Ecotourism
Globalization
is making it easier than ever before for people all over the world to interact
culturally, economically, and socially on the international level. With
standard of living at its highest level in post-industrial nations, westerners
have found a new hobby – ecotourism. According to the United Nations,
ecotourism is “tourism and recreation that is both nature-based and
sustainable” (Kennedy). Ecotourism, when fairly executed and operated,
positively affects regions defined as ecotourism destinations. However, these
destinations are usually located in developing nations with weak governments
and corruption. Due to these troubles and the innocent ignorance of many
westerners, ecotourism can harm these regions if it is not regulated in a fair
and just manner. Ultimately, ecotourism does have the ability to help these
nations and regions develop.
Positive Effects of
Ecotourism
Most economies, not just those of
developing nations, depend on tourism. Tourism allows businesses and trade to
thrive. For developing nations, which lack industry and struggle with
agriculture, tourism can sometimes be the only industry to aid in economic
development. Ecotourism not only benefits economic development but it also aids
in resource preservation and conservation. Ecotourism advocates for
environmentalism, it allows developing nations to make money by protecting its
natural environment and resources.
Local
people from ecotourism destinations can develop socially and economically
through tourism revenues. They also learn the importance of preserving and
conserving their land and resources. For example, ecotourism has helped
facilitate economic growth in Uganda. Local people “supplement their income by
working as rangers or field staff in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest” (Kennedy).
Ecotourism is most advantageous when small tourist companies work directly with
local people, so that money goes to them and not directly to the government.
While
many argue that ecotourism can harm local tradition, it can actually help it.
When westerners visit these exotic regions they want to learn about local
traditions and customs. Their desire for this particular knowledge shows locals
that their traditions and daily customs are special. Also, developing and
adopting modern values and customs is not a bad thing. People automatically
assume that if these local people adopt new customs that they will do away with
their tradition. This idea is simply illogical and untrue. Ecotourism allows
local people to adopt and learn new western values whilst maintain their own
traditions.
Also,
it is a good thing that people from developed nations are interested in
visiting developing nations. This means that people are interested in more than
just the comfort of their daily lives. The goal of ecotourism, in countries
such as Ghana and Uganda, is to “foster a relationship between conservation
organizations, local communities and travelers that benefits all three”
(O’Neil). Ecotourism can be extremely beneficial for international relations
and globalization. However, individuals and governments are sometimes
influenced by corruption and greed, which in turn can make ecotourism develop
harmful aspects.
Negative Effects of
Ecotourism
Due to the lack of stability in
developing nations that include environmental destinations, ecotourism can fail
at developing economic growth. According to the United Nations, in 2012
ecotourism contributed to 25% of revenue in the world’s tourism industry
(Kennedy). Due to the surge in ecotourism popularity, big corporations have
infiltrated these regions. In some of these environmental destinations, big
corporations are working with unstable and corrupt governments to produce
profits at the expense of local people. Tourism is a huge industry in
developing nations. However, according to the United Nations Environment
Programme, only “$5 of every $10 spent by tourists in the developing world stay
there” (Kennedy). This means that even less of those $5 remains in the hand of
local people, instead most of the money goes directly to governmental leaders.
Harmful
consequences can also come from the innocent ignorance of westerners.
Westerners look at exotic natural environments as paradises in need of
preservation. Westerners forget that local people live and survive hand-to-hand
with the land, its resources, and its animals. Westerners, especially those
from the United States, have been raised on concept of exploring the frontier
and preserving it. The United States was founded on colonialism and
imperialism, people moved out west to explore the unknown. Now Americans and
Europeans are spreading their ideologies and exploring a new
frontier—developing nations / Neo-Europe— in the name of eco-imperialism and
eco-colonization. However some people, not all people, are unaware that the
local people of ecotourism destinations do not want to be bothered and do not
want people to infringe on their land, resources, and way of life. For example,
in Kenya local people struggled with ecotourism and conservation because
westerners took jobs and controlled the industry. These people not only lost
the right to their land but also were unable to develop economically. Troubles
grew further, when western actors provided the Kenyan government with
conservations equipment such as weapons to keep local people from poaching.
