Some Of The Differences between mass tourism and eco-tourism Include Scale And Attitude Towards Conservation
There is considerable acrimony among proponents of mass tourism and those of ecotourism concerning various factors including travel safety as well as security and even global or regional schisms are developing. There are indeed many factors such as the rich vs. poor, developed vs. developing, economic vs. cultural values and of course terrorist vs. tourist that needs to be considered. The question is whether we will choose one side or is integration possible. Tourism is it mass tourism or ecotourism is certainly a vehicle that promotes better learning about different peoples and their cultures.
Making An Informed Decision
Nevertheless, there are certain differences between mass tourism and eco-tourism and we need to explore these to arrive at an informed decision about which one is better and also to learn how to improve both forms of tourism. Mass tourism will generally have its own characteristics that include concentration of high volume sales, shifting of large groups of tourists, full utilization of holiday packages and also development of huge transport systems and infrastructure, and marketing is more hedonistic.
On the other hand, differences between mass tourism and eco-tourism show that ecotourism is more nature based, low impact as well as small scale, promotes conservation, supports local communities, helps maintain natural and cultural integrity, and makes use of environmentally friendly methods as also technologies. Thus, one can easily see that there are major differences between mass tourism and eco-tourism and mass tourism is normally associated with high volumes, large scale, fast pace as well as hedonism, while ecotourism is small scale, nature centric as well as conservation oriented.
Whereas mass tourism has been around for a long time, ecotourism only began in the eighties and this is another one of the major differences between mass tourism and eco-tourism. Ecotourism aims at balancing economic development of tourism, and conservation as well as protecting the natural resources is central to it, while mass tourism is like a juggernaut that pays scant heed to any lofty ideals and is instead hell bent on churning profits and thus pays little attention to sustainable development, and as such, this is another of the many important differences between mass tourism and eco-tourism.
In addition, while considering the differences between mass tourism and eco-tourism one can also think of tourist destinations themselves that are either suited for one form of tourism and exclusive to the other. Take for instance the Pacific Islands that are ideally suited for ecotourism and not for mass tourism. Thus, one can easily understand that if ecotourism is uppermost in the minds of tourists, they will naturally gravitate towards such places, where there is little or nothing for the mass tourist type of traveler. Ecotourism may also take one to places where the climate as well as constraints of smallness make such destinations unsuited for mass tourism. Other such destinations that do not make for ideal mass tourism include Fiji, Tahiti, New Caledonia as well as the Cook Islands; though they do see some amount of mass tourism along with ecotourism, which of course is the primary form of tourism it is helping in leading to a more integrated type of tourism, which is thus narrowing down the differences between mass tourism and eco-tourism.
Ecotourism Practices
The evolution of ecotourism has been defined to date, but continues to be defined for the next generation of curious people to learn about.
Though ecotourism has some common goals with tourism that include being educated and entertained, ecotourism usually means traveling to a place where there is not an artificial environment; rather, the environment there is natural and unspoiled by human beings. These are rural places found all over the world, as well as resort areas that offer natural getaways. This is the time when communities and entrepreneurs realized the profitability in serving ecotourists. In other words, there will be a significant reduction of the common misconceptions associated with ecotourism will be dispelled. This ecotourism destination also attracts local tourists and those from abroad who also love the many festivals as well as the splendid houseboat rides in the backwaters of the state. Also, study ecotourism involves learning how to protect the environment as well as improve the quality of life, which means having to analyze the different possible approaches.
These are rural places found all over the world, as well as resort areas that offer natural getaways.
The question is whether we will choose one side or is integration possible. However, it is important to mention that although you might get an answer to your question What are the components in ecotourism? The reason for this is that ecotourism is not merely a vacation or leisure activity, it is an activity that can provide for tremendous personal growth. The bottom line is that the impacts of eco and mass tourism can be positive and beneficial to the local peoples and host country if they are properly managed and there are in place well-thought out plans as well as programmes. If tourists started taking things like this, it would cause a chainlike effect in the environment. Some ecotourism policies try to benefit monetarily off of what various organizations promote.
Even countries such as Nepal are offering helicopter treks to view summits of various mountains instead of climbing the mountainous landscapes.
The need for ecotourism environmental education is clear to all and it should help foster better and clearer awareness as well get people involved in being concerned with the social, economic as well as political and ecological matters, and to also provide opportunities that increase the knowledge, attitudes, values and also commitment and skills required to protect and also make better our environment. Denying them luxuries of mass tourism is no more than a need to demonstrate that they can live without such luxuries and only want to feel that they are not impacting nature as do the mass tourists. Tourism is it mass tourism or ecotourism is certainly a vehicle that promotes better learning about different peoples and their cultures. Because of the fact that from the awareness that it creates there comes a movement for conservation. |
