Eco Lodge Assessment
Hidden Valley Cabins Ecotourism Report
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to examine Hidden valley Cabins, located one and half hour North West of Townsville, in relation to three key components. Firstly, an evaluation of the operations relating to the provisions of ecotourism products and services will be undertaken. Secondly, potential positive and negative environmental, economic and sociocultural impacts of the operation are identified. Thirdly, recommended strategies based on the former two sections will be presented.
The term ecotourism has come under much debate as to its true and complete definition. With reference to the leading experts in the field the foremost definition of ecotourism is as follows; ecotourism is nature-based travel that encompasses principles of sustainability (Osland & Mackoy, 2004), and thus contributes to the conservation of the ecosystem (Wight, 1993), while providing economic and social benefits to the local community (Weaver, 2001), and includes an educational component. For Hidden Valley Cabins to be considered an ecotourism operation its functioning practises must be consistent with the generally accepted definition.
Ecolodges are the high profile symbol of ecotourism and a critical component of ecotourism. There are three key areas in which ecolodges differentiate from other forms of tourist accommodation were identified by Osland and Mackoy (2004). The distinctive areas are; design (integrated with the natural environment compared with developments that dominate their environment), food (local grown and cooked compared with gourmet), activates (nature based educational compared with relaxation and service based) (Osland & Mackoy, 2004). Another case study of two ecolodges located in the Gold Coast and Brisbane used four categories to analyse the lodge’s sustainability practises (Lim & Mcaleer, 2005). This report uses a hybrid of both studies analytical categories to describe the practises of Hidden
Introduction
The purpose of this report is to examine Hidden valley Cabins, located one and half hour North West of Townsville, in relation to three key components. Firstly, an evaluation of the operations relating to the provisions of ecotourism products and services will be undertaken. Secondly, potential positive and negative environmental, economic and sociocultural impacts of the operation are identified. Thirdly, recommended strategies based on the former two sections will be presented.
The term ecotourism has come under much debate as to its true and complete definition. With reference to the leading experts in the field the foremost definition of ecotourism is as follows; ecotourism is nature-based travel that encompasses principles of sustainability (Osland & Mackoy, 2004), and thus contributes to the conservation of the ecosystem (Wight, 1993), while providing economic and social benefits to the local community (Weaver, 2001), and includes an educational component. For Hidden Valley Cabins to be considered an ecotourism operation its functioning practises must be consistent with the generally accepted definition.
Ecolodges are the high profile symbol of ecotourism and a critical component of ecotourism. There are three key areas in which ecolodges differentiate from other forms of tourist accommodation were identified by Osland and Mackoy (2004). The distinctive areas are; design (integrated with the natural environment compared with developments that dominate their environment), food (local grown and cooked compared with gourmet), activates (nature based educational compared with relaxation and service based) (Osland & Mackoy, 2004). Another case study of two ecolodges located in the Gold Coast and Brisbane used four categories to analyse the lodge’s sustainability practises (Lim & Mcaleer, 2005). This report uses a hybrid of both studies analytical categories to describe the practises of Hidden