The Pros and Cons of Ecotourism
The pros and cons of Ecotourism
1. Introduction
Ecotourism is defined as responsible travel to natural areas that protect the environment and improve the welfare of local people (International Ecotourism Society (TIES), 2005). It also follow certain principles such as minimize impact, build environmental and cultural respect, provide financial benefits to local people (TIES, n.d.). Global ecotourism began in 1990, and has been growing 20-34% per year, especially in 2004, ecotourism was growing globally 3 times faster than the tourism industry as a whole; with continuous growth, and ecotourism will occupy 25% of the world travel market within six years (TIES, 2005). Ecotourism has advantages and disadvantages. It can contribute to a country’s economic development and also benefit local people. For the poor countries, tourism is the second most important source of foreign exchange, after oil (TIES, 2005). It also can bring job opportunities and increase local people’s income. However, the disadvantage cannot be neglected. Ecotourism can produce pollution and damage the environment. According to TIES (2005), there are 109 countries with coral reefs, 90 of them are being damaged by cruise ship and sewage. It also estimated that the cruise ship produce more than 70,000 tons of waste each year. The shock to local culture is also a big problem. Recently, the advantages of ecotourism are still being debated.
This report is concerned with the advantages and disadvantages of ecotourism. It will first illustrate the impact of ecotourism to local culture. Secondly, it will discuss the contribution of ecotourism to economic. Then it will analyze the impact of ecotourism to environment. Finally, it will seek of possible solutions to overcome the disadvantages. Though the disadvantages of ecotourism caused big problems, this report will argue that the advantage of ecotourism far outweigh its drawbacks.
2. The Impact to Economic
Tourism is widely believed to be the most
1. Introduction
Ecotourism is defined as responsible travel to natural areas that protect the environment and improve the welfare of local people (International Ecotourism Society (TIES), 2005). It also follow certain principles such as minimize impact, build environmental and cultural respect, provide financial benefits to local people (TIES, n.d.). Global ecotourism began in 1990, and has been growing 20-34% per year, especially in 2004, ecotourism was growing globally 3 times faster than the tourism industry as a whole; with continuous growth, and ecotourism will occupy 25% of the world travel market within six years (TIES, 2005). Ecotourism has advantages and disadvantages. It can contribute to a country’s economic development and also benefit local people. For the poor countries, tourism is the second most important source of foreign exchange, after oil (TIES, 2005). It also can bring job opportunities and increase local people’s income. However, the disadvantage cannot be neglected. Ecotourism can produce pollution and damage the environment. According to TIES (2005), there are 109 countries with coral reefs, 90 of them are being damaged by cruise ship and sewage. It also estimated that the cruise ship produce more than 70,000 tons of waste each year. The shock to local culture is also a big problem. Recently, the advantages of ecotourism are still being debated.
This report is concerned with the advantages and disadvantages of ecotourism. It will first illustrate the impact of ecotourism to local culture. Secondly, it will discuss the contribution of ecotourism to economic. Then it will analyze the impact of ecotourism to environment. Finally, it will seek of possible solutions to overcome the disadvantages. Though the disadvantages of ecotourism caused big problems, this report will argue that the advantage of ecotourism far outweigh its drawbacks.
2. The Impact to Economic
Tourism is widely believed to be the most
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