Ecotourism outweighs irresponsible travel

13 January 2009

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Ecotourism is slowly developing across the world, as people begin to recognise the effects that irresponsible travelling can have on third-world communities and the environment.

But some countries are still at risk from the damaging effects that tourism has on local communities, such as water abuse, poverty, and environmental damage.

Kay Taylor discusses the implications of irresponsible tourism in under-developed countries, outlines the benefits of ecotourism, and offers ways in which travellers can contribute towards improved working and living conditions for indigenous communities.

Each year, two million people visit Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, spending their money on local foods and souvenirs. Yet only 3% of this money remains in the local area and contributes towards Sharm El-Sheikh’s community development, because such resources are transported into the country rather than sourced locally.

This also results that the area produces ten times more waste than elsewhere, which vastly harms the environment.

This situation is only likely to worsen as tourism expands, as the majority of tourists are arguably unaware of the harrowing effects their holiday is having on the local people of the areas they are visiting.

Each year, over $100 million derived from tourism enables Burma’s Junta military regime to continually enforce inhumane working conditions on the local communities, and force families out of their homes.

Irresponsible tourism has gotten so bad in some areas of the world that the Government now supports a boycott of tourism in particular countries. Burma is predominantly at risk, as money earned from Burma’s tourism directly contributes towards the retained control of the Junta military regime over the country.

It is estimated that each year, over $100 million derived from tourism enables the Junta to continually enforce inhumane working conditions on the local communities and force families out of their homes.

In response, tourists are discouraged from visiting Burma until democracy has been restored, and to avoid holidaying in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt until the area improves its responsible tourism.

Lyn Hughes, editor-in-chief of Wanderlust travel magazine, says: “Tourism can be a double edged sword for destinations, especially in developing countries without adequate infrastructures, and where visitor numbers have swelled too quickly.

“At the same time as supporting local communities, if things aren’t managed properly the negatives can soon outweigh the positives, creating major environmental and cultural issues”.

“An average 18-hole golf course soaks up at least 525,000 gallons of water a day, which is enough to supply the irrigation needs of 100 Malaysian farmers” Tourism Concern

A major disheartening concern is that many indigenous people are often forced out of their homes to make room for tourist developments in countries where tourism is striving. This form of displacement, according to Tourism Concern, is usually met “without warning, compensation or alternative accommodation”, effectively making people homeless for the sake of a new hotel.

Likewise, golf courses and hotel swimming pools, along with extra people visiting the countries, means that water shortages occur for local inhabitants, and Tourism Concern says that “an average 18-hole golf course soaks up at least 525,000 gallons of water a day, which is enough to supply the irrigation needs of 100 Malaysian farmers”.

But there are certain areas of the world where tourism can help communities and the environment, if an ecotourism attitude is established and people take such concerns into account.

According to The International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism involves “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people”.

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