Travelmole guest comment by Michelle Grant, Americas Travel and Tourism Manager, Euromonitor International The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as having two key elements - it is "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people". Traditionally, however, only the environmental issues associated with travel have grabbed the lion's share of attention from governments, the tourism industry and the media (now more than ever with the international debate over carbon emissions). Yet, an increasing number of countries are beginning to work to ensure that tourism not only protects the environment, but also benefits indigenous people, in a trend referred to as "ethno-tourism" or "community-based eco-tourism". A partnership for success The main formula for ethno-tourism involves governments working with aid agencies, such as the Inter-American Development Bank, and private partners to help indigenous communities develop sustainable tourism industries.  These initiatives are aimed to help local communities escape from poverty and preserve their natural surroundings while avoiding environmentally destructive activities, like hunting and de-forestation. By partnering with the local communities themselves and giving them ownership, governments help protect the human rights of their people and ensure that local communities benefit from the tourists they host. Ethno-tourism examples One of the most recognized ethno-tourism programs is in Bolivia. The Chalalán ecolodge located in the Madidi National Park is owned, managed and staffed entirely from the people of San José de Uchupiamonas. Profits go to paying their wages as well as providing health and education services to the local community.  The Joseanos constructed the lodges in their traditional building style using eco-friendly materials from their natural surroundings. The ecolodges also use a solar-powered system to provide running water.  Ecuador also has several programs that involve local communities. The Ricancie Project, in the Napo province, consists of 10 traditional settlements that host tourists who can go on guided tours and prepare traditional foods alongside community members. The Project also helps build and maintain schools and contributes to healthcare for the community. The future of ethno-tourism Although the Chalalán ecolodge is becoming well known for its successful eco-tourism efforts, most programs are not as well known because local communities tend to rely on local travel agents and the mainstream audience is unaware of these opportunities.  However, Euromonitor International predicts that the growing popularity of responsible travel will likely lead to more international tourists seeking out ethno-tourism programs to ensure their holidays help protect the environment and  local communities.  These trips will likely appeal to those who are looking for volunteer holidays and to acquire unique experiences, such as geo-tourists (who seek out environment, culture and national heritage), backpackers and baby boomers.  Growing popularity, however, means greater responsibility in maintaining the indigenous culture. With greater exposure to tourists, indigenous tribes may become more inclined to adopt different cultural habits.  Indigenous tribes will have to take care not to become mere performers of their cultures and traditions for tourists.  Additionally, some indigenous tribes do not benefit from ownership of their activities and oftentimes, governments and companies take advantage of these people without reimbursing them for their work.  To gain credibility with responsible travellers, it will be imperative that the human rights of these communities are recognized and respected. As tourists become increasingly concerned with travel responsibly, they will expect travel companies not only to offer environmentally sustainable products, but also travel products that have a positive impact on the local community.  Euromonitor International predicts that there are great synergies to be gained by offering credible travel products that protect the environment and communities.

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USER COMMENTS

Choon Loong Lee 22 February 2007, 03:39:51 GMT Enterprise-led or NGO-led ecotourism? I agree with Ghislain that eco without etho is quite unimaginable (in my part of the world in South East Asia as well) and not to be confused with protected virgin land without tourism. There's always the debate on multi-million investments in ecotourism vs the NGO subsidized projects all in the name of sustainable tourism or responsible tourism or whatever. The way I look at it, the rich tourism developers will for commercial reasons develop in some pristine natural areas anyway and eco/etho tourism is nice approach to handle an otherwise sensitive issue. With such investment and "strategy", there is bound to be some ROI eg Australia. On the other hand, where the rich developers have not invaded certain natural areas, the NGOs with heavy subsidies introduce ecotourism to help the local communities. The objective is not ROI but an effort to improve the quality of life for the local communities and an appreciation of the touristic/economic value of the environment around them. There are so many angles to view ecotourism and there is so much more to explore and exchange, particularly the success of ecotourism by NGOs in some "acceptable" measurable terms over a period of time, if there is any.   