Having Proper Accountability and transparency in ecotourism Will Mean Economic Development
Nobody is going to deny that accountability and transparency in ecotourism will lead to economic development and also promote growth that are features that can readily be seen in a capitalist and also a democratic society and which is indicative of good governance. However, not every ecotourism country is a democratic or capitalist country and there are different political ideologies prevailing which mean that some of these countries may be politically neutral or they may be conforming to government interests.
Economic Benefits Are The Primary Motivating Force
Thus, it has been found that in almost all cases, economic benefits are the primary motivating force for such ecotourism countries and accountability and transparency in ecotourism may be a concept that most of these countries may not be familiar with, and which has some way to go before they get incorporated in the scheme of things. The force of economic prosperity is such that other concerns such as poverty alleviation, conservation as well as cultural heritage may have to take a back seat.
The reason for such a state of affairs can be attributed to understanding that without economic activity, there would probably be no real tourism and thus there is a need to mix the factors involved and come up with a correct balance so that no one particular factor dominates the others and this is where accountability and transparency in ecotourism comes into play.
It is also a fact that all tourism development programmes will be used to advance government interests because they need the approval of the government before anything can be done, it can often result in government interference in the running of ecotourism projects and thus there may be little or no accountability and transparency in ecotourism.
There is also no denying the fact that there must be a fit of cultural values that are essential if the host country does not want to have disruptive or counterproductive influences in the development of ecotourism. It means formulating policies and planning ahead and ensuring that the culture of the place and also its politics are well understood without which the project may not get off the ground and accountability and transparency in ecotourism is another major factor that must be incorporated in the scheme of things if there is to be sustainable ecotourism.
Thus, if there is accountability and transparency in ecotourism there should be a proper mechanism and a philosophy of long-term returns in place; instead of myopic means being used to get short-term gains.
Ecotourist
That is not surprising given that there is striking wildlife and rivers that run freely along with the cloud forests that seemingly are endlessly covered in mist.
This global ecotourism conference had been organized by the International Ecotourism Society (TIES), along with Ecotourism Norway as also the United Nations Environment Program. tourist that needs to be considered. Since ecotourism means traveling responsibly there are many potential benefits of ecotourism that one can get and there will also be many improvements to the environment as also to the local economy. Ecotourism is also a means of providing economic prosperity to local people and communities, and the continent of Africa has much to offer in this respect.
Furthermore, it is easy to see that the long distances one travels by air to reach these ecotourism destinations may in it be the cause of ecotourism damage albeit indirectly.
A Popular Question: What Are the Components in Ecotourism? In other words, there will be a significant reduction of the common misconceptions associated with ecotourism will be dispelled. There are many scary scenarios of the future that one can think up when man will have callously thrown caution to the winds and depleted all of the worlds natural resources and created cities that can best be described as jungles made from concrete and where the lakes and rivers as well as oceans have been polluted and animals have become or are going to become extinct, and carbon dioxide levels have risen alarmingly. This great ecotourism potential is also throwing up many more ecotourism destinations and there is stiff competition among many countries which means that countries with more than beaches, coral reefs and marine biodiversity will profit more than others.
People would travel from all over the country to rest on the bans of the river and bask in the sun, fish or spend a little time swimming.
This global trend shows the need in promoting growth in ecotourism which is leading to more travelers choosing ecotourism, and thus is clearing the way for even more ecotourism potentials. Ecotourism is also quite new and has only been in existence for about two to three decades, and it plays an important role in both propagating social and also ecological consciousness in eco-tourists. Thus, while ecotourism debates rage on, it is nevertheless quite clear that in spite of the many problems, there is hardly any denying the fact that ecotourism does in fact encourage powers that be into at least thinking about conserving nature, though opinions will certainly differ on what need to be protected, and how as well as for whose benefit. Such ecotourism debates raise the question that ecotourism has become a catch-all phrase to help market products and in the capitalist sense at least, cultures as well as societies are mere commodities that are to be consumed by external sources. So, ecotourism is no small fry and it is believed to be a trillion dollar industry that is now the worlds top ranked employer. Well, if a teacher is successful in presenting the true facts of the subject of ecotourism, then the quizzical looks will quickly disappear as people begin to realize the absolute seriousness of the issue. |