Ecotourism Final

8/14/2019 Ecotourism Final

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ECOTOURISM IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 1

Ecotourism in Developing Countries

Ct!erine McGrt! " Interntionl Stu#ies

M$ %&' %&1(


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ECOTOURISM IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES %

Introduction

T!e Interntionl Ecotourism Societ$ #e)ines ecotourism s t!e responsi*le trvel

to nturl res t!t conserves t!e environment n# improves t!e +ell *eing o) locl

people ,IES 1---./ Ecotourism ims to ccentute remr0*le or note+ort!$ )eture o)

t!e environment in #eveloping countr$' n# su*seuentl$ *uil# tourism in#ustr$

roun# t!t )eture/ Sc!olrs n# pu*lic le#ers originll$ prise# ecotourism *ecuse it

promote# #evelopment +it!out compromising t!e !elt! or *eut$ o) t!e environment/

Ecotourism set out to minimi2e environmentl impct n# economi2e conservtion

e))orts' *ut to still llo+ )or )inncil gin n# culturl empo+erment o) locl people'

+!ic! )ostere# t!e elusive compromise *et+een environmentl protection n# economic

#evelopment/

Ecotourism sites *egn popping up in t!e lte 1-3&s #uring t!e glo*l

environmentl movement/ 4$ t!e erl$ 1--&s' ecotourism !# *ecome one o) t!e )stest5

gro+ing in#ustries in t!e +orl# n# lmost ever$ #eveloping ntion promote# ecotourism

s prt o) t!eir #evelopment strteg$ ,Moreno %&&6./ 7ust s sustin*ilit$ *ecme

*u22+or# )or politicins n# *usinesses to plese multiple interest groups' ecotourism

*ecme t!e in#ustr$ t!t coul# plese ll intereste# prties/ It ttempte# to ##ress t!e

most pressing pro*lems in #eveloping countries8environmentl #egr#tion n# n

un#er#evelope# econom$/ 9o+ever' s t!e ecotourism in#ustr$ continue# to ge' its

success s c!mpion )or #eveloping countries *egn to +ver/ Ecotourism pro:ects

ignore# t!e originl gols o) ecotourism n#' eventull$' ;ecotourism< *ecme solel$ n

ll5encompssing term use# to #escri*e n$ 0in# o) nture5*se# tourism' regr#less o)

its impct on t!e surroun#ing communit$/ Ecotourism +s crete# in prt to improve


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ECOTOURISM IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES (

con#itions in #eveloping countries' *ut s pro:ects *egn to )il' it *ecme o*vious t!t

ecotourism is not n e))ective mens )or #evelopment/ Overll' ecotourism !s )ile# to

promote #evelopment n# !s even *ecome #etrimentl to t!e s!ort n# long5term

econom$ n# socil structure o) communities in #eveloping ntions/ T!is pper #iscusses

t!e environmentl' politicl n# economic limittions o) ecotourism' evlutes its

negtive impcts n# recommen#s strtegies to m0e ecotourism more success)ul/

Limittions

Environmental Conditions

Nturl resources re #istri*ute# cross t!e glo*e in #i))erent proportions' n#

similrl$' not ever$ #eveloping countr$ !s n #eute environment to *egin n

ecotourism in#ustr$/ Mn$ #eveloping countries !ve +et!er ptterns t!t constntl$

)luctute/ T!is is pro*lem *ecuse ecotourism=s selling point is t!e environment itsel)'

t!us' entire sesons coul# *e #eeme# un)it to utili2e t!e environment in t!e per)ect

con#itions/ >et!er t!t is too !ot or col#' or sesons t!t re too +et or #r$ coul#

:eopr#i2e t!e success o) n ecotourism site/ ?or e@mple' t!e villge o) Ale#up in

In#onesi !s n ecotourism in#ustr$' *ut +et!er con#itions re onl$ i#el )or t!ree

mont!s out o) t!e $er ,Cli)ton %&&B./ >!le +tc!ing ecotourism in#ustries lso

e@perience *oom5n#5*ust c$cles' +it! some times o) t!e $er *eing )vor*le )or +!le

+tc!ing con#itions' n# ot!er times +it! ver$ )e+ +!le sig!tings ,oung 1---./ ?or

t!is reson' mn$ ecotourism sites cnnot serve s t!e primr$ in#ustr$ in t!t re

,Cli)ton %&&B./

Punt Gor#' 4eli2e' n re t!t ttempte# to ttrct investors )or n ecotourism

in#ustr$' )ile# *ecuse o) limittions o) its e@isting environment/ Punt Gor# lc0s


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ECOTOURISM IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

*ec!es n# corl ree)s' +!ic! re t+o populr ttrctions )or ecotourism sites' m0ing it

un#esir*le )or contrctors n# )oreign investors/ It lso !s n e@tremel$ +et climte'

receiving *out meters o) rin)ll per $er' +!ic! m0es it unppeling to potentil

tourists ,Moreno %&&6./ Ecotourism must *e centere# on speci)ic' mr0et*le

environmentl )etures i) #eveloping countr$ lc0s t!ese )etures' ecotourism is not

vi*le )or its #evelopment strteg$/ Mn$ #eveloping countries lc0 uniue

environmentl )etures or i#el climtes t!ere)ore mn$ #eveloping countries t!t *egin

ecotourism pro:ects lc0 t!e environmentl )etures nee#e# to crete pro)it*le

in#ustr$/

Natural Disasters

Even i) #eveloping countr$ !s t!e )etures to crete success)ul ecotourism

in#ustr$' t!ere is still m:or ris0 o) it )iling/ ?or e@mple' nturl #isster coul#

#estro$ in)rstructure or #isrupt t!e *eut$ o) n environment/ 9urricne 9u#! !it

Msol Ntionl Pr0 in M#gscr in %&&&' cusing temporr$ !lt in tourism/ T!e

!urricne ))ecte# nturl resource vil*ilit$ n# cuse# )oo# s!ortges )or t!e locls/

Flt!oug! t!is pr0 +s *le to eventull$ restore t!e est!etic vlue o) t!e environment

n# st*ili2e )oo# supplies' t!e re=s lrgest !ig!5en# !otel su))ere# e@tensive #mge

