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ISSN 1108-8931 |
INTERNATIONAL ECOTOURISM MONTHLY™ |
Year 6 - Issue 72 |
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Sponsored by: Zante Feast Discovery Holidays, Purple Valley Yoga Centre, Hana Maui Botanical Gardens, Jorth Consult Limited, Pacuare Lodge, Ecolife 2005 Fair |
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Fransisco Sandoval (Proprietor, Uxlabil Atitlan, Guatemala ) reports:
Bill Tuffin (The Boat Landing, Laos ) reports that the Lao National Tourism Administration has just launched a new ecotourism portal, www.ecotourismlaos.com. This site showcases community-based ecotourism projects and activities in Laos and is still in its infancy but will grow to include guidelines for visitors, profiles of the participating communities and how they benefit. A certification system is also mulled. Jem Winston (3 Rivers Eco Lodge, Dominica) is proud to announce that 3 Rivers Eco Lodge was voted The American Express & Caribbean Hotel Association, Caribbean Green Hotel of the Year 2005 - Small Hotel Category - at the Caribbean Hotel Industry Conference held in Miami, on the 28th June, 2005.This is the first time that the award has been achieved by a hotel in Dominica. Beti Minkin (Yuva, Turkey) reports that Yuva Eco Holiday Village is offering a Summer and Fall Offers as follows: Sunmmer Special: 1-20 AUGUST: 20% off, Fall Special: 18-31 OCTOBER: 20% off
Integrating the rights of
Local Communities In Latin America, ecotourism activity is mainly based on natural and cultural attractions. According to Anton and Gines (1996), ecotourism is an important activity in the Amazon region (Venezuela and Brazil), as well as in Costa Rica, and in other mainland Caribbean countries. The demand for exotic holidays has expanded to include visits to indigenous and minority ethnic groups in locations around Latin America. In many of these locations, indigenous peoples have maintained local traditions and developed practices for the sustainable exploitation of their environment. However, these groups are particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of tourism. For this reason, the development of a sustainable approach to ecotourism must be based on strategies that protect and strengthen both natural and cultural diversities. It needs to integrate the rights of local communities to use and manage natural resources. It also should ensure that any profits from ecotourism are used by local populations as well as for the conservation of natural resources. Ecotourism has the potential to help conserve and enrich local indigenous cultures not only in the short term, but also from a transgenerational long-term perspective. Indeed, the development of a sustainable ecotourism model could play a valuable role in the development of more sustainable societies world-wide. There are, however, significant risks involved in any ecotourism initiative. When developing an ecotourism strategy, the vulnerability of the natural and cultural resource being promoted must be carefully assessed to ensure that any planned activities do not threaten or undermine it. Furthermore, it is critical that local communities, in their struggle for sustainable livelihoods, are involved in integrating ecotourism activities into self-reliance projects that benefit both the community and the natural environment. *Dr. Arturo Carballo-Sandoval
is a Lecturer at the Instituto Tecnológico de Cancún. His main area
of research is community Ecotourism. Clouds in Ecotourism Paradise? A few months ago I visited Costa Rica to understand why this tiny Mesoamerican country is often said to be "Ecotourism's paradise". I found a very beautiful country, with an exceptional biodiversity, superb Ecolodges, dedicated conservationists, and delighted tourists. However, digging a bit deeper, I realised that many people were not truly satisfied with the way things are progressing. "They are destroying the coast", "our country is going to lose its ecotourism edge", "It has changed so much in 10 years" etc. Many complaints came from conservationists who see the current gold rush on Guanacaste's Coast as being a threat for Costa Rica's position as the ecotourism world leader and for the sustainability of the destination as a whole. The recent opening of Liberia airport to direct flights from the USA, the mushrooming of luxury condominiums, golf courses and marinas, certainly mean that Costa Rica is opening itself to a relatively mild form of upmarket mass tourism. Many Costa Ricans don't see this slow invasion as being good for them: indeed, they feel that they are dispossessed from their land, as real estate prices quickly rise up and local people can't afford to buy houses on what used to be "their" beaches. Giving it a second look, I also understood that conservation significantly lacks funds in Costa Rica. Out of the billion dollars generated by the tourism industry in 2002, only 2,9 million were reinvested back into protecting the country's main assets: its national parks. In many cases, illegal poaching is still practiced widely, and forest guards have to be paid by local NGOs instead of being paid by the State. Sure, the Costa Rican Tourism Institute has initiated one of the best certification programs for sustainable tourism, but is it enough, considering that new developments are not compelled to respect these criteria? Meanwhile, the government is heavily selling its real estate to foreigners and is not entirely doing its job to