Community-based ecotourism has been estimated to account for between 10 and 15 percent of all international travel expenditures,and that figure seems to be increasing rapidly. It is quite clear that unless this growth receives careful and professional guidance, serious negative consequences - some of which may have terminal effects -could occur.
Community based ecotourism, as defined by IUCN -The World Conservation Union, is "environmentally, responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas and local communities in order to enjoy, study, and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features -both past and present), that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio- economic involvement of local populations"
Only a few years ago, the .word "ecotourism" didn't exist, let alone the principles it now embodies. True, there have been naturalist travelers for a long time. But their travel experiences were few and far between, so isolated that they did not produce significant sociconomic benefits to the remote places they visited, nor did their activities seem to be intended as a tool for conserving natural areas, native cultures, or endangered species.
It is only recently that ecotourism has emerged as a feasible option for both conserving the natural and cultural heritage of nations and regions and contributing to sustainable development.
Natural areas, and especially legally. protected areas, their landscape, together with any existing cultural features -constitute major attractions for the peoples of the countries in which they are found and for tourists around the world.
Community based ecotourism can bring numerous socioeconomic benefits to a country or a locality, in terms of generating foreign exchange, creating local employment, stimulating national and local economies, and fostering international peace and increased environmental awareness and education. But appropriate management structures, as well as adequate planning, design, and building guidelines for tourism facilities are required to ensure that tourism enhances rather than detracts from the natural setting. Further, carrying capacity needs to be assessed relative to the management objectives of each area, and appropriate management and physical structures must be designed to keep the number of visitors and the visitation mode within the carrying capacity. .
If uncontrolled mass tourism is allowed to continue over mining many areas of natural and cultural significance, irreversible damage will occur in these areas, which are the repositories of biological and cultural diversity in the planet as well as important sources of income and well-being for all countries. Itis then, a matter of global interest to foster the symbiotic relationship between tourism and natural and conserving cultural heritage.
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Community based ecotourism, as a logical component of community development, requires a multidisciplinary approach, careful planning -both physical and managerial -and strict guidelines and regulations that will guarantee sustainable operation. Only through intersectoral involvement will ecotourism truly achieve its .goals. Governments, the private enterprise, local communities, and NGOs all have vital roles to play. I firmly believe that every country (especially the less developed ones) should set up regional tourism plans, which should include clear ecotourism strategies and guidelines. Regional ecotourism councils, with representatives from all sectors involved in the ecotourism process, have recently been created in several countries with promising results. Since ours is a constantly shrinking planet (due to modem travel services and facilities, as well as economic and trade agreements), ecotourism strategies can also begin with a regional focus. Different countries could join forces so as to offer attractive integrated' packages in the growing world market of ecotourism services.
Before ecotourism can be expected to fully achieve its potential and avoid the pitfalls, well- founded principles and clear guidelines for the appropriate active involvement of local communities, park managers, NGOs and private entrepreneurs in the process, in-depth regional and site-specific research on the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of ecotourism, the development of national and regional strategies, and the establishment, monitoring, and assessment of selected pilot projects, are all needed.
Apart from the environmental features discussed in the preceding Guideline, it is equally important to perform an analysis of the local cultural elements (both of the past and the present -i.e., including archeology), as well as the available infrastructure and local services in the site and its vicinity. This analysis will also provide important input for the subsequent design and construction stages.
Cultural features
Analyze if near your site there are noteworthy cultural elements, both past and present:
Specific ethnic groups.
Traditional settlements.
Local traditions and folklore: language, architecture, clothing. hand crafts, dance, music, ceremonies, magic, and religion. |
Archeological features.
Potentiality for integrating design with cultural environment.
Ways of avoiding negative impacts on local culture.
Available infrastructure and public services
Analyze the local availability of the following infrastructural elements and public services:
Conventional systems for providing electricity, drinking water, sewage, telephone line, public lighting, etc.
Communication means: highways, roads, trails (tracks), airport, landing fields, railway, docks, etc.
Postal service, garbage collection and disposal, medical services, schools, commercial facilities, etc.
Local means of transport: land motor vehicles (bus, taxi, rent-a-car, etc.) regular commercial, charter, or private flights, motor boats, cruise ships, yachts, ferries; railway (schedules of nearest railway station), etc.
It is important to mention that frequently, and due to obvious reasons, in those sites which are more appropriate for environmental development there are limited or no infrastructural elements or public services, because of typical isolation and remoteness.
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