,Orms*$ %&&&./ Mn$ ecotourism sites re not pro)it*le enoug! to re*uil# )rom

#evstting nturl #isster' +!ic! coul# cuse signi)icnt !rm to t!e in#ustr$/ T!e

nture o) ecotourism leves in)rstructure more suscepti*le to #mge mn$ ecotourism

pro:ects re locte# in costl res o) #eveloping countries/ Fs climte c!nge continues

to ))ect glo*l +et!er ptterns' t!ere +ill *e increse# )reuenc$ n# strengt! o) storms

n# costl )loo#ing' m0ing t!e ecotourism in#ustr$ prticulrl$ vulner*le to nturl


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#issters/ T!e unpre#ict*ilit$ o) nturl #issters m0es ecotourism n ine))ective

in#ustr$ )or #eveloping countries/

Political Unrest

T!e ecotourism in#ustr$ is lso unpre#ict*le *ecuse o) politicl unrest or

terrorism in #eveloping countries/ Ecotourists re cutious n# reluctnt to trvel to

countries +it! tumultuous politicl climtes *ecuse o) potentil crime n# violence/ T!e

t!ret o) civil +r or politicl uprising' especill$ to tourists o) t!e #evelope# +orl#'

!evil$ out+eig!s t!e *ene)its o) n ecotourism trip/ T!is +s t!e cse in R+n#' +!ere

up until t!e strt o) t!e civil +r' tourism +s t!e countr$=s m:or in#ustr$/ R+n#

crete# success)ul ecotourism in#ustr$ t!t re#uce# t!e !unting o) gorills' +!ic!

llo+e# )or resurgence o) t!e gorill popultion n#' t!us' gurntee# tourist

ttrction/ 9o+ever' +!en t!e civil +r *egn' ll tourism in R+n# !lte#/ Ver$ )e+

outsi#ers +nte# to *e cug!t in t!e violent n# #ngerous +r *et+een t!e 9utus n#

Tutsis/ In t!e *sence o) t!e tourism mr0et' gorill !unting *ecme populr gin' +!ic!

negte# t!e ecotourism=s previous e))orts to conserve t!e species ,Lie*er0nec!t %&&./

T!is issue is not uniue to R+n# politicl inst*ilit$ is n issue t!t plgues

mn$ #eveloping countries/ M#gscr su))ere# similr crisis in its ecotourism

in#ustr$ )ter #ispute over t!e presi#entil elections in %&&1/ >!ile t+o opposing

governments struggle# to gin po+er' ecotourism in M#gscr stoppe# lmost entirel$/

4usiness o+ners su))ere# )rom t!e lo+ num*er o) visitors' n# lt!oug! t!e tourism

in#ustr$ slo+l$ *egn to re*uil#' severl *usinesses +ere *n0rupt n# le)t t!e in#ustr$

entirel$ ,Orms*$ %&&B./

In In#onesi' t!e *om*ing o) t+o 4li nig!tclu*s t!t +ere populr +it! >estern


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ECOTOURISM IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES B

trvelers in %&&% negtivel$ impcte# t!e tourism in#ustr$/ T!ese *om*ings +ere !#

ver$ little impct on norml li)e )or In#onesins' *ut tourists +ere concerne# +it!

terrorism n# t!eir securit$ +!ile trveling in In#onesi/ Englis!' Fmericn n#

Fustrlin o))icils encte# #visories +rning ginst n$ non5essentil trvel )or

tourists +!o +nte# to trvel to In#onesi/ T!ese inci#ents ultimtel$ #estro$e# t!e

ecotourism in#ustr$ in In#onesin villges ,Cli)ton %&&B./ In t!e mi#st o) ntionl

turmoil' ot!er in#ustries m$ continue on +it!out #isruption' *ut ecotourism is

necessril$ #isrupte#/ Ecotourism is ris0$ en#evor )or #eveloping countries t!t

)reuentl$ e@perience politicl unrest or terrorism *ecuse n entire sector o) t!e

countr$=s econom$ coul# #iminis!/

Top-down Approach

T!e ecotourism in#ustr$ is mostl$ top5#o+nH ntionl governments use )oreign

lons to crete lrge5scle ecotourism pro:ects' or )oreign investors out5compete #omestic

*usiness o+ners/ In t!e 1--&s' t!e sensi*ilit$ o) ecotourism m#e it +elcome trget o)

investors suc! s t!e >orl# 4n0' t!e Inter5Fmericn Development 4n0' t!e Unite#

Sttes Fgenc$ )or Interntionl Development n# t!e Unite# Ntions/ Ec! o) t!ese

ctors pl$e# signi)icnt )inncil n# tec!nicl role o) severl ecotourism pro:ects

,Moreno %&&6./ Inste# o) stte5run or communit$5*se# enterprises' most ecotourism

pro:ects t0e t!e s!pe o) !evil$ su*si#i2e# #esigns or corporte #evelopments t!t re

controlle# *$ )oreign investors/ Over time' ecotourism pro:ects o)ten e@perience

#eclining #emn# or environmentl or in)rstructurl limittions' cusing t!e nee# )or

##itionl grnts n# su*si#ies ,9ill %&&B./ Ecotourism is pro)it*le )or lrge5scle

investors' *ut it is too e@pensive to *e economicll$ vi*le )or locls/


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F top5#o+n pproc! to ecotourism lso mens t!t it cnnot ctull$ improve

t!e economic stn#ing o) t!e poorest citi2ens in #eveloping countries/ Ft t!e strt o)

ecotourism pro:ects' most citi2ens re ent!usistic to +elcome t!e in)lu@ o) tourists/ 4ut

