Ecotourism Du lịch sinh thái Bài thuyết trình

Ecotourism is a new field of study and a new sub sector of the tourism industry.
People can benefit a lot from ecotourism, yet somepeople are still trying to
understand exactly what it is and what they derive from it.
Let’s first see what is ecotourism defined as.
DEFINITION:
- In Oxford Dictionary: Ecotourism means tourism directed towards exotic
natural environments, intended to support conservation efforts and
observe wildlife.
- In Merriam – Webster Dictionary: Ecotourism means the practice of
traveling to beautiful matural places for pleasure in a way that does not
damage the environment there.
- According to the International Ecotourism Society: Ecotourism is
responsible travel to natural areas that conserves environment and
improves the well-being of local people.
 In my point of view: Ecotourism is travel that is environmentally
friendly, tourism that has as little impact on the environment as
possible, that respects local culture and that helps promote
livelihoods.
HISTORY:
The concept arose in the 1970s from the general global environmental movement,
and by the 1990s was one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors. Ecotourism
appeals to responsible travelers who want to minimize the negative impacts of
their visit, and who take special interest in local nature and cultures.
ACTIVITIES CONSTITUTE ECOTOURISM:
Now let’s see some activities involved in ecotourism to understand more clearly
about it. There are a lot of activities constitute ecotourism such as:
+ Stay overnight in a local village and try local food, take part in local festival,
learn how to cook a traditional dish => learn about local traditions and culture.
+ Go swimming, scuba-diving and see the coral reefs.
+ Go hiking or go camping in the forest.
+ Visit a national park or protected areas => learn how to protect animals and

plants.
+ Wildlife viewing: see different kind of animals, learn about their habitat and
habit.
+ Visit historical or beautiful natural places.
+ Take a boat through a cave and enjoy its beauty.
PROS AND CONS:
In today’s world everything tends to be ecological, everything has to be with
minimal impact on the nature, everything has to be green. But is it always good to
live in world like that? For example ecotourism, do you think that ecotourism is
good at all time? Is ecotourism better than normal tourism which we know and
which is still more popular? What are the advantages and disadvantages of
ecotourism? And these are the main issues that will, hopefully, be explained in our
presentation.
PROS:
If done right, ecotourism bring us a wealth of benefits.
First and for most, as being an ecotourist, you can relax and gain a lot of
wonderful and useful experience and skills. For example, when go camping in a
forest, you can take part in activties such as swimming, fishing, sightseeing,
climbing, singing, dancing and so on, which can help you refresh your mind and
learn how to co-operate and respect each other. Ecotourism can be educational
because you can learn about plants, animals and understand more deeply about
local culture, which help you broaden your knowledge. Ecotourists have much
greater interaction with native peoples than traditional tourists who barely venture
out of their westernized hotels. Home stays and eco-lodges allow visitors to
experience local lifestyles and customs first-hand, and this interest helps to
preserve the region's heritage. Besides, ecotourism can be spiritually uplifting,
bring you closer to nature, open you up to new ideas and it can be a great
springboard for ecotourists. Additionally, going on an ecotour can take you off the
beaten path and help you lose weight because it usually requires going on foot or
by bicycle, not by car.

In addition to benefits to the ecotourists, ecotourism has done the nature
good. It has helped protect endangered animals and habitats and conserve the
biodiversity. During an ecotour to a national park or while going wildlife viewing,
people always learn about animals’ habitats and habits so that they can raise and
protect them better. Ecotourism also help protect the environment and reduce
negative impact on it because tourists have to keep the environment clean and
usually learn about the ways to protect it when going on an ecotour.
Last but not least, community or local residents also derive a lot of benefits
from ecotourism. First, ecotourism provide local employment, which help to solve
the problem of unemployment. Historically, mass tourism has helped to support
corrupt and undemocratic regimes, but with ecotourism, money goes directly into
local communities, rather than government coffers. The eco-tourism industry is
seeing a boom as the concept is getting much popular with each passing day. More
and more job opportunities are opening up as a result of the increasing demand of
hotels, resorts and other accommodations equipped with skilled and trained
professionals, experienced tour guides, merchandise retailers selling lots of
necessary items, restaurants offering a variety of tasty foods, and so on.
Furthemore, when an ecotour is organised, tourists visit the destionations of
ecotourism and pay for their journey, the money of which will flow back into the
community and help to solve the problem of poverty. What’s more, ecotourism
also brings a better standard of living to local residents whose conditions are quite
difficult. In fact, when an area is chosen to be an ecotourism destination, the
government or the investor have to build or at least improve facilities such as
clinic, drinkable water sources, new roads and provide electricity. This is really
benificial to the local residents because they receive a better, more comfortable and
convenient life.
CONS:
However, despite huge benefits people and nature derive from ecotourism, it
also has some drawbacks that should be noticed and concerned. If badly managed,
ecotourism can do harm to local residents because they can be displaced to build