conserve nature. So does all that mean that Costa Rica is not ecotourism's paradise anymore?". Luckily, I was introduced to a local network of hotels called Sustainably Managed Association of Responsible Tourism (SMART) and spoke with most of the lodge owners forming this association. All the people I met were not only successful business owners, they were also truly sustainable development leaders. Without the work of these private reserves, there would not be any biological corridor between national parks, which would constitute isolated tree islands, with dire consequences on wildlife's reproductive and hunting patterns. All in all, Costa Rica stroke me as having some of the most genuine ecotourism on Earth: With firmer governmental support, the country will certainly stay the sector leader that it currently is. Without it, it could rapidly become "just another country". *Mr Pascal Languillon is an Ecotourism Consultant, and President of
the Association
Vers Un Autre Tourisme
Belarus opening up for Tourism
The Rossony region of Belarus is a combination of tranquil rivers and glacial lakes surrounded by a vast transitional, dry pine forest ecosystem that is punctuated by village pastures and fields of grain and hay. The region is bounded to the North by a vast Russian national park, on the east and west by nature reserves, and to the south by flat forests and open landscape. Unusual bogs and mires complement the vast dry pine forest ecosystem, creating a region blessed with complex habitat for a wide range of mammals, birds, and aquatic species. The vast forests offer wildlife viewers great chances of seeing bear, lynx, moose, wild boar, game birds, and more. Rossony natural areas may be the best place on earth to view the endangered large bird species, Capercailli. Other unusual species of mammals include the Racoon Dog, American Beaver, Roe Deer, Badger and Wolf. Tour operators seeking new frontiers for budget minded ecotourists might consider this region of the world for future tour opportunities. The people are generous, the landscape is pleasant, and the feeling of remoteness is authentic. The quality of the dry forest and aquatic habitat is intact and well managed, providing a distinct character for adventurous ecotravelers. Quiet recreational activities such as bicycling, walking, and boating can supplement motorized transportation into the vast northern forest and aquatic ecosystems of this still lightly explored part of the world. Pioneer ecotourists and adventure travelers will like exploring this new territory that is slowly opening up to travelers. Small villages dot the region where life is a blend of subsistence agriculture and State run enterprises. The region, as with all of Belarus, has a long and arduous history of invasion and moving boundaries resulting in a proud and self-reliant population. Accommodations are on small subsistence farms that provide rooms and meals straight from the local palate of gardens, barns, rivers and forests. Tour operators will find a variety of guesthouse accommodations complete with traditional Russian sauna that can be organized through the Association of Rural and Ecotourism Belarus. Exploring Northern Belarus was rewarding for participants of the Landscape Stewardship Exchange program. The exchange I participated in was organized by the Quebec Labrador Foundation Atlantic Center For The Environment, The Association for Rural and Ecotourism of Belarus, and the Polish Environmental Partnership Foundation Central and Eastern European Greenways Program. Future visitors will be rewarded when they visit Northern Belarus too. *Prof. Todd Comen is Director, The Institute For Integrated Rural Tourism and Associate Professor, Hospitality and Business, Johnson State College, Vermont.
New guidebook on Community based Indigenous Tourism I am currently producing a guidebook on community based indigenous tourism for the public and gathering initiatives from all around the world. This is aimed at visitors, to raise their interest and to generate business for the featured projects. The book will be published in French by Indigene Editions, a publishing company based in Montpellier. A second edition in English is planned for 2006. If you are interested in being part of this book, please let me know promptly. In each country we give space to 4 to 5 case studies or pilot projects. The other initiatives are mentioned briefly. *Sylvie Blangy is an Ecotourism Consultant and Author of many ecotourism studies including the UNEP Manual for the International Year of Ecotourism, and the WTO Ecotourism Market study for France.
Natali Dologlou (Athens, Greece) just returned from a windsurfing trip to Mashira Island, in Southern Oman. Tourism on the island is little developed, with just 80 windsurfers visiting every year, mostly camping outside. Natali was amazed at the local nature (deserts, oases, whales, sharks, green turtles), the local architecture and in particular the warmth and hospitality of the islanders. Small children in particular who had never met a western woman before with an uncovered head, would come over and touch her hair. For a totally non-commercialised experience, Natali recommends Mashira Island. |
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I have just returned from the Rossony region of Northern Belarus
where I joined a delegation to view the potential for rural and
ecotourism, and to provide suggestions on how to move forward in a
strategy to develop niche tourism in the region.