)ter #evelopment *egins' it *ecomes pprent to most smll5*usiness o+ners t!t t!e$

lc0 t!e monetr$ or mteril resources to e@pn# t!eir *usinesses to meet t!e nee#s o)

tourists/ In t!e M!levon villge o) M#gscr' resi#ents +ere originll$ optimistic

t!t ecotourism +oul# signi)icntl$ improve t!e locl econom$ n# t!e +ell *eing o) t!e

ntives/ Ver$ soon )ter' it *ecme pprent t!t )e+ *usiness5o+ners +ere ctull$

+elt!$ enoug! to e@pn# )or t!e ecotourism in#ustr$/ Flt!oug! )oreign compnies

investe# in M#gscr=s ecotourism in#ustr$' locls receive# lmost no *ene)it ,Orms*$

%&&B./

Ntives lso lc0e# t!e resources )or e@pnsion in costl to+n in 9on#urs/

F)ter t!e #evelopment o) n ecotourism pro:ect in t!e 4$ Isln#s o) 9on#urs' t!e onl$

citi2ens t!t *ene)itte# signi)icntl$ )rom t!e in#ustr$ +ere elite n# mi##le5clss

isln#ers +!o +ere lre#$ reltivel$ +elt!$/ T!e upper n# mi##le5clss citi2ens coul#

))or# to invest in #evelopment pro:ects' *ut poorer citi2ens +ere immo*ile n#

uninvolve# in t!e process o) e@pnsion/ Poor citi2ens *elieve# t!t tourism +oul# !elp

t!e isln# s +!ole' *ut ver$ )e+ ctull$ pro)ite# )rom t!e ecotourism in#ustr$

,Moreno %&&6./ T!e in*ilit$ )or poor citi2ens to *ene)it )rom ecotourism is #ue in prt to

lc0 o) polic$ n# government intervention to m0e ecotourism n ccessi*le in#ustr$ )or

its citi2ens/ Ecotourism pro:ects on t!e costs o) 9on#urs' 4eli2e n# ot!er #eveloping

countries +ere unsuccess)ul *ecuse o) t!e !ig! costs o) costl propert$ or e@isting

restrictions on t!e purc!se o) costl propert$ ,Moreno %&&6./


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Foreign Influence

9ig! propert$ costs n# government restrictions )or locls llo+ )oreign investors

to o+n m:orit$ o) t!e costl !otels' resturnts n# !omes on ecotourism sites/ T!is

+s t!e cse in t!e 4$ Isln#s o) 9on#urs' +!ere t!ere +ere )r more )oreign investors

t!n #omestic *usiness o+ners in t!is re' +!ic! !# lmost no economic *ene)it )or t!e

ntives ,Moreno %&&6.'/ >!en )oreign investment out+eig!s #omestic investment' most

o) t!e ecotourism revenue is lost to not!er countr$ ,Lie*er0nec!t %&&./ Ntives #o

pro)it in some +$s )rom :o*s in t!e service in#ustr$' *ut t!e m:orit$ o) ecotourism

revenue )lo+s *c0 to t!e investors/ F##itionll$' ecotourists generll$ pln t!eir

vctions t!roug! )oreign trvel gencies' cusing not!er out)lo+ o) mone$ )rom t!e

ecotourism in#ustr$ ,Orms*$ %&&B./ I) )oreigners re *ene)itting more t!n locls )rom

tourism in#ustr$' ecotourism is not serving its #ut$ o) provi#ing economic opportunities

)or ntives' n# is inste# )unneling mone$ *c0 to #evelope# countries/ F !ig!er

proportion o) )oreign investment not onl$ poses limittion o) ecotourism' *ut lso !s

negtive impcts on t!e surroun#ing communit$/

Negtive Impcts

Environmental Degradation

T!e trge#$ o) t!e commons is t!e principle t!t +!en nturl resource is le)t

unregulte# or unprotecte#' t!e pu*lic +ill nturll$ overe@ploit t!t resource until it is

irrepr*l$ #eplete#/ Ecotourism nturll$ len#s itsel) to t!t pro*lem )or t+o resonsH

)oreign investors !ve less connection to t!e nturl environment' n# t!e e@treme

economi2tion o) t!e environment/

?irst' lc0 o) #omestic investment compre# to )oreign investment poses


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ECOTOURISM IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES -

pro*lem to t!e preservtion o) t!e environment surroun#ing ecotourism sites/ Ntives

!ve sense o) pri#e n# responsi*ilit$ to+r#s protecting t!eir ln# )or multiple

resons/ Minl$' ntives !ve more #il$ interction +it! t!e ln# t!n )oreign investors'

n# t!ere)ore cn p!$sicll$ see #egr#tion o) t!e environment/ F##itionll$' ntives

m$ ssocite t!eir culture' tr#itions or !istor$ +it! t!e environment' n# m$ )eel

stronger sense o) culturl #epen#ence on t!e environment/ I) ntives !# !ig!er

proportion o) o+ners!ip' environmentl protection +oul# *e more prominent/ Inste#'

