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Ecotourism
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Ecotourism is the trend towards the commercialization of tourism throughout the nation. This trend has become one of the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry growing annual 10-15% worldwide (Kamuaro, 2007). Ecotourism was first introduced in Africa in the 1950’s with the legalization of hunting (Kamuaro, 2007). This need for recreational hunting zones lead to the creation of protected areas, national parks, and game reserves. Today these areas have become important revenue-earning venues with the establishment of lodges and tourist campsites. One definition of ecotourism is “the practice of low-impact, educational, ecologically and culturally sensitive travel that benefits local communities and host countries” (Honey, 1999).
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Ecotourism is growing rapidly and is becoming an important income earner for many developing countries. When well-managed, this revenue can be channeled back to the park and local community. This revenue will help to finance the maintenance and improvement of national parks, which, in many cases, are facing limited budgets provided by central governments. Through local participation, the revenue from ecotourism will be distributed to local residents. As noted, this will help to reduce the need of the local community to encroach on forests in the search for agricultural land or timber; and endanger wildlife for additional income.
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Ecotourism has all the prerequisites to become an important link in sustainable development of the country. The Armenian Government understands the importance of detailed research and planning in this area. Currently, activities are implemented to create a joint national strategy for development of Ecotourism and Agrotourism in Armenia. That national strategy is called upon to regulate the whole spectrum of problems: define natural zones, permitted for Ecotourism development, the types of tourist activity for each zone, necessary works for preparation of these zones for tourist activity, income distribution mechanisms for environmental protection, involvement of rural communities and numerous other issues.
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Ecotourism often claims that it preserves and “enhances” local cultures. However, evidence shows that with the establishment of protected areas local people have illegally lost their homes, and most often with no compensation (Kamuaro, 2007). Pushing people onto marginal lands with harsh climates, poor soils, lack of water, and infested with livestock and disease does little to enhance livelihoods even when a proportion of ecotourism profits are directed back into the community. The establishment of parks can create harsh survival realities and deprive the people of their traditional use of land and natural resources. Ethnic groups are increasingly being seen as a “backdrop” to the scenery and wildlife. The local people struggle for cultural survival and freedom of cultural expression while being “observed” by tourists.
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E[C]otourism, which typically involves nature-based tourism, plays an increasing role in today's environmental management. As environmental conservation has, in many cases, suffered from a limited budget, funding ecotourism is perceived as a way to provide additional resources to finance environmental conservation efforts. In some cases, revenue generated from ecotourism can be substantial and can be used to provide alternative employment/income to local residents. This alternative employment ... helps to reduce the pressure on encroachment and environmental destruction by the local people. Ecotourism is, thus, seen here as a vehicle for sustainable development.
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Ecotourism activities in the U.S. may be subject to regulation at various levels of government depending on their location and status. Generally, land use and management activities are regulated at the state level and, if delegated by states, at the local (county or municipal) level. The effects of such state and local regulations directly or indirectly on ecotourism may be by stipulating best practices or codes of conduct, zoning, environmental protection measures, construction requirements, guide and motor coach licensing, fines for improper waste disposal, entrance fees and use of ecotourism facilities. They may vary widely from state to state and tend to reflect the priorities of local residents.
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Ecotourism