Indigenous Peoples and the Uses and Abuses of Ecotourism

1
Indigenous Peoples and the Uses and Abuses of
Ecotourism

• By
• De La Garza, Gonzales, Longley, Meador, Zavala

2
The Scope of Tourism and Ecotourism

• 10 of the worlds gross domestic product
• Worlds largest industry and employer
• International tourism increased from 25 million
  in 1950 to 425 million in 1990, a 17 fold
  increase (WTO 1995)
• In developing countries, tourism is especially
  important, sometimes accounting for more than 50
  of gross national product
• Ecotourism makes up a small percentage of all
  tourism, but is growing rapidly

3
Ecotourism

• Definition
• Purposeful travel to a natural/wilderness area
• To appreciate and learn from the natural and
  human environments
• To promoteconservation of the environment
• Substantial management of local resources

4
The Greening of Ecotourism

• Travel industry embraced green products
• Ecotourism beganto be exploited commercialized
• Became more expensive than conventional tourism
• Provided more foreign currency and employment
  opportunities

5
Negative Consequences

• Although ecotourism increases revenue and
  provides jobs, it has problems associated with it

• Economic issues
• Environmental issues
• Social and cultural issues

6
Economic Issues

• About 55 of receipts go to foreign companies
• More tourists means a higher cost of living, food
  necessities increase, and land prices go up
• Infrastructures (hotels, roads, etc.) need to be
  expanded to accommodate tourists

7
Environmental Issues

• Waste water disposal, esp. in coastal areas
• Increased waste affects coral reefs, which
  usually attract tourists in the first place

• Increased volume of tourists
• Trekking trips in Nepal increased from 10,000 in
  1960 to 240,000 in 1987
• More roads, trash, trail erosion

8
Social Cultural Issues

• Indigenous people may be restricted from their
  land, or at least the resources on it
• Sometimes they continue to use resources
  illegally
• In Kenya, indigenouspeople were not allowedto
  hunt in Tsavo NatlPark

9
Social Cultural Issues

• Differences in jobs
• Wealth disparities
• Local communities dont receive much of the
  tourist income
• Socioeconomic differences within indigenous
  communities
• Those involved w/ ecotourism vs. those who arent

10
Social Cultural Issues

• Less traditional, more modern
• Fishing boats turned into tour boats
• Locals may be seen as part of the wilderness
  (like museum exhibits)
• Introduction of foreign clothes, food, habits,
  etc.
• May be offensive to locals

11
Solutions

• Two approaches
• Modify ecotourism business practices
• Include locals in decision-making and management

12
Solutions

• Environmental organizations have developed
  guidelines for businesses to follow
• Use renewable resources conserve nonrenewable
  resources
• Travelers Code of Ethics Ten Commandments
  of Ecotourism
• Ecocorrect hotels

13
Solutions

• Inclusion of local people
• Who makes decisions regarding environmental
  resources, locals or government?
• Who is responsible for protecting resources?
• External top-down management doesnt work
• If locals arent involved in decision-making,
  they wont be committed to following through on
  those decisions
• One solution is to give the local people a voice
  in decision-making

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Summary

• Ecotourism generates lots of money in mostly poor
  places
• More of that money needs to be applied towards
  preservation
• If the wilderness is gone, so is the tourism
• Indigenous people need to be involved in
  management