)oreign investors #o not plce !ig! vlue on preserving t!e environment n# +ill o)ten

e@ploit t!e environment=s resources to n unsustin*le level ,Lie*er0nec!t %&&./

T!e 4$ Isln#s o) 9on#urs e@perience# t!is cse o) trge#$ o) t!e commons' or

t!e unregulte# e@ploittion o) resources' )ter t!e Inter5Fmericn Development 4n0

nnounce# !evil$ su*si#i2e# prtners!ip +it! t!e 9on#urn government to crete n

ecotourism in#ustr$ *se# roun# t!e corl ree)s in t!t re/ T!e unc!ec0e#

#evelopment o) costl resturnts' !otels' !ousing n# ot!er tourist locles le# to !ig!

levels o) erosion' #estruction o) o))s!ore corls n# #eteriortion o) surroun#ing

+ters!e#s/ T!e )res! +ter +ells t!t +ere #rille# to meet t!e #emn#s o) tourists +ere

unstis)ctor$' +!ic! le# to slt+ter intrusion n# su*seuent contmintion o) #rin0ing

+ter/ Flt!oug! t!e tourism in#ustr$ seeme# to *e *ooming' *out 6& percent o)

resi#ents +ere still +it!out se+ge #isposl s$stem/ T!e seepge o) untrete# se+ge

into t!e surroun#ing *o#ies o) +ter le# to eutrop!iction n# !umn !elt! ris0s

,Moreno %&&6./ T!is ecotourism pro:ect not onl$ )ile# to improve living con#itions )or

t!e in!*itnts o) t!e re' *ut it lso #mge# t!e environment t!t it originll$ soug!t

out to protect n# ccentute/


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1&

Uncheced E!pansion

Economi2ing t!e environment is trns)orming t!e environment into goo# t!t

cn *e *oug!t n# sol#/ Ecotourism ims to economi2e t!e environment in +$ t!t is

pro)it*le to t!e surroun#ing communit$' +!ile ple#ging to preserve t!e e@isting )etures

o) t!t environment/ +it!out regultions on gro+t! n# #evelopment' !o+ever' t!e

ecotourism in#ustr$ itsel) coul# :eopr#i2e t!e structure n# est!etic vlue o) t!e

environment t!t it originll$ set out to protect/ One o) ecotourism=s *iggest pit)lls is t!e

ssumption t!t t!e ecotourist is environmentll$ sensitive ,Lie*er0nec!t %&&./ >!ile

ecotourists mig!t *e more environmentll$ +re t!n t!e verge tourist' n ecotourist

is not n e@pert on *io#iversit$' crr$ing cpcit$ or conservtion/ Cost Ric' +!ic! !s

n e@cellent n# +ell5mnge# ntionl pr0 s$stem' )ell victim to t!e )lse ssumptions

n# s!ortcomings o) ecotourism/ Visitors overcro+#e# t!e most populr pr0 in Cost

Ric' Mnuel Fntonio Ntionl Pr0/ Fs pr0 o))icils e@pn#e# t!e trils to

ccommo#te n increse# )lo+ o) tourists' t!e :ungle #eteriorte# n# mon0e$s +ere

#isplce#' leving t!em to *eg )or )oo# on t!e *ec!es ,Lie*er0nec!t %&&./ Mnul

Fntonio Ntionl Pr0 in Cost Ric is n e@mple o) +ell5run pr0 *$ comprison'

ot!er ecotourism sites !ve )ce# even !ig!er levels o) environmentl #egr#tion/

?or e@mple' t!e uet2l' rre *ir# species ntive to severl Centrl Fmericn

countries' lso )ell victim to t!e #estructive nture o) ecotourism/ T!e uet2l +s n

i#el )ocus )or severl ecotourism pro:ects *ecuse o) its geogrp!icl rrit$ n# uniue

ppernce/ T!e uet2l is )inic0$ *ir# *$ nture it nee#s n incre#i*l$ speci)ic

environment in or#er to t!rive/ Fs ecotourism in#ustries #evelope# roun# t!is *ir#

species' ln#o+ners n# !otel o+ners *egn to #eli*ertel$ crete moc0 nests )or t!e


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11

uet2ls to simulte t!e *est vie+s o) t!is elusive *ir#/ T!e intrusive nture o) t!ese

ecotourism sites #i# not improve tourists= *ilit$ to vie+ uet2ls inste#' t!e

#evelopment t!retene# t!e !*itts n# popultion gro+t! o) t!e uet2l species/ T!is is

common tren# +it! ecotourism' *ecuse ecotourists +nt c!nce to e@perience uniue

n# remr0*le spects o) nture *e)ore t!e$ re gone/ F rpi# in)lu@ o) ecotourists'

!o+ever' le#s to t!e #estruction o) !*itts n# t!e #emise o) importnt species/

Competition with "ther Industries

Flt!oug! ecotourism sites o)ten t!reten species' some success)ul ecotourism

pro:ects o)ten pl$ role in sving t!retene# or en#ngere# species/ T!ese pro:ects m$

*e consi#ere# success)ul on one )ront *ecuse t!e$ protect *io#iversit$/ 4io#iversit$ is

unrgu*l$ *ene)icil to !umnit$ s +!ole *ecuse it cn llo+ )or #evelopment o)

ne+ p!rmceuticls' preservtion o) t!e pro#uctivit$ o) ecos$stems n# !umn

en:o$ment or leisure/ Fres preserve# )or ecotourism cn *e e@tremel$ vlu*le' *ut t!eir

vlues re usull$ un#erestimte# or ignore# ,>lpole %&&1./ On t!e ot!er !n#'

*io#iversit$ !s mn$ implicit *ene)its' *ut t!e e@plicit cost o) mintining *io#iversit$

generll$ #oes not out+eig! t!e societl gins/ In )ct' t!e costs o) protecte# res re

more imme#ite n# unti)i*le t!n t!e *ene)its/ ?or t!is reson' ecotourism is o)ten n

unsustin*le n# costl$ s n in#ustr$ in #eveloping countries *ecuse it #oes not eul

t!e mount o) revenue t!t coul# ccrue )rom ot!er in#ustries li0e griculture or mining/

