Ecotourism

Ecotourism

There is no clear and widely accepted definition of ecotourism. The idea behind ecotourism is to combine tourism with conservation and sustainability. This type of tourism is non-invasive and occurs in natural areas (Fennell, 2008, p. 24). Ecotourism acts as a means of funding conservation efforts especially in the less developed countries, protecting the fragile and pristine ecosystem, funding scientific research and promoting the development of poor economies (Honey, 2009, p. 4). It maintains the main elements of tourism but it lays greater emphasis on conservation efforts. There are many different forms of tourism and they are defined by the reasons of the travel, and the consumer behavior of the tourists. They are affected by the political situation in the country. Some of these forms include social, sports, marine, cultural, religious, business, education, mountain, and health tourism among others (Theocharis & Klada, n.d., p. 3). Sports tourism is varied since it is determined by the seasons and sporting events. Some sports such as skiing, snowboarding, and sledding can only be performed during the winter season. World championships such as the Olympics and different world cup events attract many tourists in the specific countries where they happen.

Thailand has developed its tourism industry over the years since it is one of the main foreign exchange earners in the country. It has developed ecotourism and its low costs attract people from different parts of the world. Initially the people were not receptive to the idea of ecotourism and it was only popular with young people who loved adventure and nature. This has however changed as ecotourism continues to gain popularity all over the world. More people are becoming interested in conservation efforts and they are keen on preserving the natural environment. The non-governmental organizations in the country have been at the forefront of advocating for the implementation of better conservation measures. Different organizations together with the government have collaborated with the local communities in rural and urban areas to ensure the success of ecotourism (Connell & Rugendyke, 2008, p. 220).

Nature-based tourism incorporates many different activities. Thailand has many eco-tourism activities for travelers who are looking for environmentally friendly experience. Different parts of the country have rich natural resources. Some of the most common eco activities in Thailand include mountain biking, mountain trekking, stargazing and butterfly watching. Tourists also enjoy water sports such as whitewater rafting, scuba diving, sea kayaking and sea canoeing. The government and different agencies organize training sessions for local guides in several parts of the country. Tour operators have become more professional in their marketing campaigns and in the preservation of the natural environment. They have realized the importance of tourism and the benefits of ecotourism and they have become more careful in organizing activities that are friendly to the environment (Thailand eco-tourism, 2011). Other measures that have been taken to reduce the negative environmental impacts of tourism include designing and modeling new hotels that use environmentally friendly resources, installing water purification plants near the beaches and electrifying the motorcycle taxis (Chon, 2000, p. 9)

Ecotourism has obvious benefits in maintaining the environment. It creates awareness of the different environmental factors and help in conservation efforts. It improves the lives of the local community. The local community benefits when the local people are employed. The danger of ecotourism is that it might end up destroying the natural environment that it was meant to maintain. This happens when tourists penetrate the more natural areas of the country. The culture of the community can also be affected. When the local community interacts with the tourists, they may be tempted to adopt their lifestyle and this makes them to change their culture or abandon some of their cultural elements.

References

Chon, SK, 2000, Tourism in Southeast Asia: a new direction, Routledge, New York, USA.

Fennell, D, 2008, Ecotourism, Routledge, New York, USA.

Honey, M, 2008, Ecotourism and sustainable development; who owns paradise? Island Press, Washington D. C. USA.

Connell, J and Rugendyke B, 2008, Tourism at the grassroots: villagers and visitors in the Asia-Pacific,Routledge, New York, USA.

Thailand, eco-tourism2011, viewed 7 October 2011,

< http://www.thailand.com/travel/eco/eco.htm >

Theocharis, N and Klada, N, Alternative tourism in Galaxidi Fokidos: a strategic planning approach, viewed 7 October 2011, <era.teipir.gr/era4/fpap/c21.doc>.

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