Definitions of ecotourism vary but in practice it has come to refer to low impact nature based tourism that benefits local communities and facilitates nature conservation (Ashley and Roe 1998). The Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as, ’Äúresponsible travel to natural areas, which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people’Äù (Lindberg and Hawkins 1993). Although this definition includes the concepts of conservation and social benefits, it implies that the travel itself somehow leads to the benefit. In practice, translating visits to natural areas into conservation and social benefits is a very complex and challenging task.
Ecotourism: Potential and Pitfalls
As a growing portion of a rapidly growing global tourism market (Lindberg et al. 1998), ecotourism has the potential to be a powerful positive force if conceived and managed effectively. This, of course, is the central challenge for those involved in ecotourism endeavors.
Social and cultural disruption can be brought about directly by the ecotourists themselves. Loss of privacy and intrusion into daily life can be a serious problem and can result in resentment and ill feelings unless well managed. Carefully constructed policies and the education of company clients both have a significant role to play in reducing social disruption.
Eco tours should be economical with fuel, use energy efficient and local modes of transportation, prepare food effectively without surplus using local unprocessed foods, and then giving back to the community. They should have minimal ecological and cultural impact upon communities as possible.The main components are thus:
An Eco-friendly tour company must be asked these questions
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Do you use local amenities?
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Do you give back to the community?
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Is there a community contribution?
Is there a cultural exchange?
The word 'eco-tourism' is used so casually in the travel business as an advertising ploy, that in most cases it is meaningless. At ASIA PARADISE we adhere rigidly to the principles of eco-tourism and have total respect for the ecology and environment in Thailand.
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INTRODUCTION
I started Asia Paradise because I had been on a number of tours with some of the major companies and was appalled at how little the guides, who do most of the hard work, actually are paid and how much profit these companies make for themselves without giving anything back to the communities. Having partnered myself with a nature watch tour company I myself became enveloped with the whole altruistic attitude of the guides and eco-friendly workers who joined us. Thais are proud of their beautiful country and are devoted to maintaining it. One can be standing in a forest and look at one tree. This one tree can provide shelter for a range of animals and birds and become an eco-system in itself. This never fails to amaze me.
As well as respecting the wildlife and environment in which they live, local human lifestyles are just as important since everything co-exists and the balance between man and nature is a very fine one. It is important for example, not to appear in villages with bus loads of camera-clicking tourists. We don’t want to drown their values with our own, nor do we want them to see us as cash cows. Of course they will benefit from tourists purchasing their wares, but it is important that they are encouraged to maintain their ways of life and not to covet ours.
Groups of tourists are kept small to minimise the impact they might have on the environment. Our tours differ in terms of comfort - from five star hotels to homestays where clients are encouraged to sleep and eat in local, traditional dwellings and interact on a daily basis with locals, usually without electricity and hot water. They will experience at least once a back-to-basics way of life, and see why it is so important for the environment and the future of humanity to understand about conservation, efficiency and healthy eating. I want to make it clear that we appreciate that this is a holiday also to be enjoyed and customers will not be forced to partake in anything against their will. After all, this is a holiday to be enjoyed and not an endurance test.
Hikes in the jungles and natural areas of the country are strictly controlled by the guides we employ. Clients are taught to respect the environment, keep noise down, not disrupt sleeping or feeding patterns of wildlife and never to bring anything into the forest that they will not take back with them.
At the end of our tours they should have a greater understanding of how to have a good and sustainable life without wasting resources and by reducing stress. Also, to have a good time and enjoy themselves. In most cases it will be the experience of a lifetime.
Steve Kyte
January 2010
© Steve Kyte 2010
References
Ashley, C. and Dilys Roe. 1998. Enhancing Community involvement in wildlife tourism: Issues and challenges. IIED Wildlife and Development Series no. 12. London: International Institute for Environment and Development.
Ceballos-Lascurain, H. 1996. Tourism, Ecotourism, and Protected Areas. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
Goodwin, H., I. Kent, K. Parker, and M. Walpole. 1998. Tourism, conservation, and sustainable development: Case studies from Asia and Africa. IIED Wildlife and Development Series no. 12. London: International Institute for Environment and Development.
Lindberg, K., M.E.Wood, and D. Engledrum. Eds. 1998. Ecotourism: A Guide for Planners and Managers. Vol. 2. North Bennington VT: The Ecotourism Society.
Lindberg, K. and D.E. Hawkins. 1993. Ecotourism: A Guide for Planners and Managers, Vol. 1. The Ecotourism Society, North Bennington, VT, USA.
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