resorts, restaurants, hotels and so on or because they won’t be able to afford to
stay or they may be forced by developers to leave, let alone local people’s land
being expropriated at unfair prices because of a deal struck between wealthy
corporations and government authorities.
Moreover, the nature beauty can be badly affected. Water can be diverted
from rivers to beautiful turquoise swimming pools or lush green golf courses and
energy sources can be depleted to accommodate tourist hordes.
In addition, excessive viewing of wildlife can disturb animals' feeding and
breeding. For instance, in Oman, the Arabian Oryx was threatened with extinction.
They would run until exhaustion, chased across desert sands by tourists in 4WD
vehicles.
Last but not least, demand for rare birds or animals or for souvenirs can
promote endangered spieces trafficking. On a recent trip to Panama, wildlife rescue
workers told me they'd found young toucans for sale for $30 along the roadside,
being sold in plastic bags!
CONCLUSION:
Although the above list of positives and negatives of ecotourism was a
rather 'tongue in cheek' attempt, it has hopefully given you a more
'balanced' and 'informed' view on the impacts of ecotourism. However, it
should be noted that not all ecotourism can be judged the same, each
company and eco-holiday will have its own unique set of strengths and
weaknesses regarding its environmental friendliness. There is still a lack
of 'regulation and accreditation' regarding exactly what constitutes
ecotourism, so although there is tourism activities that are in fact
environmentally friendly, there are also 'wildlife theme parks' and 'eco-
helicopter rides' and mismanaged 'ecotourism' programmes that get
away with being dubbed as 'ecotourism' despite little regard for its
true principles. However, on the whole ecotourism as a concept is
obviously a good thing the promotion and protection of nature
despite some issues of mismanagement it is certainly a step in the right

direction.
TIPS:
Now, we have some tips for you who want to go on an ecotour.
People seem to have a difficult time figuring out which name to call the “take
only pictures, leave only footprints” approach, they seem to have an even
harder time figuring out practical ways to do it.
The truth is, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to become a more eco-
friendly traveler. In fact, becoming more conscious about HOW you travel
can actually save you money. Better still, when responsibly applied, the
principle ideals of ecotourism can stimulate financial growth in developing
nations, strengthening the global economy.
Individually, one person taking these baby steps to going green might not
seem to make much of an impact. But if we all take simple strides towards
being more conscious of our impact in the planet, collectively we can make a
world of difference. Here are an easy ecotourism tips so you can travel more
responsibly and sustainably, not just for Earth Day but for every day!
Planning your trip
Be aware of local history, culture and customs of the locals before arriving.
Learn enough knowledge of the language to be polite i.e. hello, please and
thankyou. By making the effort to learn even the basics it will be appreciated
by locals; and enrich your experience.
When packing, if you want to bring gifts for local people in developing
countries don't give sweets; instead bring clothes and pens, and ask your tour
operator or driver to give them to community elders so that you don't
encourage begging from children.
Learn about the vital eco-systems before arriving.
Before leaving on your trip take the time to do a little research about the eco-
destination you are interested in travelling to. Local libraries are an
invaluable resource in terms of guidebooks to get you started.
Research local customs, culture and history before leaving on your eco-trip.

Even if you only learn enough of the local language to be polite, local people
will appreciate the effort you have taken and your effort will go a long way to
making your eco-trip more rewarding.
Many times when vacationing tourists like to bring gifts to distribute to the
local communities. Resist the urge to bring candy when thinking of what to
pack to bring as gifts. Practical gifts such as pencils or pens are a much better
choice if you are insistent on packing gifts. When possible have your guide or
tour operator distribute these offerings to the local elders. This will
discourage children of the community from begging.
Gain as much knowledge as you can about the all important ecosystem
wherever you travel to minimize your impact on the local environment.
During your stay
Be sensitive to the local culture by wearing clothing that is accepted. Be
aware of people's sensitivity to being photographed; always ask first. Observe
local customs.
Remember that you are a visitor and therefore be aware that your cultural
values may differ from those of the locals. This may include different
concepts of time, personal space, communication etc. which are not wrong or
inferior, just different.
Demonstrate responsible behaviour to other travellers who are less informed
than you by acting as an example.
Use local transportation, guides, inns, restaurants and markets to benefit the
local economy.
Be sensitive to displays of wealth in front of people from developing
countries. By displaying possessions such as cameras and jewellery, feelings
of jealousy may be created which then generates barriers that inhibit genuine
interactions between travellers and locals.
Ask your tour operator or guide what their established environmental
guidelines are for limiting and improving tourist impact on the environment
and local culture. General guidelines involve staying on trails, maintaining

set distances away from wildlife, and not encouraging drivers to move too
close to wildlife, even if it is tempting for getting a better picture.
Comply with international environmental conventions. Do not buy any
animal products while travelling. Do not remove any objects, plants or animal
products from nature. Not only can these affect fragile ecosystems, but is also
illegal.
Conserve Resources. Be aware of resource shortages such as water and food
as many tourist destinations are under increasing pressure.
Don't allow your guide to hunt endangered or threatened species or harvest
rare plants for your consumption.
Encourage practices to conserve the environment, including the use of
renewable resources in a sustainable manner and the conservation of non-
renewable resources.
Conclusion
These recommended guidelines should be followed by all eco-travellers.
However by choosing a tour operator through EcoTour Directory, a small
part of the work has been done for you as the eco-policies of every listed
operator has already been reviewed; and is displayed for you to read about.
By encouraging the tourism industry to comply with these policies on a local,
regional and national level the aim is to restructure the tourism industry into
making a positive impact towards environmental sustainability, economic
sustainability for all stakeholders and the preservation of culture. By
choosing only travel providers that hold eco-principles, the rest of the
tourism industry will be forced to follow due to the power of consumer
demand.
-THE END-