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The term 'ecotourism', like 'sustainable tourism', is considered by many to b
e an oxymoron. Tourism in general depends upon and increases air transportation,
contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions from combustion placed h
igh into the stratosphere where they immediately contribute to the heat trapping
phenomenon behind global warming and climate change. Additionally, "the overall
effect of sustainable tourism is negative, where, like ecotourism, philanthropi
c aspirations mask hard-nosed immediate self-interest."[5]


Criteria[edit]
Ecotourism is a form of tourism that involves visiting natural areasin the remote
wilderness or rural environments. According to the definition and principles of
ecotourism established by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990,
ecotourism is "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environmen
t and improves the well-being of local people." (TIES, 1990). Martha Honey, expa
nds on the TIES definition by describing the seven characteristics of ecotourism
, which are:
-Involves travel to natural destinations
-Minimizes impact
-Builds environmental awareness
-Provides direct financial benefits for conservation
-Provides financial benefits and empowerment for local people
-Respects local culture
-Supports human rights and democratic movements[6]
[7][8] such as:
-conservation of biological diversity and cultural diversity through ecosystem p
rotection
-promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, by providing jobs to local popula
tions
-sharing of socio-economic benefits with local communities and indigenous people
s by having their informed consent and participation in the management of ecotou
rism enterprises
-tourism to unspoiled natural resources, with minimal impact on the environment
being a primary concern.
-minimization of tourism's own environmental impact
-affordability and lack of waste in the form of luxury
-local culture, flora and fauna being the main attractions
-local people benefit from this form of tourism economically, often more than ma
ss tourism
Ecotourism Society Pakistan (ESP) explains "Ecotourism is a travel activity that
ensures direct financial support to local people where tourism activities are b
eing generated and enjoyed. It teaches travellers to respect local cultures of d
estinations where travellers are visiting. It supports small stakeholders to ens
ure that money must not go out from the local economies. It discourage mass tour
ism, mass constructions of hotels, tourism resorts and mass activities in fragil
e areas". For many countries, ecotourism is not simply a marginal activity to fi
nance protection of the environment, but is a major industry of the national eco
nomy. For example, in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nepal, Kenya, Madagascar and territor
ies such as Antarctica, ecotourism represents a significant portion of the gross
domestic product and economic activity.[7][9]
Ecotourism is often misinterpreted as any form of tourism that involves nature (
see Jungle tourism). In reality, the latter activities often consist of placing
a hotel in a splendid landscape, to the detriment of the ecosystem.[citation nee
ded] According to them[who?] ecotourism must above all sensitize people to the b
eauty and the fragility of nature. They[who?] condemn some operators as greenwas
hing their operations: using the labels of "green" and "eco-friendly, while behav
ing in environmentally irresponsible ways.
Although academics disagree about who can be classified as an ecotourist and the
re is little statistical data, some estimate that more than five million ecotour
iststhe majority of the ecotourist populationcome from the United States, with man
y others from Western Europe, Canada and Australia.[7]
Currently, there are various moves to create national and international ecotouri
sm accreditation programs, although the process is also controversial.[10] Natio
nal ecotourism certification programs have been put in place in countries such a
s Costa Rica, Australia, Kenya, Estonia, and Sweden.

Terminology and history[edit]
Ecotourism is a late 20th-century neologism compounded from eco- and tourism. Ac
cording to the Oxford English Dictionary, ecotour was first recorded in 1973 and
ecotourism, "probably after ecotour", in 1982.[11]
ecotour, n. ... A tour of or visit to an area of ecological interest, usually wi
th an educational element; (in later use also) a similar tour or visit designed
to have as little detrimental effect on the ecology as possible or undertaken wi
th the specific aim of helping conservation efforts.
ecotourism, n. ... Tourism to areas of ecological interest (typically exotic and
often threatened natural environments), esp. to support conservation efforts an
d observe wildlife; spec. access to an endangered environment controlled so as t
o have the least possible adverse effect.
One source claims the terms were used earlier. Claus-Dieter (Nick) Hetzer, an ac
ademic and adventurer from Forum International in Berkeley, CA, supposedly coine
d ecotourism in 1965 and ran the first ecotours in the Yucatn during the early 19
70s.[12]
Egotourism is a recent neologism, based upon the pun between eco- and ego-, whic
h pejoratively refers to travelers more motivated by an egotistical desire to fe
el they engage in ethical tourism than by a genuine desire to support a local ec
ology or sustainable development.[13] Graham M. S. Dann, a University of the Wes
t Indies sociology professor, published a groundbreaking 1977 study revealing th
at tourism motivation is primarily based upon the socio-psychological concepts o
f anomie and ego-enhancement.[14] Brian Wheeller, a professor of tourism at the
University of Tasmania, has popularized the academic concept of egotourism. His
brief 1992 "Eco or Ego tourism" article was the first published usage of the coi
nage.[15] Wheeller's 1993 "Sustaining the Ego" article explained the concept.
