Effects of Ecotourism

Eco-tourism or ecological tourism is as much about responsibility as it is about the joys of being in the midst of nature. Today, international tourism earns more than automotive products. Man is an inveterate traveler. His desire to reach across to foreign shores and understand a culture different from his own gave birth to travel. Tourism is the commercial offshoot of that cultural activity. With that definition in mind, eco-tourism can be thought of as a slightly distinct activity.

Eco-tourism is defined by The International Eco-tourism Society (TIES) as "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."

Therefore, eco-tourism is not only about enjoying the natural heritage of an indigenous locale but also creating a sustainable relationship with it. Eco-tourism seek not only to create a congenial atmosphere for the visitor but also two other important touch points -

1. Ensure sensitivity to the local environment.

2. Promote sustainable use of biodiversity by involving the local population in environmentally friendly activities.

A properly chalked out ecotourism plan seeks to minimize the environmental impact of tourist footfalls while seeking to raise the socio-economic profile of an area. Probably, this is why ecotourism has climbed the agenda of every country as they seek to reap the benefits of this latest standard. In some countries, especially of Africa, ecotourism garners a significant portion of the GDP. For example, Namibia's tourism industry comes just behind mining and agriculture.

Of late, eco-tourism has entered the mind space because of greater environmental awareness. While this is a positive development, what remains to be examined are the fallouts of this trend on the society and the environment around us.

Eco-tourism and its socio-cultural impact -

The Positive: Eco-tourism is the melting pot of cultures and people. National and/or local pride is a direct manifestation of how appreciative a foreign culture is of one's own. Income generated through eco-tourism benefits the locals and keeps migration for jobs at bay. Local knowledge also stays within the community and is passed on. A successful example can be found in a developed country - Canada. Nunavut in Northern Canada chose eco-tourism as a viable industry. A successful effort saw the preservation the Aboriginal and Inuit communities.

The Negative: There is a very high probability of a culture clash. Outside influences can wreck havoc with the ethnic way of living. Local culture and heritage should be showcased but often it is 'packaged' to conform to Western expectations. Bastardization of customs into pop culture is an ever present danger. Also, eco-tourism often forms the single source of revenue for a community. Any cyclical changes in the economy affect it as a whole. The island of Dominica rushed headlong into eco-tourism. Today, corruption and environmental degradation has left its industry in shambles.

Eco-tourism and its economic impact -

The Positive: Eco-tourism has amply demonstrated its potential to be a huge dollar earner. The money earned should be ploughed back into the local society. This can go to create a better life for the local populace though schools, better roads and hospitals. Through taxes and consumer spending the whole country stands to benefit the fruits of eco-tourism. Again, the funds generated through eco-tourism can be used for the preservation of the fount itself, the natural resource.

The Negative: Two stumbling blocks directly emerge from an ill managed eco-tourism plan. The first is 'enclave tourism'. This describes a situation wherein eco-tourism is sold as a 'package' most often in the country of the traveler. This means that very little currency gets into the hands of the local community. 'Import Leakage' is another difficulty. To meet the luxury demands of particular tourists, locals must import other goods from outside. For e.g. beverages and food. This essentially means that wealth leaves the community to pay for outside imports. Eco-tourism at the cost of the environment puts a load on the local resources. Scarce resources have to compete with volume of tourist traffic.

Eco-tourism and its environmental impact -

The Positive: The most valuable contribution of eco-tourism is the preservation of biodiversity. Biodiversity is increasingly looked upon as a sustainable asset and eco-tourism forms a vital cog of it. The world's largest wetlands in Brazil’s Pantanal’s are also a large grazing ground for the beef industry. Mostly populated by private ranches, a sustainable development plan as an eco-tourism destination made it a success story. 

The Negative: Eco-tourism improperly managed means a walkthrough by droves of tourists through virgin lands. This invasion rapidly spirals into an orgy of opportunism as everybody attempts to cash in. Environmental degradation follows. The popularity of an eco-tourism destination could be directly proportional to its rate of destruction. Local flora stand to be harvested for economic gain thus eroding their natural value. The destruction of native butterfly species followed rapid development of infrastructure for eco-tourism in Mexico.

Eco-tourism remains a story of triumphs and failures. In the end when we total up all the pluses and minuses, we as preservers must realize that eco-tourism must not be only about plants and animals but also a little about the people who are born around it. It is about sustainability or its converse. And its ripple effects.

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