Assignment In Tourism 2

Submitted by: Lourica Rastelli N. Gurrea Submitted to: Lociel Catedrilla

What is the importance of eco tourism?

Ecotourism is increasing in popularity across the world, but has significant practical value in developing countries where the needs of impoverished communities may conflict directly with the need to capitalize on the growing tourism industry. In many cases developers move in and designate certain areas as tourism hotspots without giving much thought to the impact that this will have on local communities. These communities may depend on the area for food and shelter, but their concerns are buried beneath the potential for financial revenue. Ecotourism is a move to counter this. It aims to create viable and sustainable tourism opportunities, and limit the impact that all related activities will have on the environment, while improving the lives of the local people living in the area. According to Ecotourism.org, the concept consists of a number of core principles, including: Minimizing industrial impact on the environment Building environmental and cultural awareness Empowering local communities Raising awareness of the political, environmental and social issues of the country concerned, and Ensuring that the experience is positive for all parties, including visitors and hosts The aim is to achieve sustainable and responsible tourism practices to the benefit of all and the detriment of none. One of the most important factors in the success of any ecotourism venture is knowledge. Those proposing the project must gain intimate knowledge of the area, the fauna, the flora and the communities living there. They must understand how they impact on each other and how a change in one will affect the rest. They must understand the culture governing the people's relationship with the environment, and how they view concepts such as territory, hunting, farming and gathering materials for personal use. It's vital to include the local communities in the project, not merely as grateful beneficiaries of charity, but as empowered and informed team members. Their input is to be valued, as chances are that they understand the area and complex ecosystems better than anyone else involved in the project. The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable resource that protects both the people and the nature involved. Over 20 years ago, in 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development stated that sustained development implied, "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." This sentiment is just as applicable now as it was then. Equally important is that within in all this concern for sustainability and empowerment, we don't forget the tourism aspect of ecotourism. In 2002, the Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism stated that responsible tourism should provide a more enjoyable experience for tourists through meaningful interaction with local people, and a greater understanding of cultural, social and environmental issues. It is the tourist-dollar (or Pound) that we are after, and to get it we have to ensure that what we offer is worthwhile. What's important is that with a little planning and a little compassion, all of this can be achieved.

The impact of tourism.

Travel and Tourism are major influences on the economies of countries and local areas. At national level the monies paid by overseas visitors helps pay for new attractions, while money coming in to local areas from leisure and tourism activities creates jobs and wages for local people. The positive economic impacts of leisure and tourism include:
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Generating income for businesses, councils and individuals Creating jobs both directly and indirectly Promoting a positive image of an area Regenerating derelict sites, for example Albert Dock, Liverpool Travel and tourism do, however, have some negative economic impacts such as:

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higher prices for goods, services and houses in tourist areas more local taxes to pay for leisure and tourism facilities loss of local services, for example shops in popular tourist areas catering solely for the needs of the visitors Governments encourage tourism as it brings employment, helps local economies and brings in foreign currency as well as improving the balance of payments. There are disadvantage however. Tourism can often harm local industry - and the jobs it creates are often few and require very little skills. In the non industrialized countries, such as those in Central America and Africa much of the wealth generated leaves the local tourist industry and goes to the tour operators and hotel chains that operate from the developed world. For example, in the Caribbean, 30 per cent of the jobs in tourism, and 50% of the wages earned from them go to foreigners.

The economic effect of tourism and the social impact of tourism.

Socially tourism has a great influence on the host societies. Tourism can be both a source of international amity, peace and understanding and a destroyer and corrupter of indigenous cultures, a source of ecological destruction, an assault of peoples privacy, dignity, and authenticity. Here are possible positive effects of tourism: Developing positive attitudes towards each other Learning about each others culture and customs Reducing negative perceptions and stereotypes Developing friendships Developing pride, appreciation, understanding, respect, and tolerance for each others culture Increasing self-esteem of hosts and tourists Psychological satisfaction with interaction

So, social contacts between tourists and local people may result in mutual appreciation, understanding, tolerance, awareness, learning, family bonding respect, and liking. Residents are educated about the outside world without leaving their homes, while their visitors significantly learn about a distinctive culture. Local communities are benefited through contribution by tourism to the improvement of the social infrastructure like schools, libraries, health care institutions, internet cafes, and so on. Besides, if local culture is the base for attracting tourists to the region, it helps to preserve the local traditions and handicrafts which maybe were on the link of the extinction. For example in Uzbekistan, particularly in such famous regions as Samarqand, Buhara, and Horezm tourists contribute significantly to the preservation of traditional handcrafting wood carving, hammered copper work, handmade silk and carpets, and of course to preservation and maintenance of architectural and historical monuments. Since Uzbekistan proclaimed its independence in 1991 many museums and monuments were renovated or opened to promote the national culture and traditions. Growing interest in this culture makes the local people proud of their way of life. On the other side tourism can increase tension, hostility, and suspicion. Claims of tourism as a vital force for peace are exaggerated. Indeed there is little evidence that tourism is drawing the world together (Robinson 1999). In this context economic and social impacts on the local community depend on how much of the incomes generated by tourists go to the host communities. In most all-inclusive package tours more than 80% of travelers fees go to the airlines, hotels and other international companies, not to local businessmen and workers. On the other hand large hotel chain restaurants often import food to satisfy foreign visitors and rarely employ local staff for senior management positions, preventing local farmers and workers from reaping the benefit of their presence. Tourism has the power to affect cultural change. Successful development of a resource can lead to numerous negative impacts. Among these are overdevelopment, assimilation, conflict, and artificial reconstruction. While presenting a culture to tourists may help preserve the culture, it can also dilute or even destroy it. The point is to promote tourism in the region so that it would both give incomes and create respect for the local tradition and culture. There are also both negative and positive impacts of tourism on the local ecology. Tourism often grows into mass-tourism. It leads to the over consumption, pollution, and lack of resources. However, from the ecological point of view tourism is often more acceptable and preferable than any other industrial production, as it is environmentally friendlier. The problem is that it is not easy to change the traditional way of life of the local communities. It often creates pseudo conflicts. Undoubtedly in some regions or countries the alternative industries are even more harmful to the environment than tourism. Besides that in many countries of Asia and the Pacific, for example in Cook Islands, Samoa and others, tourism is the main source of income or the friendliest to the environment. It is at least better than chopping down the forests or destroying coral reef.