Ecotourism competes +it! ot!er in#ustries )or ln#' o)ten times pus!ing out vlu*le n#

more pro)it*le in#ustries in #eveloping countries/ In Nmi*i' )or e@mple' s t!e

ecotourism in#ustr$ e@pn#s n# uses more ln#' t!e livestoc0 in#ustr$ necessril$

s!rin0s/ T!e livestoc0 in#ustr$ not onl$ emplo$s more ntives' *ut it lso is greter


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1%

source o) revenue )or Nmi*ins n# provi#es st*le )oo# suppl$ ,Lin#se$ %&1(./ In

##ition to livestoc0' F)ricn countries lso use t!e ln# )or trop!$ !unting' or t!e

!unting o) +il# gme nimls/ Trop!$ !unting in F)ricn countries cn *e more

pro)it*le t!n preservtion )or ecotourism purposes' *ecuse it utili2es t!e ln# t no

economic cost n# no in)rstructure is nee#e#/ Less revenue is le0e# to )oreign countries

)rom !unting t!n ecotourism *ecuse t!e trop!$ !unters re ntives/ F##itionll$'

contrr$ to populr *elie)' trop!$ !unting cn *e more sustin*le n# promote !ig!er

conservtion stn#r#s ,Lin#se$ %&&B./

Economic Underperformance

Ecotourism not onl$ competes +it! n# #isplces ot!er in#ustries' *ut lso

severel$ un#erper)orms s n in#ustr$/ Lo+ entrnce )ees to ntionl pr0s rrel$ mtc!

t!e cost o) mintining t!e ulit$ o) t!e pr0/ In t!e )e+ cses +!ere ntionl pr0s !ve

generte# signi)icnt revenue' entrnce )ees !ve *een e@or*itntl$ !ig!/ >!ile some

success)ul n# !ig! pro)ile ntionl pr0s cn rise entrnce )ees +it!out noticing

signi)icnt #rop in ecotourism' most #eveloping countries +oul# )ce #ecrese in

#emn# )ter rising prices/ Flt!oug! ecotourists mig!t still visit t!e re' t!e increse in

entrnce )ees mig!t mni)est itsel) in re#uctions o) spen#ing in ot!er res o) t!e

communit$ ,>lpole %&&1./ Fs result o) t!e unsustin*l$ lo+ entr$ prices' most

*ene)its o) ecotourism )ll to t!e )oreign trvelers' +!o re p$ing minimum to

e@perience n e@pensive in#ustr$' n# not to t!e ntives in t!e surroun#ing communities/

#imits to $rowth

Ecotourism is lso limite# economicll$ it cnnot occur on scle lrge enoug! to

provi#e economic *ene)its to t!e entire popultion o) #eveloping countr$ +it!out


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severel$ #eteriorting t!e environment/ Most tourism in#ustries +ill continue to e@pn#

s t!e$ *ecome success)ul/ Fs n ecotourism in#ustr$ gro+s' it +ill unvoi#*l$

encounter t!e sme #evelopment tr:ector$ s ot!er t$pes o) tourism' +!ic! +ill

inevit*l$ le# to environmentl #egr#tion or #estruction ,Lie*er0nec!t %&&./ Fs

more tourists enter countr$' more ro#s must *e pve#' more !otels constructe# n#

more trils e@pn#e#/ Once n ecotourism #estintion *ecomes populr n# overcro+#e#'

it ris0s losing t!e ulities t!t initill$ m#e it ppeling' inclu#ing seclusion n# *eut$

,Orms*$ %&&B./ Msol Ntionl Pr0 encountere# t!is impsse in its ttempt to *ecome

populr ecotourism site/ Msol is ver$ inccessi*le8)uel prices re !ig!' m0ing

*ot trips e@pensive tre00ing to t!e pr0 is ine@pensive' *ut t0es over +ee0 n# ro#s

re unsuit*le )or #riving/ F##itionll$' Fir M#gscr !s limite# )lig!t vil*ilit$'

m0ing it #i))icult )or tourists to even rec! t!e countr$ o) M#gscr ,Orms*$ %&&B./

In or#er to !ve success)ul in#ustr$' ecotourist sites must !ve su))icient in)rstructure

in t!e countr$/ I) t!is in)rstructure #oes not e@ist' )urt!er #evelopment o) in)rstructure

is reuire# to generte signi)icnt revenue )rom ecotourism/ I) Msol +ere to #evelop

su))icient in)rstructure )or t!e ecotourism in#ustr$' it +oul# lose its vlue s remote

n# e@ceptionl ntionl pr0/ T!us' #eveloping countries must )ce t!e #ecision *et+een

lrge5scle #evelopment n# environmentl protection/

Cultural Interference

Ecotourism promise# to *e t!e ns+er to t!e *ttle *et+een #evelopment

n# conservtion' *ut inste# ecotourism !s proven to *e n unsustin*le economic

solution to t!e pro*lems in #eveloping countries/ >!t is even more trou*ling' !o+ever'

is t!t t!e ecotourism in#ustr$ !s ltere# n# !rme# t!e cultures o) t!e communities in


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+!ic! ecotourism pro:ects re instlle#/ T!e nture o) ecotourism encourges investors

n# sttes to #evelop ecotourism pro:ects in unspoile# n# isolte# environments/ T!e

pro*lem +it! t!is strteg$ is t!t t!e ntives in t!ese res o)ten !ve uniue n#

seclu#e# cultures t!t !ve !# little to no in)luence )rom outsi#e cultures/ >!en n

ecotourism in#ustr$ *egins to t0e o)) in one o) t!ese res' ntives re inescp*l$

))ecte# *$ t!e in)lu@ o) )irst5+orl# tourists n# t!eir cultures/ Regr#less o) culturl

