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As part of the Planeta.com deep dive into tourism definitions and niches, we turn to one of our favorites – ecotourism as interpreted around the world.
Questions // Preguntas
- How does ecotourism contribute to conserve nature and improve the well-being of local people? Specific examples, please! // ¿Cómo contribuye el ecoturismo a conservar la naturaleza y mejorar el bienestar de la población local? Ejemplos concretos, por favor!
- Since the 2002 Ecotourism Summit, many organizations including Ecuador’s ecotourism association have ceased to exist. Others – such as the International Ecotourism Society – have changed leaders and values so much as to be zombie organizations. Why is it so difficult to organize and maintain networks / associations focused on ecotourism? // Desde la Cumbre de Ecoturismo de 2002, muchas organizaciones, incluida la asociación de ecoturismo de Ecuador, han dejado de existir. Otras, como la Sociedad Internacional de Ecoturismo, han cambiado tanto de líderes y valores como de organizaciones zombis. ¿Por qué es tan difícil organizar y mantener redes/asociaciones enfocadas en el ecoturismo?
Essay
While the details vary, most definitions of ecotourism boil down to a special form of tourism that meets three criteria:
1) it provides for environmental conservation
2) it includes meaningful community participation
3) it is profitable and can be self-sustaining
Ecotourism is overreaching at its finest and calls upon inter-sectoral alliances and respect among a mix of players, aka stakeholders.
Imagine these goals as three overlapping circles. If a project or service met all three criteria, it would hit the bull’s eye. To use another sports term, it’s akin to scoring a hat trick.
This three circle model illuminates not only what is ecotourism, but what can become ecotourism. If tourism aspires toward ecotourism, this model allows players to figure out how to collaborate and share individual and collective strengths.
This model is similar to the idea behind ‘triple bottom line’ but frankly, we think the term makes ecotourism a tool of the accountants, rather than that of entrepreneurs.
Confusion and Decline
The lack of a precise, commonly agreed definition of ‘ecotourism’ has been a cause of misunderstanding, argument and debate. Multiple uses confuse ecotourism with adventure and nature tourism, not to mention sustainable tourism.
During the 2002 International Year of Ecotourism the traveling public were largely ignored as valued players during official policy making events. For example, the Quebec Ecotourism Declaration did NOT include travelers as stakeholders. A serious omission, n’est-ce pas?
The 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, barely mentioned or reflected on ecotourism as a subset.
The 2022 20-year anniversary of the Ecotourism Summit attracted some reflections and colloquiums, but not much in-depth.
The result of this confusion and lack of con tinuity: during this time …. we’ve been tracking a decline… Fewer people are searching for ecotourism, at least by this specific name:
Urban Ecotourism
City-based ecotourism is no more an oxymoron that flying to an ‘eco’ reserve. Check out the 2004 declaration which makes some good points about connecting urban and rural environments and playing off one another’s strengths.
Elsewhere on the Web
Latin American Ecotourism: What is it? – Ron Mader/Current Issues in Tourism
Defining Ecotourism and Responsible Travel
Ron Mader Interview – ECOCLUB, International Ecotourism Magazine
Researchgate
Climate Home News
Future of ecotourism (2014)
Archives
txinfinet.com
Features
Planeta.com
https://www.planeta.com/ecotourism