Role of eco tourism in achieving sustainable development

1. Role of Eco Tourism in Achieving
Sustainable Development
By, Aswin Herbert

2. Introduction
Ecotourism is touted as a successful tool for promoting
sustainable economic practices in developing nations, and
for encouraging environmental conservation worldwide.
Sustainable development policies also seek to develop
economic systems that run with little or no consumption of
natural resources, and that avoid ecological damage.

3. Definition
Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving visiting fragile,
pristine, and relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a
low-impact and often small scale alternative to standard
commercial (mass) tourism. It means responsible travel to natural
areas conserving the environment and improving the well-being of
the local people.

4. Sustainable Development
The concept of sustainability first appeared in the public
scene in the report put out by the World Commission on
Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission)
in 1987. Sustainable development is high potential for any
community within economic, social, cultural, ecologic and
physical constraints.

5. Sustainable Development Triangle

6. Environmental protection and tourism are closely linked with
each other , as vacations and outdoor recreation require a
healthy environment. A tourist resort with clean environment -
air, water and scenery is most sought after by leisure seekers.
According to the World Tourism Organization ( WTO),
'tourism that involves travelling to relatively undisturbed
natural areas with the specified object of studying, admiring
and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as
well as any existing cultural aspects ( both of the past and
present ) found in these areas is Ecotourism.

8. India with its geographical diversity has been endowed with a
wealth of eco- systems comprising biosphere reserves,
mangroves, coral and coral reefs, deserts, mountains and
forests, flora and fauna, sea, lake, river and other water bodies.
These eco-systems form the major resources for ecotourism.
Unfortunately , during the last decade or so there has been a
mushrooming of concrete buildings in the form of hotels,
industries and lodging houses in eco-fragile areas.This
unplanned development activity has had an adverse effect on
both environment and tourism.

9. Components of Ecotourism
1. Contributes to conservation of biodiversity.
2. Sustains the well being of local people.
3. Includes an interpretation / learning experience.
4. Involves responsible action on the part of tourists and the tourism
industry.
5. Is delivered primarily to small groups by small-scale businesses.
6. Requires lowest possible consumption of non-renewable resources.
7. Stresses local participation, ownership and business opportunities,
particularly for rural people.

10. Principles of Ecotourism
1. Minimize physical, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts.
2. Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
3. Provide positive experiences for both visitors and local people
4. Provide direct financial benefits for environmental conservation
5. Generate financial benefits for both local people and private
industry
6. Deliver memorable interpretative experiences to visitors that help
raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and
social climates
7. Design, construct and operate low-impact facilities

11. Characteristics of Ecotourism
1. Minimizing the negative impacts on nature and culture that can damage a
destination.
2. Educating the traveler on the importance of conservation.
3. Stressing the importance of responsible business that works in cooperation
with local authorities and people to meet local needs and deliver
conservation benefits.
4. Emphasizing the need for both regional tourism zoning and visitor
management plans.
5. Ensuring that tourism development does not exceed the social and
environmental limits of acceptable change as determined by researchers in
cooperation with local residents.
6. Relying on infrastructure that has been developed in harmony with
the environment

13. Conclusion
Various tendencies also occur in the understanding of tourism upon
changing living conditions. At this point, “Ecotourism "activities
have particularly recently become sectors which can create great
changes both in socio-cultural and economic aspects. Main
purpose is not only ensuring the socio-economic development but
also the protection of natural and cultural landscape values to
ensure awareness of nature conservation on the other hand.
Ecotourism should be seen in direct relation to nature conservation
with preservation of the authentic and involving local communities
in all stages of the process. Development process is a lengthy
process, which requires a sustained effort from all those involved
but can bring major benefits in the long term,