Ecological, Sociocultural, & Economical Costs + Benefits

Question 1

Discuss the ecological costs and benefits of ecotourism?

Answer 1

When assessing the ecological impact of ecotourism, a distinction should be made between genuine ecotourism and tourism that deliberately or naively claims to be ecotourism but does not meet the associated criteria. THE IMPACT OF GENUINE ECOTOURISM can be both positive and negative, the latter being mostly unintended. A MAJOR ECOLOGICAL BENEFIT OF ECOTOURISM IS ITS POTENTIAL ROLE in providing incentives for preserving and restoring natural environments by putting a monetary value on natural attractions. The sector can also provide funds for the maintenance and enhancement of natural areas, and ecotourists contribute additionally through their actions and donations. By giving financial value to natural areas, ecotourism can also foster pro-environmental values among local residents and reinforce such values among ecotourists and other participants. The financial dimension would seem to favour soft ecotourism because of its volume, whereas the action or donation aspect may favour hard ecotourists with their higher environmentalist tendencies. ECOLOGICAL COSTS are associated with building and the generation of wastes, although these are often localized and offset by the revenues they generate. ECOTOURISM ACTIVITIES ARE MORE PROBLEMATIC GIVEN the uncertainties associated with the consequences of wildlife observation, the effects of hiking and diving, and the danger of introducing exotic species. Hard ecotourists are implicated in many of these consequences due to their dispersion into relatively undisturbed areas and the lack of mediation by rangers or other enforcement personnel. OTHER POTENTIAL COSTS INCLUDE INDUCED development, the unintended opening up of areas to more harmful forms or tourism, transit effects and mismanagement caused by placing variable financial value on specific elements of an ecosystem. All seem more likely to occur in the context of minimalist ecotourism.

Question 2

Describe five management strategies or practices that can be adopted to minimise the costs and maximise the benefits, giving examples to illustrate your answer.

Answer 2

Management strategies that attempt to minimize the ecological costs and maximize the benefits of ecotourism make implicit or explicit assumptions as to whether a sites carrying capacity for visitors is flexible (favouring soft ecotourism) or fixed (favouring hard ecotourism). AMONG THE OPTIONS FOR PROTECTED AREA MANAGERS ARE zoning constraints, site hardening and softening measures, green design principles and environmental management systems and the application of visitor quotas and user fees (e.g. unofficial quotas). NEGATIVE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT CAN ALSO BE MITIGATED THROUGH regulation governing wildlife viewing and access and through interpretation and codes of conduct that effectively and persuasively impart messages about appropriate visitor behaviour.

Question 3

Ecological costs and benefits of ecotourism

Answer 3

Direct Benefits

• Incentive to protect natural environments
• Incentive to rehabilitate modified environments
• Funds to manage and expand protected areas
• Assistance with habitat maintenance
• Ecotourists as environmental watchdogs

Indirect Benefits

• Environmentalism
• Environmental benefits of protected areas

Direct Costs

• Impact of building and waste generation
• Tourist activities
  
  • Wildlife viewing
  • Hiking and diving
  • Introduction of exotic species

Indirect Costs

• Effects of induced building
• Less begun form of tourism
• Transit effects
• Economic valuation of nature