Benefits reaped by Marketing Ecotourism Ecotourism or ecological tourism is a form of tourism which appeals to the ecologically and socially conscious. Ecotourism is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people" (Meaningful Travel, Undated). Generally speaking, ecotourism focuses on areas such as the local culture, wilderness adventures, and in the learning of new ways to live on the planet involving travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. The main goal being to minimize the impact tourism has on an area by minimizing the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment. Ecotourism also focuses in the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for the benefit of local communities. Sustainable Ecotourism tries to educate visitors about the local culture and the environment while providing a positive experience to both the visitor and host. Ecotourism contributes towards conservation efforts. It cooperates and employs local people in order to manage the natural areas, thus giving money back to the community. The Québec Declaration on Ecotourism 2002 "embraces the principles of sustainable tourism...” and widens the concepts of sustainable tourism as follows: Contributes actively to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, Includes local and indigenous communities in its planning, development and operation, contributing to their well-being, Interprets the natural and cultural heritage of the destination to visitor, Lends itself better to independent travellers, as well as to organised tours
for small size groups.
Well-planned and managed ecotourism has proven to be one of the most effective tools for long-term sustainable tourism bringing opportunities and benefits to locals. A good example of Ecotourism is Greenbox, Ireland. “The Greenbox is a completely unique region and is a natural location for Ireland’s first ecotourism destination. It boasts unique ecosystems, an unspoiled landscape, centres of learning, a Geo Park and landscapes of high conservation value including Inishmurray Island” (Tourism for Tomorrow, Undated). Greenbox aims to increase the range and quality of unique ecotourism experiences available to tourists, while working with many sound environmental enterprises together with a network of 120 businesses (Green Box, Undated).
Benefits of Marketing Wildlife and Countryside - Biodiversity
Biodiversity encompasses the whole variety of life on Earth. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for "sustainable development" -- meeting our needs while ensuring that we leave a healthy and viable world for future generations (Convention of Biological Convention, Undated). Diversity within the natural environment is important. It provides variety that people enjoy, both in species and landscape. Biodiversity includes species of plants and animals, and also habitat and ecosystem diversity. It includes the whole of the natural world from the commonplace to the critically endangered; landscapes, uplands, lowlands, wetlands and coastal areas all contribute to the diversity of the natural environment. Protecting biodiversity protects the health of the natural environment and this enables it to provide services which people depend upon (Defra, 2007). Marketing your own biodiversity activities can directly benefit your business by increasing customers and revenues, while at the same be contributing towards the conservation of wildlife and countryside. Some of biodiversity derived benefits include: Economic Activities such as the impact visitors have on the local economy through their expenditure and generation of jobs. Cultural and Aesthetic Benefits such as the conservation of forests, woodlands and landscapes. Conservation is required as a means of sustained tourism whereby the tourists, locals, local economy and the environment will benefit from this opportunity. Recreational Benefits – Thanks to sustained tourism, the natural environment is being used as a leisure and recreational facility, thus contributing towards a healthier environment. Wildlife Organizations Benefits - The wildlife environment is looked after in order to provide a natural experience to tourists. Another benefit is through tourists’ donations during their visits which is an important source of income.
Promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity will contribute towards income generation, jobs and business opportunities in ecotourism and related business networks. It will also contribute toward effective conservation of wildlife, attractive and well managed countryside for the benefit and enjoyment of tourist while ensuring sustainable development. A good example of Wildlife and Countryside Biodiversity is the Wilderness Safaris of South Africa. This company operates in over 50 camps in 7 Sothern African countries and is responsible of about 2.5 million hectares of prime wildlife land. Its primarily concern is wilderness conservation focusing on nature-based tourism and recognising that conservation is as much about people as about the environment. “Wilderness Safaris creates journeys and experiences for discerning globally caring travellers. Wilderness Safaris firmly believes that its single most important achievement to date is to have built a sustainable business model that does not compromise environmental principles and which provides jobs, training, skills, careers, adjusted horizons, hope and a realistic alternative to less sustainable development” (Wilderness Safaris, Undated). |
