INTRODUCTION:

Ecotourism is entirely a new approach in tourism.

Ecotourism is a preserving travel to natural areas to
appreciate the cultural and natural history of the
environment, taking care not to disturb the integrity of
the ecosystem, while creating economic opportunities
that make conservation and protection of natural
resources advantageous to the local people.
Eco-Tourism has been broadly defined as tourism
which is ecologically sustainable. The concept of
ecological sustainability subsumes the environmental
carrying capacity of a given area. The general principal
of ecotourism are:
(a) The local community should be involved leading to
the overall economic development of the area.
(b) The likely conflicts between resource use for eco-
tourism and the livelihood of local inhabitants should
be identified and attempts made to minimize the same
(c) The type and scale of eco-tourism development
should be compatible with the environment and socio-
cultural characteristics of the local community, and
(d) It should be planned as a part of the overall area
development strategy, guided by an integrated land-
use plan avoiding inter-sectoral conflicts and ensuring
sectoral integration, associated with commensurate
expansion of public services.

Socioeconomic impacts of ecotourism:

The tourism industry generates substantial economic benefits to both host and guest countries. Especially in developing
countries, one of the primary motivations for a region to promote itself as a tourism destination is the expected economic
improvement. As with other impacts, this massive economic development brings along both positive and negative
consequences. The socio-cultural impacts of tourism described here are the effects on host communities of direct and indirect
relations with tourists, and of interaction with the tourism industry. For a variety of reasons, host communities often are the
weaker party in interactions with their guests and service providers, leveraging any influence they might have. The impacts
arise when tourism brings about changes in value systems and behaviour and thereby threatens indigenous identity.

Types of Ecotourism activities:

•Community Development
•Eco lodging
•Eco Trekking
•AGRITOURISM
AGRITOURISM:
Agritourism is a form of ecotourism that attracts tourists and volunteers to the rural culture. It encourages visitors to explore
agricultural life in rural communities first hand, contributing to the improvement of income in regional populations. The goal
essentially is to improve the economic development of small farms and rural communities. Visitors can participate in
agricultural work alongside farmers in the fields, haul in nets with fishermen and help manage livestock on a ranch. Even
shopping from local farmer produce stands while on vacation is a means of contributing to the betterment of rural
development.
Agritourism should include the following four factors:
• combines the essential elements of the tourism and agriculture industries;
• attracts members of the public to visit agricultural operations;
• is designed to increase farm income; and
• provides recreation, entertainment, and/or educational experiences to visitors.
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DESKTOP STUDIES:
Systemic Agro-Tourism by Carlos Bartesaghi Koc:
Agricultural tourism in post-colonial cities Wherever we go for vacations, we
are looking for comfortable hotels and resorts to make our stay an
unforgettable experience. Many of them are established in natural contexts
such as forests and exotic paradises promoting a sustainable tourism. On the
contrary, some other irresponsible architecture designs have alienated and
changed the cultural, economical and social conditions, establishing all-in-
one concrete monuments with irreparable consequences for local habitats.
Under these circumstances, the NEW MASTERPLAN for the Chili River
Borders has been elaborated under the systemic approach and proposes a
new alternative for touristic facilities in post-colonial cities. The project
promotes the idea of merging the urban and rural touristic attractions in a
city where the urban sprawl has gradually suffocated the river basin and the
countryside.
Consequently, agriculture, tourism and cultural heritage will create a new
urban network to unite both sides of the city, geographically and socially
divided by the river. The fields will become a tool for modelling a changeable
and productive landscape, making it an attractive destination for tourists and
locals alike.
The masterplan establishes new paradigms such as locating hostels inside
cultivated crops, the experience of living in buildings made of recycled
materials and experimenting to work with the local farmers in their daily
task (ploughing, sowing); increasing the environmental awareness and skills
transferability.
Both riversides will be restored and designed as a series of natural slabs
covered with rocks and vegetation, making them attractive for new flora and
fauna. The abandoned tanneries located in the west border will be restored
and transformed into a post-industrial museum, a convention centre, public
libraries, art galleries, theatres and typical food restaurants.
The gas station located next to the industrial facilities will be replaced with a
new BIOMASS STATION, where people will be able to learn, and participate
in activities such as compost elaboration, biogas processing and solar energy
production.
Finally, all old slums and colonial houses next to river will be restored for
creating new residential spaces.
The Self-manufactured shelter Being part of the AGRO-TOURISTIC
masterplan, these shelters are located in the sector 2, dedicated to
production and accommodation of tourist. In addition, a rustic network of
sidewalks has been designed among buildings for communication, trading
and transportation.
Self-manufacturing of parts (digitally designed) allows cooperative work
between farmers & tourists. This work system is an innovative concept that
promotes environmental awareness and the development of new skills &
technologies via training.
Finally, the intelligent-façades control the comfort indoor being operated
manually, reducing building’s performance costs throughout its life-cycle.
Fractals & architecture Randomness and patterns found in fractals are used
for organizing the project throughout different scale levels, since insulation
materials and space volumes to more complex urban scales.

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Organic Farm in Cuchi :
COEF is masterplan design proposal for 600-Hectares-decommissioned rubber plantation in Cuchi, Vietnam. The client acquired
the land and aimed to transform the under-utilized site to be an organic food production farm provided from animal feed,
livestock, fruit, and vegetation in the closed-cycle operation. The first phase of 50 Hectares is an agro-tourism destination offering
visitor holistic experience of food cycle.
The first question that urged from very beginning of the project is how can we earn trust from consumer? To answer this question,
we propose experience of organic food cycle through journey in the farm. Relationship among animal and plant is boldly
emphasized, from agricultural requirement to visitor route and activities. Different farming zones defined as leaning node, such as
Agroforestry node, Food cycle node, and Livestock node. Visitor route is designed to pass each node as learning spot concluding
main idea of each area some can also further explore deeper in each farming area and learning by doing in some farming activities
such as, grow & harvest class or learn to produce organic fertilizer. These learning nodes are key to understand how organic
process works in reality, offer visitor empirical knowledge of food production. Eventually, understanding leads to trust in sincerity
of the farm.
The project also offers facility like farm-stay accommodation, farm-to-table restaurant, farmer market, and co-farming area where
one can rent certain plot area to farm his/her order. Existing rubber tree is selectively kept as a windbreaker for filter air
contamination and almost 80 percent preserved in the tourist and accommodation area.

The core of the project, though, is not subsistence but education; as the architects put it, the first 50 hectares of the development
will be an “agro-tourism destination” offering visitors farm-to-table meals and agricultural programming. The scheme involves
various “nodes” which highlight elements of the farming process, including livestock and food preparation. The client will offer
classes organized around these nodes on topics such as the production of organic fertilizer and harvesting.
The masterplan anticipates accommodating visitors in what’s being called a “farm-stay.” The project’s focus on international
ecotourism echoes a number of designs in the works from various firms. Baharash Architecture’s “Biodomes” project in the United
Arab Emirates and Vincent Callebaut Architecture’s resort in the Philippines offer similarly upscale, travel-centric answers to
questions of environmental sustainability. 5
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN OF ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK & RESTAURANT

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

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TYPICAL VILLA UNITS

TYPICAL SUIT UNITS

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