Sustainable tourism does provide the answer. Unfortunately it is to the wrong qu
estion. Rather than effectively addressing the complexities of tourism impact, w
hat it is actually achieving is the considerably easier task of answering the qu
estion - 'How best can we cope with the criticism of tourism impact?' - as oppos
ed to the impact itself. In essence then, the solution has been conjuring up an
intellectually appealing concept with little practical application. One that sat
isfies the immediate short-term wishes of some of the main protagonists in touri
sm's impact debate, avoids sacrifices and enables behaviour in much the same way
as before - but with the veneer of respectability and from a higher moral platf
orm. For eco-tourism, read ego-tourism. We are more concerned with maintaining o
ur status, massaging our own egos and appeasing our guilt than with addressing t
he actual issues involved.[16]
Subsequent publications have elaborated upon egotourism.[17][18]
Ecotourism, egotourism, responsible tourism, jungle tourism, and sustainable tou
rism have become prevalent alternative tourism concepts since the mid-1980s, and
ecotourism has experienced arguably the fastest growth of all sub-sectors in th
e tourism industry. The popularity represents a change in tourist perceptions, i
ncreased environmental awareness, and a desire to explore natural environments.[
4]
Improving sustainability[edit]
Regulation and accreditation[edit]
Because the regulation of ecotourism may be poorly implemented or nonexistent, e
cologically destructive greenwashed operations like underwater hotels, helicopte
r tours, and wildlife theme parks can be categorized as ecotourism along with ca
noeing, camping, photography, and wildlife observation. The failure to acknowled
ge responsible, low-impact ecotourism puts legitimate ecotourism companies at a
competitive disadvantage.
Many environmentalists have argued for a global standard of accreditation, diffe
rentiating ecotourism companies based on their level of environmental commitment
. A national or international regulatory board would enforce accreditation proce
dures, with representation from various groups including governments, hotels, to
ur operators, travel agents, guides, airlines, local authorities, conservation o
rganizations, and non-governmental organizations.[19] The decisions of the board
would be sanctioned by governments, so that non-compliant companies would be le
gally required to disassociate themselves from the use of the ecotourism brand.
Crinion suggests a Green Stars System, based on criteria including a management
plan, benefit for the local community, small group interaction, education value
and staff training.[10] Ecotourists who consider their choices would be confiden
t of a genuine ecotourism experience when they see the higher star rating.
In addition, environmental impact assessments could be used as a form of accredi
tation. Feasibility is evaluated from a scientific basis, and recommendations co
uld be made to optimally plan infrastructure, set tourist capacity, and manage t
he ecology. This form of accreditation is more sensitive to site specific condit
ions.
Some countries have their own certification programs for ecotourism. Costa Rica,
for example, runs the Certification of Sustainable Tourism (CST) program, which
is intended to balance the effect that business has on the local environment. T
he CST program focuses on a company's interaction with natural and cultural reso
urces, the improvement of quality of life within local communities, and the econ
omic contribution to other programs of national development. CST uses a rating s
ystem that categorizes a company based upon how sustainable its operations are.
CST evaluates the interaction between the company and the surrounding habitat; t
he management policies and operation systems within the company; how the company
encourages its clients to become an active contributor towards sustainable poli
cies; and the interaction between the company and local communities/the overall
population. Based upon these criteria, the company is evaluated for the strength
of its sustainability. The measurement index goes from 0 to 5, with 0 being the
worst and 5 being the best.[20][21]
Guidelines and education[edit]
An environmental protection strategy must address the issue of ecotourists remov
ed from the cause-and-effect of their actions on the environment. More initiativ
es should be carried out to improve their awareness, sensitize them to environme
ntal issues, and care about the places they visit.[7]
Tour guides are an obvious and direct medium to communicate awareness. With the
confidence of ecotourists and intimate knowledge of the environment, they can ac
tively discuss conservation issues. A tour guide training program in Costa Rica'
s Tortuguero National Park has helped mitigate negative environmental impacts by
providing information and regulating tourists on the parks' beaches used by nes
ting endangered sea turtles.[22][23]
Small scale, slow growth and local control[edit]
The underdevelopment theory of tourism describes a new form of imperialism by mu
ltinational corporations that control ecotourism resources. These corporations f
inance and profit from the development of large scale ecotourism that causes exc
essive environmental degradation, loss of traditional culture and way of life, a
nd exploitation of local labor. In Zimbabwe and Nepal's Annapurna region, where
underdevelopment is taking place, more than 90 percent of ecotourism revenues ar
e expatriated to the parent countries, and less than 5 percent go into local com
munities.[24]
The lack of sustainability highlights the need for small scale, slow growth, and
locally based ecotourism. Local peoples have a vested interest in the well bein
g of their community, and are therefore more accountable to environmental protec
tion than multinational corporations. The lack of control, westernization, adver
se impacts to the environment, loss of culture and traditions outweigh the benef
its of establishing large scale ecotourism.
