EcoTourism

EcoTour Guide, Sustainable Tourism Officer,  Park Ranger, Nature Reserve Manager, Ecotourism Coordinator, Coastal Reserve Warden,  Access and Conservation Officer, Recreation and Trails Officer, Tourism Development Officer

The Sector
Ecotourism came of age in 2002 when the UN celebrated the International Year of Ecotourism. Ecotourism includes programmes that minimise the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the environment, enhance the cultural integrity of local people, promote biodiversity, create local employment and share socio-economic beneftis. It is often defined as travel to destinations where the flora, fauna and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.

Sector Profile
Tourism is the world’s fastest growing industry, generating one in 15 jobs worldwide. Ecotourism equals 20% of total international travel. In 1991, 450 million international travellers generated more than £6 trillion in tourism revenues.  About 15 %, or nearly 68 million, of these travellers participated in nature-related trips. The World Tourism Organization now estimates that global spending on ecotourism is increasing by 20% a year, which is about six times the rate of growth for the tourism industry. 

Ecotourism involves and impacts a large number of people, most obviously field guides, trackers, trail leaders, field rangers and safari guides. The hospitality industry is also becoming more involved.

Issues and Trends
As tourism’s contribution to environmental and cultural degradation has become more apparent, ecotourism has gained popularity. Consequently, the debate concerning its impact has also escalated.

Critics condemn some operators for using the label of ecotourism while behaving in environmentally irresponsible ways. Others argue that all forms of tourism are damaging to the environment and that air travel to remote places is not included in the "environmental impact calculation". Proponents argue that ecotourism’s income generation provides the incentive to conserve, rather than consume, natural resources. Within the world’s biodiversity hotspots, poverty is driving people to pursue livelihoods that destroy the natural resources they rely on. Increasingly, governments, local communities and NGOs are pursuing ecotourism as a vehicle to sustainable development and many argue that it forms an important part of conservation strategies.

Currently there are various controversial moves to create international ecotourism certification programmes and regulate the industry.

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