This allowed the government to be corrupt and work against its people not with
them (Peluso).
These
harmful consequences do not directly stem from ecotourism. They stem from the
actions of unjust and corrupt state and non-state actors. These actors are
either ignorant to the traditions of local people or greedy with a desire for
wealth. Ecotourism alone does have the capacity to benefit local communities,
governments of developing nations, and westerners. However, governments and
westerners must understand that ecotourism should primarily benefit local
people and the environment.
Ways to Improve Ecotourism
Ecotourism can be an idealistic
concept but there are realistic ways in improving and developing beneficial
ecotourism. First and foremost, westerners must respect the differences in
tradition. They must want to learn more about these different traditions and
not feel the need to modernize them. When traveling they must choose
destinations that benefit local people. For example, in Ghana there are
agencies such as the Ghana Rural Ecotourism and Travel Office that work to help
travelers plan trips that “will support community and conservation effort”
(O’Neil). These agencies are great to foster good ecotourism, because they connect travelers with local tour operators. This alone fosters healthy
relationships between westerners and local people as well as providing local people
with jobs.
Travelers
should stay clear of major resorts and western attractions, especially those
that are familiar at home. Staying at resorts neither helps in
regional economic development nor helps in connecting travelers with local
people. Ecotourism may be a big industry but it does not have to be a big
business. Local people should work tightly with smaller agencies to create the
ecotourism attractions with which, they feel most comfortable.
Sources:
You make a really well-balanced argument for the positive and negative effects of ecotourism. In your Negative Effects section, is there any way to establish more transparency to avoid corruption? Or, is it good that even though the money may be lost or go directly to a corrupt government instead of the local people, for now at least, do the benefits you mention in the Positive Effects section outweigh the negatives?
ReplyDeleteI would say that ecotourism is a relatively new fad. With any new industry that produces high quantities of profits from the start, it’s hard to make sure people are honest rather than greedy. Big corruptions are making a ton of money off ecotourism and most are paying off corrupt governments to keep their revenues and profits high. Ultimately, right now, this is pretty much impossible to change. These corporations are not going to leave these regions just because what they are doing may be harming local populations. And, they’re not going to alter their business practices if it hinders the amount of money they make. So in my opinion, the best way to combat these negative effects is to educate travelers. People don’t just travel to these regions, which are usually in developing countries, on a whim. Travelers do their research. The U.S. State Department should educate and have easily accessible information on ecotourism. If travelers are educated on these regions and their local people than they can chose to shape their trips so that they will benefit the local people and the regions. People who want to travel to these regions want to do it right, so doing it right should be easier than it is.
ReplyDeleteIt would be really interesting to see if either an NGOS or an intergovernmental body could audit the ecotourism industry and create sort of like a Yelp for the destinations based transparency, positive impact on local economy, etc.
DeleteHow do you feel that the ecotourism industry factors in with regions where security poses a threat? For instance, nations where resorts are the primary destinations because off-site lodging is often seen as "sketchy" or not as reputable? I would say that it is the government's responsibility to foster a sense of security, and that the responsibility is theirs in the same way governing other economic measures are (because at the end of the day, it is about the economy), but would some of this also fall on the citizens in these communities?
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with resorts or anything along those lines as long as it benefits the local people. The money needs to stay in the regions and help economic development. The worst thing that can happen is that the local people work with these corporations and get nothing in return.
ReplyDeleteHow do you feel about ecotourism ruining the culture of these people? Such as the Massa tribe and how in the class video some of them were tired of it. It seems that ecotourism can sometimes force these people out of their culture and change them as a society.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that their traditions or so vast and strong is enough to keep them from disappearing. Cultures from all over the world have been affected by external forces, so these regions aren't experiencing anything new. Also, culture and traditions are suppose to be dynamic not static.
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