March 1997
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Paradise is under threat; the most inaccessible rainforest, the most fragile coral system, the remotest tribal people are now within easy reach of the global ecotourist." [Panos, 1995:1].
Several years ago, I had the fortunate experience to spend six months studying in the faculty of anthropology and archaeology of the State University of Yucatán. During this time I not only experienced the many natural beauties of this far flung corner of Mexico but also discovered the dangers of its increasing exposure to international tourist markets. It is from these experiences that my interest in conservation, sustainable development and ecotourism, as a viable option for the future of this region, have grown.
I would like to record my thanks for the advice and support that I received from Andy Thorpe of the University of Portsmouth, during the preparation of this dissertation. I am also greatly indebted to my dear friend and fellow traveller Melissa. During this past year her encouragement and guidance has helped me on many levels, both intellectual and personal, including the invaluable proof reading of my work. Finally I'd like to thank all those people that I met whilst travelling in Mexico who taught me so much about their country and made me feel most welcome throughout.
Index
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Conclusion and
Bibliography
Ecotourism is tourism that is based on the natural environment. Whilst no satisfactory universal definition has been found there is general agreement that it seeks to minimise the negative impacts on the environment while contributing to the conservation of the region.
This study attempts to provide a clear definition of the concept and goals of ecotourism. It will concentrate on an assessment of the tourist industry in Mexico, looking at the potential and suitability of ecotourism in the state of Quintana Roo. Specific ecotourism projects are assessed to prove that whilst some projects claiming to be ecotourism go part way to offering a more sustainable alternative (environmentally, socially and economically), the prefix 'eco' has been given away all too easily. The research will show that ecotourism does not achieve all it may claim to, and in fact may create more problems than possible benefits. These include the inadvertent opening up of previously undeveloped areas (spear heading) by foreign companies taking advantage of the niche in the market to 'eco' sell their product.
Chapter One provides on an overview of the world tourist industry and the third world tourist market and its associated advantages and disadvantages. This is discussed in the wider frame of third world development. Chapter Two discusses the 'fuzzy' notion of ecotourism, looking at the differences in definition and presents them on a continuum of the ecotourism paradigm. Aims of, and goals for ecotourism will be established to enable an assessment of different projects in later chapters. Chapter Three focuses on the tourist industry in Mexico. In the light of the wide spread environmental devastation caused by mass tourism in certain areas, Mexico is now opting for a more sustainable approach to tourism development. The potential and the possible pitfalls are discussed. Chapter Four assesses a number of current inter-governmental, national and private ecotourism projects in Quintana Roo. These, grouped as, are assessed using the criteria outlined in chapter two.
This study concludes that tourism is clearly a large industry that is destroying the natural and cultural environment at an alarming rate. Whilst ecotourism is not as environmentally friendly as it claims to be it does exist to a limited degree and in Mexico it offers a relatively suitable and more desirable form of tourism for the region of Quintana Roo.
Whilst ecotourism is an industry in its infancy there is clearly a large amount of literature available. Books offer a limited supply of information and are mainly concerned with the concept of tourism from a development perspective and more recently the negative effects of mass-tourism. However there is an increasingly large amount of material available in the form of magazine articles which specifically deal with the idea of nature tourism in developing countries. Since the ecotourism destinations discussed in chapter four are considerably new developments in Quintana Roo, there is a lack of available data. At this stage the Internet proved to be an invaluable source of information. Organisations such as Latin American Bureau, Survival, the Ecumenical Coalition on Third World Tourism were also able to supply relevant material. Further information had been collected during my stay in Mexico, through interviews and visits to the ecotourism destinations that are assessed in this Final Chapter.
Ecotourism : Reality or Rhetoric: Ecotourism Development in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico is a critical analysis by Natasha Kate Ward. Author retains copyright; all rights reserved. Contact Natasha Kate Ward via email: natasha_ward@hotmail.com
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