Ecotourism

1
Ecotourism Nature Tourism

• Diane Kuehn
• Assistant Professor
• Forest Natural Resources Management
• 310A Bray Hall
• www.esf.edu/for/kuehn

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What is sustainable development?

• Positive socioeconomic change that does not
  undermine the ecological and social systems upon
  which communities and society are dependent. --
  Rees, 1989
• Is this really possible??

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Ecotourism

• Responsible travel to natural areas that
  conserves the environment and improves the
  well-being of local people.
• --The International Ecotourism Society
• http//www.ecotourism.org/

4
TIES principles

• Minimizes impacts.
• Builds environmental and cultural awareness and
  respect.
• Provides positive experiences for both visitors
  and hosts.
• Provides direct financial benefits for
  conservation.
• Provides financial benefits and empowerment for
  local people. 
• Raises sensitivity to host countries' political,
  environmental, and social climate.

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So what is nature tourism?

• Travel to natural areas.
• Ecotourism is a specific type of nature tourism.

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Activity types

• Ecotourism
• Nature tourism
• Urban tourism

• Non-consumptive, low-impact activities
• Consumptive and non-consumptive, moderate-impact
  activities
• Consumptive and non-consumptive, mainly
  high-impact activities

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Visitor Management

• Ecotourism
• Nature tourism
• Urban tourism

• Strong educational behavioral component
• May or may not have a behavioral or educational
  component
• May or may not have a behavioral or educational
  component

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Scale of operation

• Ecotourism
• Nature tourism
• Urban tourism

• Usually a small number of visitors served
• Moderate number of visitors served
• Large number of visitors served

9
Infrastructure

• Ecotourism
• Nature tourism
• Urban tourism

• Minimum infrastructure
• Comfortable infrastructure
• Maximum infrastructure commercial development

10
Community involvement

• Ecotourism
• Nature tourism
• Urban tourism

• Tourism provided by local residents
  entrepreneurs
• Tourism providers both local and outside
  businesses corporations
• Tourism providers are mainly corporations