Ecotourism is a shotgun marriage between tourism and conservation, with both parties somewhat interested and at the same time "inconvenienced" by the other.
Perhaps it's precisely the hybrid origin of environmental tourism that brands it as something that cannot be trusted. Conservationists shudder when tourism leaders brand amusement parks as ecotourism. Likewise, when environmentalists devise complicated eco trips, and tour operators cannot book a reservation, it's perceived as a utopian whimsy.
In October I was invited to give a presentation on information distribution for the International Colloquium on Protected Areas and Ecotourism in Mexico and Central America. The biggest obstacle I noted is that people will not go to parks if they don't know they exist. And they won't get to the parks, if they don't have directions.
Ecotourism generally does not make enough money for expensive ads or coverage in the leading travel magazines. Community-based ecotourism projects rarely have the budget for advertisements or for commissions to travel operators who might book a trip.
In Playa del Carmen, for example, there were plenty of kiosks and information stands on the "eco-archaeology nature's sacred paradise" XCARET. According to sources, this park receives 600,000 visitors a year - and no wonder, it has the billboards, the magazine ads, the kiosks and the connections with travel operators.
But looking for information on ejido-controlled Cenote Crystal? Tres Garantias? El Eden scientific research station? Nada.
The bright spot is that environmentalists, both the NGO and the GO, variety are taking on the topic of ecotourism. They see this as a valuable source of financing for the conservation of protected areas. And it could be - though tourism can also be fickle, especially if only the international market is promoted.
At the Colloquium, several important points were made and echoed by participants: 1) conservation shouldn't have to prove itself solely via economic means, 2) environmental tourism should not be the exclusive domain of international visitors, and 3) the need for management plans and carrying capacity studies is greater now than ever.
Practical ecotourism needs a greater boost from both tourism and environmental leaders. It's not enough to offer training and build lodges - it's now time to promote the type of ecotourism that actually protects the environment and empowers local communities.
Pperhaps most importantly in any discussion of sustainability, the website is receiving financial sponsorship. This means the website will continue to be freely accessible as we head into 1997.
Future plans include the development of a syndicated column on ecotourism as well as online recommendations of community-based ecotourism projects that you - the traveler - can support. Vaya con Dios!
Ron Mader hosts the Planeta.com website and writes frequently on Latin American issues. He is available for speaking engagements and workshops.
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