Marco Vinicio Garcia Leon Product Director, INBioJourneys 12 February 2007, 02:38:54 GMT Marco V. Garcia. The concept of Ethno-Tourism is noting new, just review the Culture Survival Magazine and most of the papers of researchers such us Valerie Smith and many others papers and you would be surprise of who many documents talk about it!. Many people still doing anything to create a “NEW”!!?? segment name. This is not helping to clarify nothing within the specialization of the tourism industry, it is just promoting more confusion. We all ready have an incredible list of names and in many cases it is so hard to find the border in between terms such us: Ecotourism, Green Tourism; Nature based Tourism; GeoTourism; Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Tourism!!!! I disagree that subside projects such Chalala in Bolivia is sustainable tourism because the amount of money that has be putting on it!!. Which are the real opportunities for commuties such San José to replicated this kind of projects, without the support of more than a million dollars??. If a “successful local community project” can not be replicated for other local communities, its obvious that would not be considered sustainable. Just made the economical numbers with Chalala and then let me know where do you find the economical sustainability on these!   Mark Carter 10 February 2007, 23:18:57 GMT Hubert Ariane I was responding to Nicholas Hubert's comment rather than yours. I just wanted to express that his reported lack of significant turnover and non-NGO subsidised projects was not the situation everywhere; Ecotourism really is delivering down here in Tasmania but sadly its not a story that gets reported very often.   Ghislain Sireilles Managing Director, Cachet Travel 06 February 2007, 16:05:31 GMT ethno ? new?? Dear Ariane, Eco without Ethno I can not imagine this...If there is no ethno how eco works....The main idea of eco is to keep the population in that location to avoid mocvement from villages to town, migration...this is the ethos of it...This is why it is not new well in my part of the world...:))   Ariane Janer none, EcoBrasil 06 February 2007, 12:35:58 GMT ??? Non-discussion Dear Mark and Ghislain, I'm a bit puzzled by your comments. I was not discussing the viability of ecotourism (which is not only in the Amazon, not even in Brazil see www.sustainabletourismbrazil), but the implication that the expansion into ethno-tourism is something new. Especially as no numbers are used, only (old) examples. As for your points, my experience is that you can always find both succesful examples and the subsidized kind. Hubert is right about the care you need to take with ethno-tourism.   Ghislain Sireilles Managing Director, Cachet Travel 06 February 2007, 11:38:23 GMT ALL IN ONE With little talks and without any external support, we have achieved eco, organic and ethno tourism all in one place. Personal efforts, hard work, a lot of bureaucratic barriers and no financial support from any organisation, two places in Turkey have achieved what people are still debating. To progress and increase awarness and a better success in these fields we need some support. Any organisation who would like to support and invest can get in touch with me for more details. Due to lots of paper work in creating an organisation, which we are at the final stages, we FETDER (Fethiye Eco Tourism Organization) await all sorts of inpouts to develop further The Other Side of Fethiye.   Mark Carter 06 February 2007, 00:57:42 GMT Ecotourism is not just in Amazon! I would strongly dispute the idea that Ecotourism has no real turnover and is proped up by subsidy. Ecotourism does function very profitably and is growing steadily and strongly in many countries which so often get passed over in these debates. Tasmania is a great example. Ecotourism enterprises here are booming, many are completely booked out for this season and are generating badly needed jobs and investment in rural areas. The clear economic value of this industry has led directly to many areas here being saved from destructive uses such as logging and mining, and has turned the decline in Tasmanian Devil numbers due to a mystery disease from a fringe enviromental issue into a pressing high profile economic one. Tasmanian ecotourism often has a strong ethnic focus- Aboriginal heritage, be it traditional knowledge, oral legends or historic sites, feature strongly. The recent renaisance of Tasmanian Aboriginal culture is augmented greatly by the raised profile it gets from Ecotourism. There are many elelments at work here, but I would suggest the key to Tasmania's success is destination marketing and branding. The state tourism body does an excellent job of marketing, not just individual enterprises, but the island as a whole as a unique ecotourism destination. When done properly Ecotourism really can deliver on its promises!   HUBERT Nicolas Consultant 05 February 2007, 14:31:39 GMT Hmmmm 2 I agree with Ariane. Ecotourism already includes the well beeing of local people and it is a very recent concept. We are still waiting for real customers and TO (in a significative way) with real benefits objectives (Not NGO's programs with subsidies). Also, ethno-tourism means that the subject is no more nature or culture, but people themselves as a tourism object! It is not really accepted by everybody. If we are talking about local people as the beneficiary of the tourism industry, ecotourism provides it without the need to change local people in the attraction. To avoid ethical problems, ethno-tourism should have its own certification based on a charter. However, if ethno-tourism is strictly controlled, it is a natural extension of ecotourism.   Ariane Janer none, EcoBrasil 05 February 2007, 11:10:01 GMT Hmm As someone who has been working the area of "eco-tourism" for quite a while, I think this article makes too much of the "expansion into ethno-tourism". Where are the numbers that this trend is happening and relatively recent (Chalalan has been around some time already). In my view, the concept of communities (which does not necessarily mean indigeneous peoples) and conservation has always been linked for those promoting ecotourism (and not just using the word because it is fashionable). And, if we are talking examples, let me just cite a few in Brazil : WWF Community-Based Ecotourism Program, Uakari Lodge at Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve, Ecotourism Manual for Indigeneous Peoples (EcoBrasil with Brazilian Government, Prainha de Canto Verde etc. Note : all these projects were started about 8-10 years ago.