sustain natural habitats, heritage sites, aesthetic
appeal, and local culture. Prevent degradation
by keeping volumes of tourist within maximum
acceptable limits. Seek business models that can
operate profitably within those limits. Use
persuasion, incentives, and legal enforcement as
needed.
9. Land use. Anticipate development
pressures and apply techniques to prevent
undesired over development and
degradation. It contains resort and vacation-
home sprawl, especially on coasts and
islands, so as to retain a diversity of natural
and scenic environments and ensure
continued resident access to waterfronts.
10. Conservation of resources.
Encourages businesses to maximize
water pollution. Solid waste, energy
consumption, water usage, landscaping
chemicals, and overly bright nighttime
lighting. It advertises these measures in
a way that attracts the large,
environmentally market.
11. Planning. Recognizes and
respect immediate economic
needs without sacrificing long-
term character and the
goetourism potential of the
destination.
12. Interactive
interpretation. It
engages both visitors and
hosts in learning about
the place.
13. Evaluation. It establishes an
evaluation process to be
conducted on a regular basis by
an independent panel
representing all stakeholder
interests, and publicizes evaluation
results.
 WHO IS AN
ECOTOURIST?
 The International Ecotourism Society
constructed the following ecotourist market profile
based on a survey of North American travelers.

Age: Ranged from 35-54 years old, although age

varies with activity and other factors such as cost.

Gender: 50% were female and 50% male, although

clear differences by activity were found.
Education: 82% were college graduates. A shift
in interest in ecotourism was found from those
who have high levels of education to those with
less education, indicating ecotourism’s
expansion into mainstream markets.

Household composition: No major

differences were found between general tourist
and experience ecotourists.
Party composition: A majority (60%) of
experienced ecotourism respondents stated
they prefer to travel as a couple; only 15%
preferred to travel with their families and 13%
preferred to travel alone.

Trip duration: The largest group of

experienced ecotourists (50%) preferred trips
lasting 8-14 days.
Expenditure: Experienced ecotourists were willing to
spend more than general tourists; the largest group
(26%) was prepared to spend $1,001-$1,500 per trip.

Important elements of trip: Experienced

ecotourits’ top three responses were: (1) wilderness
setting, (2) wildlife viewing, and (3) hiking/trekking.
Experienced ecotourist’ top two motivations for taking
their next trip. These were: (1) enjoy scenery/nature
and (2) new experiences/places.
Experienced ecotourists –
Tourist who had been on at
least one “ecotourism” trip.
END OF PRESENTATION!!!