*c0groun# or geogrp!ic loction' numerous culturl groups !ve e@presse# concerns

t!t ecotourism or tourists in generl !ve !# negtive e))ect on t!eir cultures/

In 9on#urs' ntives )rom t!e 4$ Isln#s voice# concerns *out t!e trnsition o)

t!eir e#uction s$stem to more 9ispnic )ocus/ T!e 4$ Isln#s tr#itionll$ !ve !#

close culturl n# economic connections +it! t!e 4ritis!' n# ntives re ppre!ensive

to+r# t!e un+elcome s!i)t in culturl vlues/ 4$ Isln#ers re not t!e onl$ culturl

group +it! concerns *out t!e impct o) ecotourism on culture ,Moreno %&&6./ T!e

culture o) t!e ntives o) Fm*ergris C$e in 4eli2e !s lso *een signi)icntl$ ))ecte# *$

t!e rrivl o) tourists o) #i))erent cultures/ 4eli2e tr#itionll$ !s lrge )is!ing

in#ustr$' *ut t!e cretion o) lrge5scle ecotourism in#ustr$ on t!e cost !s le#

$ounger genertions to enter t!e tourism sector/ oung people !ve lso *egun to #rin0

t tourist *rs n# even emulte t!e st$le o) #ress o) tourists/ T!e culture o) 4eli2e is

lre#$ incre#i*l$ #iverse' n# 4eli2ens !# previousl$ *een e@pose# to culture )rom

ot!er countries #ue to t!e intro#uction o) stellite television/ Flt!oug! t!eir culture is not

necessril$ isolte#' over !l) o) t!e locls )elt t!t tourism *roug!t negtive culturl

impcts to t!eir communit$ ,Moreno %&&6./ Ntives o) villge in In#onesi s!re#

similr sentiment *out ecotourists/ Flmost & percent o) ntives *elieve# t!t ecotourists


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+ere imposing t!eir li)est$le on locl people' n# 3( percent o) ntives *elieve# t!t

ecotourism !# increse# crime in t!eir villge ,Cli)ton %&&B./ Flt!oug! t!ese sttistics

+ere sel)5reporte#' t!e$ re cler in#iction o) t!e negtive impct t!t ecotourism cn

pose to culture n# to t!e perceptions o) t!e communit$/

Ecotourism is #etrimentl to t!e culture o) #eveloping communities in multiple

+$s8it lso le#s to t!e commo#i)iction o) culture/ Commo#i)iction o) culture in t!e

tourism in#ustr$ is t!e sle o) culturl ctivities n# rti)cts ,M*i+ %&11./ Flt!oug!

t!is prctice en!nces t!e culturl e@perience )or t!e ecotourist' it cn le# locls to

#isssocite )rom t!eir culture' n# in turn' cuse t!e culture to lose its mening/

Flt!oug! commo#i)iction o) culture is generll$ seen s negtive conseuence o)

tourism' some ntives mig!t t0e pri#e in t!e sle o) t!eir culturl rti)cts/ T!is #ivi#e

*et+een purve$ors o) culturl items n# tr#itionlists cn cuse )urt!er !rm to

communities +it! ecotourism in#ustries/

T!e Goo5Moremi Gorge in 4ots+n is n e@mple o) t!e commo#i)iction o)

culture/ T!e Goo5Moremi Gorge is scre# +ors!ip site o) t!e Goo5Moremi Villge' *ut

its ric! culturl !istor$ n# stunning vie+s m#e it t!e per)ect loction )or n ecotourism

site/ Fs tourists *egn to visit t!e gorge' villge el#ers +orrie# t!t t!e secrets o) t!e tri*e

+oul# *e revele# to t!e outsi#ers/ Ntives +ere )or*i##en to #ivulge t!e secret t*oos

n# *elie)s o) t!e tri*e' inclu#ing o*servtion o) #$ o) rest' restrictions on s+imming

in t!e gorge n# limittions o) people +!o m$ visit t!e gorge/ 4ecuse t!e ntives coul#

not s!re t!ese secrets' tourists #isregr#e# t!e rules o) t!e Goo5Moremi ncestors n#

#is!onore# t!e Goo5Moremi Villge=s most scre# loction/ El#ers )ere# t!t t!is

*ltnt *etr$l o) vlues +oul# nger t!e ncestors n# *ring !rm upon t!eir villge/


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Fs t!e ecotourism in#ustr$ turne# t!e scre# gorge into commo#it$' *ot! el#ers n#

$ounger Goo5Moremis lost t!e vlue o) t!eir uniue n# ric! culture ,M*i+ %&11./

Ecotourism sells t!e environment in +$' ecotourism is t!e commo#i)iction o)

t!e environment/ In Monte Ver#e' Cost Ric' t!e uet2l *ir# species !s *ecome more

t!n n est!etic n# rre niml !i##en in t!e treetops o) t!e clou# )orests/ uet2ls

!ve *ecome pro#uct' n# +$ )or ntives to seemingl$ improve t!eir ulit$ o) li)e

t!roug! uet2l tours n# souvenirs/ One resi#ent o) Monte Ver#e even remr0e# t!t !er

imge o) t!e uet2l re5envisions t!e long' )et!ere# til into #ollr sign/ Ft t!t stge

in ecotourism #evelopment' t!e environment itsel) loses intrinsic vlue' n# onl$

*ecomes vlu*le economicll$/

Commo#i)iction o) species cn even le# to con)lict mong mem*ers o)

