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Ecotourism 2009 Sustainability Watch Ecotourism 2009 A Look at the Fastest Growing Segment of the Travel and Tourism Industry Watch List Key Takeaways • In early 2009, Travelocity joined Orbitz and Expe- • The definition of ecotourism varies depending on dia in mainstreaming “green” travel by launching who is using it. Generally, ecotourism involves travel their “Green Directory.” to natural areas that conserves the environment and benefits and empowers local communities. • In October 2008 at the World Conservation Con- gress, Ted Turner announced the launch of the • Globally, ecotourism generates $77 billion in rev- Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC), base- enue and makes up 5-7% of the overall travel and line criteria for sustainable tourism. A growing tourism market. It is one of the fastest growing number of travel and tourism businesses are sectors of the industry. adopting the GSTC as a guideline. • Volunteer ecotourism is a growing segment of the ecotourism market. It is a combination of volun- Related Sustainability Watch Reports teerism and tourism. • Greenwashing • Among the benefits of ecotourism are the conser- vation and preservation of natural areas and the • Green Jobs economic boost to local communities. • Sustainability in Emerging Economies • In recent years, ecotourism has come under criticism, with some calling it “ego-tourism” or “greenwashing.” • Some critics view ecotourism as a paradox – the more successful an ecotourism destination becomes, the more difficult it is to avoid having an environmental and/or cultural impact. • In addition to environmental impacts, ecotourism can also have unintended negative economic and cultural impacts on the local communities. • More than 100 voluntary certification programs exist for sustainable tourism and ecotourism, ranging from self-monitoring programs to ISO14000 certification, the “green” standard for the hotel industry. EBSCO Sustainability Watch • Copyright © 2009 EBSCO Publishing Inc. • 800-653-2726 • www.ebscohost.com Sustainability Watch Ecotourism Executive Summary Ecotourism is not easily defined. Some industry ecotourism. One of the greatest negative environ- experts view it as a continuum, with mass tour- mental impacts is the large carbon footprint of air ism at one end of the spectrum and volunteer, travel, particularly to remote ecotourism destina- community-based ecotourism at the other end. tions. Tourism and environmentalism are also an However, most industry experts agree that eco- uncomfortable pair – the more popular an eco- tourism involves travel to natural areas in an effort tourism destination becomes, the more difficult it to conserve the environment and benefit local is to limit the cultural and environmental impacts communities. Globally, ecotourism generates to the community. The local community also tends $77 billion in revenue and makes up 5-7% of the to face the disadvantages of ecotourism – crowd- overall travel and tourism market. It is one of the ing, restricted access to pasture lands or water fastest growing sectors in the travel industry, with a and increased prices of goods – without enjoying growth rate of 10-30%. Quickly growing segments its benefits. Local politics and corruption often of ecotourism include sustainable (or green) tour- mean that only the elite or those in government ism and volunteer ecotourism. Sustainable tourism positions experience significant economic benefits involves selecting environmentally-friendly tour from ecotourism. operators and facilities while volunteer ecotourism In order to address these concerns, more than 100 (or “voluntourism”) involves travelers volunteering voluntary certification programs have emerged for at their destination. sustainable tourism and ecotourism. These programs In its intent to benefit the environment, ecotour- range from regional to international, mainstream to ism employs several methods: Park fees are used grassroots, and self-monitoring to process-based to fund conservation efforts and educational certification. A coalition of environment nonprofits, programming increases tourists’ knowledge of including the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations conservation programs, thus improving behavior Environmental Program (UNEP), the United National patterns and enhancing philanthropic support. