Eco Tourism Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Eco Tourism - Case Study Example However, this niche market of the tourism sector has come under scrutiny for the positive and negative implications it presents. We will examine the positive and negative factors of ecotourism by looking at the political, economic, social and technological factors of ecotourism, and how they can increase visitor arrivals. Due to the ambiguous nature of the term 'eco-tourism' and the many meanings it has been assigned, it can sometimes become confusing. The confusion raised by the term needs to be clarified in order to better understand the nature of eco-tourism. A definition must be given to facilitate the understanding of its impacts on the industry. Eco-tourism according to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP, n.d, beginning section, 1) is a developmental tool that can promote the three basic goals of the Convention on Biodiversity as listed below: share the benefits of ecotourism developments equitably with local communities and indigenous people, by obtaining their informed consent and full participation in planning and management of ecotourism businesses. All the literature reviewed for this paper reveal that other definitions have referred to it as nature based, alternative, green, adventure, and agri tourism. The main aim here is not to confuse ecotourism with sustainable tourism, although both are closely linked. Whereas ecotourism is more concerned with economic benefits for the community while maintaining a sound ecosystem, sustainable tourism is more concerned with saving the environment without economic gain. The one common factor in all these definitions is that there is a consensus that eco-tourism is about travel to destinations that are sustaining their natural resources for economic, social, and most importantly, natural benefits. With this definition at hand, a review of the literature reveals some key points of interest. These points address both negative and positive views about the management and positioning of eco-tourism in the industry and the future viability in the global framework. Positive PEST factors of Eco-Tourism Eco-tourism provides several benefits when managed properly. The first of these benefits is Political. Politically, most governments in one way or another have embraced ecotourism. This was encouraged when the area received its' largest boost with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) declaration of 2002 as the International Year of Eco-tourism. Governments around the world have seen the importance of this niche market and recognized the necessity to support their tourism industry. Citing examples of various government efforts throughout the world Nash (2005) points to the growing involvement of government agencies in promoting and aiding eco-tourism. In England for example