#eveloping countr$/ On t!e +est cost o) Me@ico' t!e cretion o) t!e ecotourism in#ustr$

increse# t!e competition )or mrine resources/ Ec! ecotourism gui#e +nte# to provi#e

t!e *est vie+ o) t!e gr$ +!le on its compn$=s tours' cusing #isputes over o+ners!ip

o) t!e commons ,oung 1---./ T!is s!i)t in perception o) t!e locls le#s to !rm)ul

pt! o) e@ploittion n# #estruction o) t!e environment/ Ecotourism sets out to preserve

n# ccentute t!e environment' *ut eventull$ #rives locls n# )oreign investors to

overuse n# #isrupt spects o) t!e environment to m0e pro)it/ Ecotourism sites m$ *e

pro)it*le in t!e s!ort5run' *ut s #evelopers continue to *use t!e environment' t!e

ecotourism in#ustr$ +ill inevit*le su))er/

Recommen#tions

Ecotourism *egn s vi*le pln to improve economic con#itions in #eveloping

countries +it!out scri)icing t!e rre n# o)ten un#istur*e# environmentl con#itions in


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t!ose res/ Its en# result' !o+ever' +s n ine))ective #evelopment strteg$ t!t not onl$

#mge# t!e environment' *ut lso !rme# t!e s!ort n# long5term economies n# socil

structure o) surroun#ing communities/ Ecotourism' lt!oug! goo# in t!eor$' )ile# in

prctice/ 4$ #:usting t!e *sic principles o) ecotourism n# creting concrete n#

precise #evelopment pln' ecotourism cn *e success)ull$ #pte# to )unction s vi*le

pln )or gro+t! in #eveloping countries/ T!e )ollo+ing strtegies re met!o#s to

improve t!e current structure o) ecotourism to m0e it reson*le n# )unctionl

#evelopment strteg$ )or #eveloping countries/

Use a %ottom-up approach& T!e most note+ort!$ #o+n)ll o) ecotourism is t!t

locls' especill$ poor locls' ver$ rrel$ receive# *ene)its )rom ecotourism pro:ects/

>elt!$ ntives or )oreign investors )reuentl$ *oug!t out propert$ in prime loctions'

leving poor locls to occup$ service :o*s in lieu o) o+ners!ip/ Inste#' t!e locl

government s!oul# su*si#i2e propert$ or provi#e lo+5interest lons so t!t poor locls

cn ))or# to invest in propert$/ T!is strteg$ ##resses t+o pro*lems +it! ecotourism8

!ig! strt up costs n# involvement o) lo+er5clss locls/ 9ig! strt5up costs o)ten le)t

*usiness o+ners #epen#ent on )un#ing )rom NGOs or ot!er len#ers/ F government

su*si#$ or lo+5interest lon +oul# not crete #epen#enc$ t!e$ encourge poor ntives to

enter t!e ecotourism in#ustr$ t price t!t t!e$ cn ctull$ ))or#/

I) mi##le to lo+5clss ntives *ecme t!e o+ners o) t!e ecotourism in#ustries'

t!e$ +ill li0el$ !ve greter concern )or t!e +ell *eing o) t!e environment n# its

)etures' n# +ill #o t!eir *est to sti)le e@pnsive n# #estructive gro+t!/ One o) t!e

e@isting pro*lems +it! ecotourism is t!t t!e e@pnsion o) t!e tourism in#ustr$

necessril$ !rms t!e environment/ I) locls control t!e ecotourism in#ustr$' !o+ever'


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t!e$ +ill prioriti2e t!e protection o) t!eir ntive environment/ Inste# o) inter)ering +it!

t!e environment *$ creting lrge5scle #evelopment pro:ects' ecotourism pro:ects +ill

remin reltivel$ smll/ 4$ 0eeping ecotourism sites smll' t!e in)lu@ o) tourists +ill

remin mnge*le' n# t!e in#ustr$ +ill not nee# to e@pn# to levels t!t impe#e or

#istrct )rom t!e nturl environment/ T!is strteg$ +ill llo+ )or *lnce *et+een

tourism n# environmentl preservtion' +!ic! !onors t!e originl gols o) ecotourism/

Create incentives for domestic products/ F #o+n)ll o) ecotourism is t!t revenue

is lost )rom le0ges to ot!er countries/ >!en )oreign investors o+n !otel or resturnt'

it is more li0el$ t!t t!e o+ner +ill use pro#ucts n# +or0ers )rom t!eir o+n countr$

,Lie*er0nec!t %&&./ To prevent t!ese le0ges n# 0eep more o) t!e ecotourism revenue

#omesticll$' t!e government s!oul# crete economic incentives )or using #omestic )oo#'

trvel gencies n# *uil#ing supplies/ One potentil incentive is n e@ten#e# rel estte

t@ re#uction )or #omestic investors/

Utili'e e!isting infrastructure& 4$ utili2ing res +it! e@isting in)rstructure' t!ere

is no nee# to e@pn# t!e ecotourism in#ustr$ n# !rm t!e environment/ Flt!oug!

in)rstructure n# environment #o not necessril$ go !n# in !n#' t!ere nee#s to *e

some in)rstructure8inclu#ing ro#s' *uil#ings n# n irport8)or n ecotourism

in#ustr$ to )louris!/ Tourists must rec! t!e loction' *e *le to trvel esil$ roun# t!e

ecotourism site n# !ve plces to st$' et n# s!op/ I) n ecotourism in#ustr$ is

est*lis!e# in n re t!t lre#$ !s )unctionl *lnce *et+een environment n#

in)rstructure' t!ere +ill *e less o) nee# to e@pn# n# )urt!er !rm t!e environment/

Ecotourism as a secondar( industr(/ Ecotourism is n unpre#ict*le in#ustr$

t!ere)ore' it s!oul# not *e use# s t!e primr$ *usiness in n re/ Developing countries


