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    Criticisms of Ecotourism

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    yamakaze1
    1) While ecotourism is touted as more sustainable than mass tourism, there is no agreed upon definition or standards for how it should be practiced. 2) Traditional Western views see humans as in control of nature, but smaller societies recognize humans as part of nature and adapt to its changes. Increasing tourism contact risks changing these cultures. 3) Mass tourism over the past 50 years has degraded environments and cultural sites. Ecotourism emerged in response, but many operators fail to generate sustainable local economic benefits as intended.

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    Criticisms of Ecotourism

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    yamakaze1
    681 views3 pages
    1) While ecotourism is touted as more sustainable than mass tourism, there is no agreed upon definition or standards for how it should be practiced. 2) Traditional Western views see humans as in control of nature, but smaller societies recognize humans as part of nature and adapt to its changes. Increasing tourism contact risks changing these cultures. 3) Mass tourism over the past 50 years has degraded environments and cultural sites. Ecotourism emerged in response, but many operators fail to generate sustainable local economic benefits as intended.

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    1) While ecotourism is touted as more sustainable than mass tourism, there is no agreed upon definition or standards for how it should be practiced. 2) Traditional Western views see humans as in control of nature, but smaller societies recognize humans as part of nature and adapt to its changes. Increasing tourism contact risks changing these cultures. 3) Mass tourism over the past 50 years has degraded environments and cultural sites. Ecotourism emerged in response, but many operators fail to generate sustainable local economic benefits as intended.

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    681 views3 pages

    Criticisms of Ecotourism

    Uploaded by

    yamakaze1
    1) While ecotourism is touted as more sustainable than mass tourism, there is no agreed upon definition or standards for how it should be practiced. 2) Traditional Western views see humans as in control of nature, but smaller societies recognize humans as part of nature and adapt to its changes. Increasing tourism contact risks changing these cultures. 3) Mass tourism over the past 50 years has degraded environments and cultural sites. Ecotourism emerged in response, but many operators fail to generate sustainable local economic benefits as intended.

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    Criticisms of Ecotourism

    The World Tourism Organization (WTO) says Ecotourism is the fastest growing
    sector of the Tourism Industry. Some believe this is good news and others are
    horrified at the otential environmental damage that Ecotourists and Oerators may
    unwittingly cause.
    Ecotourism has often been touted as the cure for the enormous Tourism Industry and
    the environmental and cultural damage that the industry often inflicts on develoing
    and even develoed countries. Ecotourism can wor!" but the roblem is that there is
    not an agreed uon definition" nor international standards that tourists and oerators
    must follow.
    In its simlest form" Ecotourism is nature travel. In its more advanced form"
    Ecotourism encomasses all asects of life# wildlife" lants" biodiversity" sustainable
    economies" conservation" environment" culture" heritage" society" and human beings.
    In this form" Ecotourism is a !inder" gentler form of environmentalism that recognizes
    humans as being art of the ecosystem. This is a critical difference$ it affects how tour
    oerators" environmentalists and conservationists" and tourists interact with the host
    destination.
    %or eons" western thought has dictated that humans are the masters of the earth that
    we shae and control our world. Evidence of this is the constant battle against
    weather$ floods and levees$ earth&ua!es and earth&ua!e roof buildings$ sea shore
    homes and relenishing of beach sand. It's a continuing battle against nature and one
    we will not win. One rule of nature is constant change and we in the western world
    struggle to overcome this with increasingly advanced technologies.
    Smaller cultures and societies recognize that change is inevitable and their lifestyle
    reflects this. While it may seem that these societies have stayed constant over
    hundreds or even thousands of years" they have adated to seasons and the natural rise
    and fall of resources. (owever" with increasing contact with tourists" these cultures
    want what is considered a better life$ western ways. ) new culture is born" one
    *eborah +c,aren calls the -Tourism .ulture-" where the eole in the host country
    become hustlers for tourists' dollars.
    /ecause tourism is such a large industry" there is a vested interest in e0loiting
    resources" creating aradises and increasingly offering adventures and destinations
    that have never been offered before. Is this the industry's fault1 Or is this the
    consumers' fault1 It's more of a cause and effect relationshi. +ost western nations
    have an increasing amount of disosable income since the end of the second world
    war. 2ecreation" including tourism" steed in to accet monies with the romise of
    the good life that reviously was en3oyed by the very wealthy and rivileged. The
    middle class was now able to go laces and see things that were never available
    before. The annual vacation was now a fact and considered a right.
    *uring the ast 45 years" it has become aarent that the mass tourism industry is
    failing" from both an environmental and cultural oint of view. *egradation of sea
    shores" coral reefs" forests" and other environments is evident from ollution"
    overcrowding of humans" coral reef destruction through ractices such as souvenir
    collection and anchoring of leasure boats. 6aradise" while not yet lost" is losing.
    Ecotourism thought evolved about 47 to 45 years ago. It was artly in resonse to
    consumer demand for something new and unusual and the realization that the
    environment is facing ermanent damage. It was becoming aarent that mass
    tourism is not sustainable and consumers want something e0otic" but once something
    becomes more commonly available" it is no longer considered e0otic$ the definition is
    being ushed further into the world's une0lored laces" where few westerners have
    gone before. The remise offers unsoiled nature and cultures but there are reasons
    why few eole have gone before$ they are fragile" inhositable laces that do not
    easily suort human life.
    There are many" many tour oerators that offer Ecotourism as an alternative to
    traditional ac!ages. /ut" this is in name only. Where these oerators are failing is in
    the sustainable economy sector. The money tourists send is suosed to tric!le down
    into the host community but very little does. In a true ecotour" the money goes directly
    into the community. )ll asects are covered from lodging" food" guides" activities and
    nature viewing. The host community benefits and the industry they rovide is
    sustainable.
    There is hoe. Individuals such as 2on +ader" +arcus Endicott" 8an +oss and
    *eborah +c,aren" and institutions such as the Ecotourism Society" .harles Stuart
    9niversity" Tourism .oncern and a host of others are wor!ing towards Ecotourism
    definition and Ecotourism ractice. %urthermore" the consumer is becoming more
    aware of issues and roblems and are demanding more intelligent encounters with
    other cultures and nature. +ore are realizing that humans the world over are humans
    and should not be roviding entertainment at the cost of their dignity and way of life.

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