Ecotourism the Emerging Ecotourism Market

Ecotourism

The Emerging Ecotourism Market

Eight years into the 21st Century, people from the industrialized world are beginning to grasp a fuller understanding of how their actions impact those across the globe. Where there was once little interest in protecting the environment, many are beginning to understand how using resources irresponsibly depletes not only the resources of those in Third World countries, but also those of their future, and their children's future. It is for this reason, among others, that a focus on sustainable living has become center focus. Now, more and more people shopping, even at discount food stores, are using reusable shopping bags, carpooling, and buying organic foods. Just as many practices, such as shopping and traveling have now "gone green," so to has tourism. While traditional tourism often encompasses harmful activities, such as mass transport, and benefits the creators of large, wealthy tourist traps like Disney World, many of which do similar harm to the environment, ecotourism encourages sustainable practices and benefits local groups. Despite the fact that ecotourism practices were so prevalent in the 1990s to inspire the creation of the International Ecotourism Society (TIES), many of those living in industrialized nations know little about this type of tourism. By comparing ecotourism with traditional tourism, exploring the ecotourism market, and determining how ecotourism affects developing countries, one can determine that ecotourism is a promising practice that will serve to increase tourists' knowledge of other cultures and sustainable living, in addition to benefiting developing countries and the world.

Ecotourism vs. Traditional Tourism

From taking a break from the stress of everyday life to exploring new regions, people engage in tourist behavior for a variety of reasons. For instance, Forbes claims that taking a vacation can be good for one's health, stating that "it's not clear whether vacations cause better health or whether they are just an indicator of healthier lifestyles. But taking time off does appear to have physical and mental benefits."

Because so many reasons for participating in tourist behaviors exist, ecotourism cannot replace traditional tourism. The two types of tourism have completely different goals. While traditional tourism is designed to fit the needs, and even health, of the tourist, ecotourism is designed to fit the needs of the environment and the culture being toured. Indeed, TIES notes that ecotourism is sustainable, meaning that it uses resources in a way that honors all biological life without compromising future generations' ability to use these same resources, and responsible.

Thus, while ecotourism may not be a substitute for traditional tourism in that the definitions of the two types of tourism are nearly exact opposites, ecotourism does provide an excellent alternative to traditional tourism. Like traditional tourism, ecotourism provides the opportunity for tourists to learn about different cultures through experience. In fact ecotourism may even maintain a better environment for cultural learning because ecotourism allows travelers to "experience authentic local living." For this reason, ecotourism can stand along side traditional tourism as an alternative choice.

Ecotourism's Market

While traditional tourism is tourist centered, the market for ecotourism has been growing as of late. In fact, the International Ecotourism Society states that "interest in visiting natural areas, experiencing authentic local living, and observing wildlife has continued to grow." In addition, the ecotourism advocacy society notes that the word "ecotourism" has been more frequently used as of late, governments are more interested in developing "ecotourism strategies," ecotourism agencies are growing, and "the ecotourism community is expected to be more inclusive of innovative and socially equitable approaches." What this suggests is that ecotourism, as well as the market for ecotourism, is continuing to grow. In fact, as the importance of conservation, sustainability, and respect for other cultures grows, the majority of people who are traditionally interested in tourism not only want to practice responsible tourist behaviors, but they also wish to see the glory of the environment.

Regardless of the changing attitude towards tourism and ecotourism, however, proponents of ecotourism still face the challenge of appealing to a wide range of people -- from those who go on vacation to see the glories of nature, to those who just want to relax, to those who want to learn about other cultures. In fact, marketing ecotourism itself can be a major challenge for many. The Internet is riddled with advertisers who claim the ability to market ecotourism with great success. The International Ecotourism Society, however, recommends supporting education in ecotourism, making more information about ecotourism visible and available, and using the media, as well as smaller ecotourism agencies, to raise awareness about ecotourism excellent marketing skills. In fact, this way of marketing ecotourism is superior because it tackles one of ecotourism's major problems -- visibility. Thus, while the market for ecotourism is growing steadily larger, ecotourism agencies must realize that they need to appeal to a wide variety of people in order to market their brand of tourism. Because one of ecotourism's primary problems is visibility, the International Ecotourism Society's methods of increasing education and visibility is the perfect immediate solution.

Ecotourism in Developing Countries and Conclusion