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Interna- Additionally, ecotourism benefits local communi- tional Ecotourism Society (TIES) and the Center for ties, often in developing nations, by providing Responsible Travel (CREST), are working together to jobs, infrastructure and tourist dollars. There are, develop and implement a framework for sustainable however, unintended negative impacts of tourism. Ecotourists in Norway Getty 2008 EBSCO Sustainability Watch • Copyright © 2009 EBSCO Publishing Inc. • 800-653-2726 • www.ebscohost.com 2 Sustainability Watch Ecotourism Business Options & Best Practices When businesses seize on one or another of these goals and claim “ecotourism” without truly embrac- Ecotourism Background ing all three, critics have declared it “greenwashing.” Defining ecotourism is not an easy task. Are hotels Other critics go as far as to call all ecotourism, “ego- that reduce water use by washing towels only by tourism” – less about saving the environment than request considered an example of ecotourism, or are about the social status associated with visiting they, as some critics have argued, merely “ecotourism unspoiled nature. lite”? Is volunteer ecotourism, where participants The travel and tourism industry makes up 230 spend their vacations working on conservation million jobs worldwide; by 2010, this figure is efforts, the only true form of ecotourism? Many in estimated to grow to 250 million, or 1 in every 11 the industry view ecotourism as a kind of continuum, jobs. Tourism is the principal source of income for with mass tourism at one end of the spectrum and 83% of developing countries. Globally, ecotour- community and volunteer-based ecotourism at the ism generates $77 billion in revenue and makes up other end. 5-7% of the overall travel and tourism market. It Mexican architect and environmental activist, Hector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the travel Ceballos-Lascurain, is credited with coining the term industry, with a growth rate of 10-30%. According “ecotourism” in the early 1980s. The International to information published by the Nature Conser- Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as vancy, the regions most visited by US ecotourists “responsible travel to natural area that conserves are: Central America (38%), South America (25%), the environment and improves the well-being of North America (18%), Mexico and the Caribbean local people.” There are many other organizations (5%). and individuals who have come up with additional The United Nations declared 2002 the International definitions. What is important to note is that all of Year of Ecotourism. Later that year, the United them point out three important goals or qualities of Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), ecotourism: working with the United Nations Environmental 1. Travel to natural areas; Program (UNEP), The International Ecotourism 2. Conserve the environment; Society (TIES), Conservation International (CI) and Ecological Tourism Europe (ETE), helped organize 3. Empower and benefit local communities. Who is an Ecotourist? The International Ecotourism Society constructed the following ecotourist market profile based on a 1998 survey of North American travelers Age Ranged from 35-54 years old, although age varied with activity and other factors such as cost. Gender 50% were female and 50% were male, although differences by activity were found. Education 82% were college graduates; however, a shift in interest was found to those with less educa- tion, indicating expansion of ecotourism into mainstream markets. Household No major differences were found between general tourists and experienced ecotourists (those Composition who have been on one or more trips). Party A majority (60%) of experienced ecotourists preferred to travel as a couple; only 15% preferred Composition to travel with their families; and 13% preferred to travel alone. EBSCO Sustainability Watch • Copyright © 2009 EBSCO Publishing Inc. • 800-653-2726 • www.ebscohost.com 3 Sustainability Watch Ecotourism Who is an Ecotourist? (cont.) Trip Duration The largest group of experienced ecotourists (50%) preferred trips lasting 8-14 days. Expenditure Experienced ecotourists were willing to spend more than general tourists; the largest group was willing to spend $1,001-$1,500 per trip. Important Ele- Experienced ecotourists’ top three responses were: (1) Wilderness setting; (2) wildlife viewing; ments of the Trip and (3) hiking and trekking. Drumm, A. & Moore, A. (2005). Ecotourism Development: A Manual for Conservation Planners and Manager. The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved June 30, 2009, from http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/ the World Ecotourism Summit in Quebec City, directed towards conservation and park preservation Canada. While interest in ecotourism has continued efforts. The economic benefits of ecotourism provide to grow after the summit, recent natural disasters, strong anti-poaching incentive for local communi- the global economic downturn and health scares ties, which increase wildlife diversity. Ecotourism have had a negative effect on the tourism industry also provides environmental education, awareness in general. and funding for conservation efforts. According to a study done in the Galapagos
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