Ecotourism Development in Countries

Question 1

Factors that affect ecotourism development in a country?

Answer 1

Proximity to ecotourism generating regions

Whether there is a strong mainstream tourism industry, infrastructure and services

Recognition or non-recognition of ecotourism as a distinct ecotourism type

Political stability or instability Natural assets in healthy condition or deforestation and conflict with extractive industries over resource use

Level of government support

Question 2

Discuss the factors that affect ecotourism development in a country, using examples to illustrate where these factors have enhanced or hindered ecotourism development in particular countries.

Answer 2

Proximity to ecotourism generating region

• *Whether there is a strong mainstream tourism industry, infrastructure or services**
• A good example of this is Australia, as it is the world leading ecotourism country, in organizational terms, although most of the activity is focused populated areas with inbound tourism concentration along the east coast
• *Recognition or non-recognition of ecotourism as a distinct ecotourism type**
• This a major contributing factor for Western Europe, as ecotourism tends to hybridise or coexist with other types of tourism in relatively modified settings and hence is usually included under a broad ‘sustainable tourism’ banner
• *Political stability or instability**
• This is a major factor that hinders the development of ecotourism in many countries. For example in the Caribbean, an important variable, however will be whether the current socialist decision-making structure is maintained, modified or replaced by a more open capitalist system in the post-Castro era
• *Level of government support**
• This is a particular issue in areas, like the America’s, where the USA has little involvement in ecotourism at the federal level. While in contrast, Canada’s federal involvement is more apparent in conjunction with proactive provincial policie