Recent Developments in Diff Types of Tourism

Question 1

What are the recent dev.s in diff types of tourism?

Answer 1

• recently, demand for niche tourism (tourism focusing on specific interests + needs of smaller, targeted groups of ppl, rather than mass market) has inc, + includes cultural/historical, dark + sports tourism
• cultural/historical = tourism focused on experiencing culture, heritage + history of a destination
• dark = tourism where ppl travel to places associated w death, tragedy, war or suffering
• sports = tourism where ppl travel to participate in or watch sporting events

Question 2

Why has there been a recent inc in niche tourism?

Answer 2

• bc of concerns ab envi degradation from mass tourism + sustainability
• bc of inc interest in sustainable tourism, desire for something new + diff, + promotion of niche tourism + remote travel experiences from social media

Question 3

What is ecotourism?

Answer 3

• a sustainable form of niche tourism that focuses on visiting more isolated, natural envi.s in a way that’s envi. responsible, supports local communities + promotes education + conservation

Question 4

General facts about ecotourism in Ecuador.

Answer 4

• Ecuador is located on W coast of S. America, w Galapagos Islands, also a part of Ecuador, located 1000km offshore to W
• majority of tourists visit Ecuador for its great diversity of flora + fauna, which contains 10% of world’s plant species

Question 5

Recent dev. in ecotourism in Ecuador + Galapagos Islands.

Answer 5

• Ecotourism in Ecuador has emerged as a newer form of tourism, aimed at earning foreign currency by using Ecuador’s natural assets in a way that also protects local communities + preserves envi
• it’s been greatly enhanced by inc awareness of envi degradation, causing more ppl to lean towards sustainable alternatives to mass tourism, + promotion of niche tourism + remote travel experiences from social media
• to maintain sustainability, Ecuador has focused on avoiding mass tourism + instead promoting exclusivity + high-quality experiences
• however, in recent yrs, Galapagos Islands have faced a sig rise in visitor NO°s, which have begun to threaten envi, thus highlighting need for careful future management in order to preserve the sustainable nature of ecotourism

Question 6

Describe sustainable ecotourism in Ecuador.

Answer 6

• Ecotourism has become an important eco asset in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (largest National Park in Ecuador), receiving an avg of 6000 tourists annually
  
  • this is bc of its milder climate + gently sloping terrain, which has produced a unique terrain that’s also a poorly drained plain w forests often inundated w water, together w lakes + creeks
  • it’s been made sustainable by excursions, often led by guides from local tribes, that take visitors to explore + experience its rainforests, whilst educating visitors ab. local flora + fauna, inc. medicinal + poisonous plants
  • also, visits are made to replicated local tribal villages, where tourists learn ab their lifestyle + how they live off envi, which ensures privacy as real villages are located deeper in rainforest

Question 7

Evaluation of sustainable tourism in Ecuador.

Answer 7

• overall, this highlights the potential ecotourism has on economically benefiting Ecuador, by attracting a specific group of tourists that want to visit its unique + mega diverse envi in a more sustainable way

Question 8

Describe ecotourism n Galapagos Islands.

Answer 8

• Galapagos Islands also experience ecotourism, + was classified w over 97% of land being protected as a national park in 1959, to conserve unique species its home to, such as marine iguana + giant tortoise
• It’s primarily focused on wildlife, + is marked as a unique area of study + interest, due to Darwin dev his ‘theory of evolution’ from a special study of birds in the Galapagos, now known as Darwin’s finches

Question 9

Describe the issues involves w ecotourism in the Galapagos Islands.

Answer 9

• bc of Darwin’s studies, this led to a rise in tourists, from only 109,000 in 2014, to nearly 330,000 in 2023, placing islands at risk of envi damage
• this is bc settlements grew + transport links were dev, to cater for influx of tourists, putting stress on islands + polluting envi
• also, early settlers brought domestic animals (e.g. goats) w them, + unintentionally brought rats, that were released onto islands, resulting in neg effects on envi + threatening native species

Question 10

Evaluation of ecotourism in Galapagos Islands + the issues involved.

Answer 10

• overall, this proves that ecotourism needs to be carefully managed to make it sustainably effective + prevent future harm

Question 11

Describe management strategies put in place to address issues in Galapagos Islands.

Answer 11

• to address pressure of inc tourists in Galapagos Islands, Ecuadorean gov imposed a $100 entry fee in 1998, which further inc to $200 in 2024, to help limit mass tourism + fund conservation
• also, a group size limit of no > 16 ppl was established, in which each group must be accompanied by a naturalist guide to ensure both education + regulation

Question 12

Conclusion of ecotourism in Ecuador.

Answer 12

• overall, Ecotourism has proven to have the potential to be beneficial for countries such as Ecuador, who use its natural envi as an eco asset + to spread education ab them, whilst protecting its local communities + envi
• however, in order to do so, it requires careful management to prevent disruption to balance between conservation + eco growth, which could otherwise shift into mass tourism + lead to irreversible damage