Ecotourism outweighs irresponsible travel - page 2

13 January 2009

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Zanzibar in Tanzania is currently suffering as a result of tourism, and poorly controlled building developments and pressures on water supply are central to the problem. Visitor numbers have quadrupled over the past ten years, from 50,000 to 200,000 annually, and while holidaymakers are not discouraged from visiting Zanzibar, they are advised to check with tour operators that their preferred locations are managed responsibly.

On a more personal level, countries can largely benefit from community tourism, which sees visitors actively helping to improve living and working conditions of the local communities. Predominantly, community tourism strives to consider the voices of those most affected by irresponsible tourism, and seeks to engage the participation of local people in the planning and consent of tour projects.

Tourism Concern states that community tourism aims to: “Give a fair share of profits back to the local community, (ideally this will include community projects, such as health and schools), involve communities rather than individuals, as working with individuals can disrupt social structures, and be environmentally sustainable”.

Community tourism also focuses on the ideal that indigenous people should have the right to oppose tourism in their home environments. Until recently, many tribal people haven’t had a say in the type of tourism that largely affects their way of life, their lands and their traditional customs, and they have had to succumb to the influences of an ever-expanding western world.

“All too often, governments and private enterprises prefer to maintain their tourist economies rather than their ecosystems”Tourism Concern

With the promotion of ecotourism, such injustice is slowly decreasing, and community tourism is helping people work together to accommodate responsible tourism and to promote the maintenance of the countries’ agriculture and housing developments.

For example, the Community Based Tourism Institute in Thailand works with over 50 hill tribe and coastal villagers to ensure that they have full management over the trekking holidays which are held on their land. (1)

However, some forms of ‘tribal tourism’ are detrimental to indigenous people, as some organised tours visit the same villages all too often, interfering with the everyday lives of villagers.

Omo Valley in Ethiopia is a victim of this ‘tribal tourism’, and Lyn Hughes says: “The recent surge in visitors to Omo Valley is threatening the traditional way of life and creating a commercialised experience.

“Whilst we shouldn’t hold back a region’s development, it is possible to help protect the culture at the same time as building a better infrastructure. People should ensure to choose a tour operator wisely and question their ethics”.

Similarly, badly managed tourism in Ranthambore National Park in India means that instead of proceeds being channeled to pay for conservation, better guiding and funding of new reserves, a higher focus is placed upon packing the area with as many tourists as possible, and tourism is increasing by around 20% each year.

Suggestions have been made to reorganise the park, splitting it into different sections for day-trippers and more serious wildlife enthusiasts, which would help monitor visitor traffic and contribute towards an overall improvement of the wildlife and environment.

Tourism Concern says: “All too often, governments and private enterprises prefer to maintain their tourist economies rather than their ecosystems.

“As a result, tourism developments, which are often built in the most beautiful landscapes and places in the world, threaten and destroy environments and exhaust limited natural resources, destroying these places for local peoples and future tourists”.

70% of American, British and Austrian travelers would be willing to pay an extra $150 to stay in hotels with responsible attitudes to the environmentSurvey from People and Planet

Venice in Italy is also suffering as a result of day-visitors from cruise ships, who don’t spend the time to contribute to the local ecommerce, and around 250, 000 people visit Venice each weekend in summer.

To combat this problem, it would be more responsible for travelers to spend at least three days in places such as Venice, to stay in a locally managed hotel and buy food at local cafes to sustain the economy.

To avoid a ‘guilt trip’ whilst traveling, Tourism Concern advises that visitors try to put money into local hands. “If you haggle for the lowest price, your bargain may be at the seller’s expense. Even if you pay a little over the odds, does it really matter?”

Also, people are advised to offer a donation to community projects, such as health care schemes and local schools, and to use alternative forms of transport where possible. “The more and further you fly, the more you contribute to global warming and environmental destruction, so consider flying long-haul less often, but staying longer when you’re there”. (1)

Currently, there are no internationally recognised accrediting bodies for fair trade tourism, so travelers must take local customs and livelihoods into consideration when visiting foreign countries. 70% of American, British and Austrian travelers would be willing to pay an extra $150 to stay in hotels with responsible attitudes to the environment, according to a recent survey. (2)

Eco-lodges are consequently an increasingly popular choice of accommodation, as they cater for responsible travelers who are committed to supporting the environment and local communities.

Situated in countries such as India, Egypt, Ecuador, South Africa and Thailand, eco-lodges help to preserve their local environments and utilize the skills of local people.

Promoting awareness of harmful tourism can help people to understand the implications of their travel choices on those who live and work in the desired holiday destinations, and a progressive increase of responsible ecotourism is a positive step towards this ideal.

By Kay Taylor

(1) Tourism Concern.org.

(2) People and Planet.net.

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