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s!oul# !ve primr$ #evelopment strteg$ +it! st*le in#ustr$ t!t is not esil$

))ecte# *$ sesonl c!nge or nturl #isster/ Once pro#uctive n# ste#$ in#ustr$ is

est*lis!e#' ecotourism cn *e use# to ccentute t!e e@isting in#ustries in t!t re n#

provi#e ##itionl revenue/ ?or e@mple' smll communit$ in #eveloping countr$

coul# #erive t!eir min source o) revenue )rom rottion o) crops/ In Centrl Fmeric'

communities coul# pro#uce co))ee n# te' *ut crete smll in#ustr$ roun# note+ort!$

environmentl )etures li0e volcnoes/ F similr strteg$ coul# ppl$ to countries in

F)ric t!e countr$=s min econom$ coul# center on mining or nturl resource

e@trction' *ut secon#r$ ecotourism in#ustr$ coul# o))er s)ri tours/ Costl res

s!oul# mintin )is!eries' *ut o))er +!le5+tc!ing tours/ It is unrelistic )or #eveloping

countries to *se n entire #evelopment pln on ecotourism/ It is reson*le' t!oug!' )or

#eveloping countries to use ecotourism to crete ##itionl revenue in ##ition to t!e

in#ustries t!t re lre#$ t!riving/

Understanding of communit( structure& In or#er to voi# issues +it! t!e

commo#i)iction o) culture n# #isruption o) ntive vlues' locls s!oul# *e inclu#e# in

ever$ step o) t!e ecotourism process/ 4e)ore #esigns re m#e to crete n ecotourism

in#ustr$' #evelopers' investors n# government o))icils s!oul# ir out ll concerns o) t!e

locl people/ T!is is especill$ importnt )or communities t!t !ve !# ver$ little

outsi#e in)luence n# re lmost completel$ isolte#' *ecuse t!ese communities +ill *e

))ecte# t!e most *$ ecotourists/ T!e politicl climte o) t!e communit$ or countr$

s!oul# lso *e ssesse# to ensure t!t n ecotourism locle +ill not *e est*lis!e# in n

re +it! tur*ulent politicl reputtion/ I) politicl #isputes or civil unrest is common in

#evelope# countr$' ecotourism s!oul# *e voi#e# in generl' n# more con)lict5


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%&

resilientin#ustr$ s!oul# *e est*lis!e#/

)onitoring via certification s(stem& Ecotourism strte# out +it! vlu*le n#

commen#*le principles' *ut unc!ec0e# gro+t! le# most ecotourism pro:ects to *n#on

t!eir i#es o) conservtion n# succum* to t!e #r+ o) #evelopment/ In or#er to prevent

t!is )rom occurring gin' ec! countr$ s!oul# crete n o))icil ecotourism site

#esigntion/ 4$ limiting t!e o))icil term o) ;ecotourism site< to onl$ res t!t meet

certin con#itions' it gives o+ners incentives to #!ere to t!e originl principles o)

ecotourism/ Flt!oug! o))icil ecotourism sites mig!t inevit*l$ ttrct more tourists'

government incentives n# su*si#ies +ill #iscourge ecotourism in#ustries )rom

e@pn#ing so t!t t!e$ cn 0eep t!e ecotourism #esigntion/

Ensure that a portion of the profit is designated to conservation efforts/ F*ove ll

else' ecotourism s!oul# im to protect t!e environment t!t it is centere# roun#/ >it!out

t!e environment' t!ere +oul# *e no in#ustr$/ Currentl$' most ecotourism *usiness o+ners

0eep ll o) t!e pro)it to t!emselves n# #onte not!ing t ll to locl conservtion e))orts

,Trpsso 1--./ Inste#' in n ttempt to encourge environmentl protection' portion

o) t!e pro)it )rom ecotourism s!oul# *e rec$cle# to protect or restore t!e environment/

Environmentl protection cn *e costl$' *ut it is essentil to t!e pro#uctivit$ o) t!e

ecotourism in#ustr$/ F portion o) t@es )rom souvenirs' )oo#' trnsporttion n# lo#ging

s!oul# lso *e )or environmentl protection/

Conclusion

Ecotourism +s crete# to *e t!e per)ect solution to environmentl n# economic

pro*lems in #eveloping countries/ Mn$ #eveloping countries +ere scri)icing n#

ignoring t!e environment in or#er to #evelop' so ecotourism crete# )esi*le pln )or


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t!ese communities/ Un)ortuntel$' ecotourism )ell s!ort *ecuse o) its severe limittions/

In )ct' it even *roug!t even greter !rm to some communities/ Flt!oug! gree# n#

#esire )or #evelopment le# to t!e #issolution o) ecotourism=s originl gols' ecotourism is

not lost cuse/ Developing countries !ve uniue c!nce to utili2e t!e principles o)

ecotourism to stri0e *lnce *et+een environmentl conservtion n# economic

#evelopment/

Overll' t!e most essentil component o) ecotourism is soun# governmentl

structure/ >it! coopertive n# +ell5mening government' ecotourism coul# *e

properl$ implemente# in #eveloping countries/ Mn$ o) t!e pro*lems o) ecotourism stem

)rom pro*lems +it!in t!e government' inclu#ing !ig! t@es' lc0 o) regultion n#

politicl unrest/ Once t!e government o) countr$ c!nges t!ese elements' ecotourism

m$ *e *le to succee#/ Un)ortuntel$' c!nging t!e structure o) t!e government is esier

si# t!n #one/ In or#er )or ecotourism to *e success)ul' t!ere nee#s to *e long5term'

institutionl c!nge in countr$/

Ecotourism Final

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Ecotourism Final