The increased contributions of communities to locally managed ecotourism create
viable economic opportunities, including high level management positions, and re
duce environmental issues associated with poverty and unemployment. Because the
ecotourism experience is marketed to a different lifestyle from large scale ecot
ourism, the development of facilities and infrastructure does not need to confor
m to corporate Western tourism standards, and can be much simpler and less expen
sive.[25] There is a greater multiplier effect on the economy, because local pro
ducts, materials, and labor are used. Profits accrue locally and import leakages
are reduced.[26] The Great Barrier Reef Park in Australia reported over half of
a billion dollars of indirect income in the area and added thousands of indirec
t jobs between 2004 and 2005.[23] However, even this form of tourism may require
foreign investment for promotion or start up. When such investments are require
d, it is crucial for communities for find a company or non-governmental organiza
tion that reflects the philosophy of ecotourism; sensitive to their concerns and
willing to cooperate at the expense of profit. The basic assumption of the mult
iplier effect is that the economy starts off with unused resources, for example,
that many workers are cyclically unemployed and much of industrial capacity is
sitting idle or incompletely utilized. By increasing demand in the economy it is
then possible to boost production. If the economy was already at full employmen
t, with only structural, frictional, or other supply-side types of unemployment,
any attempt to boost demand would only lead to inflation. For various laissez-f
aire schools of economics which embrace Say's Law and deny the possibility of Ke
ynesian inefficiency and under-employment of resources, therefore, the multiplie
r concept is irrelevant or wrong-headed.
As an example, consider the government increasing its expenditure on roads by $1
million, without a corresponding increase in taxation. This sum would go to the
road builders, who would hire more workers and distribute the money as wages an
d profits. The households receiving these incomes will save part of the money an
d spend the rest on consumer goods. These expenditures in turn will generate mor
e jobs, wages, and profits, and so on with the income and spending circulating a
round the economy.
The multiplier effect arises because of the induced increases in consumer spendi
ng which occur due to the increased incomes and because of the feedback into inc
reasing business revenues, jobs, and income again. This process does not lead to
an economic explosion not only because of the supply-side barriers at potential
output (full employment) but because at each "round", the increase in consumer
spending is less than the increase in consumer incomes. That is, the marginal pr
opensity to consume (mpc) is less than one, so that each round some extra income
goes into saving, leaking out of the cumulative process. Each increase in spend
ing is thus smaller than that of the previous round, preventing an explosion.
Efforts to preserve ecosystems at risk[edit]
Some of the world's most exceptional biodiversity is located in the Galapagos Is
lands. These islands were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, then
added to UNESCOs List of World Heritage in Danger in 2007. IGTOA is a non-profit
dedicated to preserving this unique living laboratory against the challenges of
invasive species, human impact, and tourism.[27] For travelers who want to be mi
ndful of the environment and the impact of tourism, it is recommended to utilize
an operator that is endorsed by a reputable ecotourism organization. In the cas
e of the Galapagos, IGTOA has a list[28] of the worlds premiere Galapagos Islands
tour companies dedicated to the lasting protection and preservation of the dest
ination. A few of these include Adventure Life, EcoVentura, and SilverSea.
Natural resource management[edit]
Natural resource management can be utilized as a specialized tool for the develo
pment of ecotourism. There are several places throughout the world where the amo
unt of natural resources are abundant. But, with human encroachment and habitats
these resources are depleting. Without knowing the proper utilization of certai
n resources they are destroyed and floral and faunal species are becoming extinc
t. Ecotourism programmes can be introduced for the conservation of these resourc
es. Several plans and proper management programmes can be introduced so that the
se resources remain untouched. Several organizations, NGO's, scientists are work
ing on this field.
Natural resources of hill areas like Kurseong in West Bengal are plenty in numbe
r with various flora and fauna, but tourism for business purpose poised the situ
ation. Researcher from Jadavpur University presently are working in this area fo
r the development of ecotourism which can be utilized as a tool for natural reso
urce management.
In Southeast Asia government and nongovernmental organisations are working toget
her with academics and industry operators to spread the economic benefits of tou
rism into the kampungs and villages of the region. A recently formed alliance, t
he South-East Asian Tourism Organisation (SEATO), is bringing together these div
erse players to allay resource management concerns.
A 2002 summit held in Quebec led to the 2008 Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria
, a collaborative effort between the UN Foundation and other advocacy groups. Th
e criteria, which are voluntary, involve the following standards: "effective sus
tainability planning, maximum social and economic benefits for local communities
, minimum negative impacts on cultural heritage, and minimum negative impacts on
the environment." (Clarkin and Khler, p. 423)

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