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Literature Review

2. 1. What is Ecotourism?

There is an increasing global awareness about the importance of tourism development, its benefit and its possible effects on the society. Tourism provides economic, social as well as cultural development on the society. In 1990s tourism has been shaped as a culture industry (Western. D.1993). The international ecotourism society defines ecotourism as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people (IES, undated).

Ecotourism refers to tourism that is based on the natural environment but that seeks to minimize the harmful impacts and better still, seeks to promote conservation. It focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on our vulnerable planet. Appropriate ecotourism management includes some programs that minimize the adverse effect of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.

Tourism Authority of Thiland (TAT) defines tourism as visit to any particular tourism area with the purpose to study, enjoy and appreciate the scenery natural and social as well as lifestyle of the local people, bases on the knowledge and responsibility for the ecological system of the area. Institute of Eco-tourism (Sriakharinwirot University, Bankok, Thiland) defines eco-tourism as ‘nature based’, sustainable managed, inclusive of social and cultural aspects, and educational to tourist (Pleumarom, 1997).

Eco-tourism has been defined as 'environmentally friendly' tourism, and classified by the International Eco-tourism Society (1991) as: "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people". In addition, the World Conservation Union (1996) defined it as "visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, has low negative visitor impact and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations". This report evaluates Eco-tourism in relation to natural environment and contribution to sustainable community socio-economic development through active involvement. Eco-tourism is one kinds of sustainable tourism, both environmentally and culturally, which has the capability to ensure economic and social benefits to the whole society. On the other hand when tourism is carefully managed development of the natural environment for the holiday market.

Eco-tourism has emerged from western environmentalism and mostly geared to the demands of western travelers who are well educated and genuinely interested in culture and environment. In Asia, however, domestic and regional tourist has been exploding. (Ghimire, 1996)

The concept of ecotourism is widely misunderstood and in practice, is often simply used as a marketing tool to promote tourism that is related to nature. Critics claim that as practiced and abused often consists in placing a hotel in a splendid landscape, to the detriment of the ecotourism. According to them, ecotourism must above all sensitize with the beauty and the fragility of nature.

Sustainable and responsible tourism:

From the definition is: “Tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the nature.” “Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and corrective measures whenever necessary. Sustainable tourism should ensure a meaningful experience to the tourist, raising their awareness about sustainability issues and promoting sustainable tourism practices amongst them.” (World Tourism Organization, 2004)

Sustainable development means the development of something that can use next generation. Sustainable development implies “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987)

Responsible Tourism:

There are some principle of responsible tourism, when a tourism site fulfill these then this tourism can considered as responsible tourism:

a) It minimizes the negative economic, environmental and social impacts.

b) Generate greater economic benefits for local people and enhance the well being of host communities.

c) Improves working conditions and access to the industry.

d) Involve local people in decisions that affect their lives and life changes.

e) Makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage embracing diversity.

f) Provides more enjoyable experiences to tourists through more meaningful connection with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues.

g) Provides access for physically challenged people.

h) It is culturally sensitive, encourages respect between tourist and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

(Cape Town Declaration Responsible Tourism in Destinations, 2002)

Once upon a time, tourism only confined surrounding the beach resort with some recreational facilities. But now a day ‘eco-tourism’ has developed as major tourism trend. The concept of ‘eco-tourism’ is now a common issue for the developing countries where it is still a new idea for the tourist industries in Bangladesh. Ecotourism means quite simply “ecologically sound tourism” or “ecologically sensitive tourism”. Hector Ceballos Lascurain, emphasis to development of ecotourism, he defined ecotourism as “traveling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestations found in these areas” (Ceballos Lascurain, 1991)

From the International Research Group (1992) ecotourism is “travel for natural attraction”. Smrdon (1994) define ecotourism as “observers demanding for a high quality natural experience with low environmental impact”

2. 2. Guiding Principles of Ecotourism:

From the view of Eco Tourism Society (ETS) Ecotourism follow several basic principles. From these seven are important. Which are as follows:

· Minimize impact

· Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect

· Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts

· Provide direct financial benefits for conservation

· Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people

· Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.

2.3 Definition of Ecotourist:

Ecotourist are the tourists who travel in the natural habitat and out side from their residence. From the definition of United Nation World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) “Tourist are persons who are traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more then one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. The distance between these two places is of no significance.” World tourism organization (WTO) defined tourism and classified the various types of visitors (WTO, 1995 as cited in Latham and Edwards, 1989).

2. 4. Prospects of Ecotourism:

Ecotourism is now most profitable sector in the world. It has both economic and social benefit to the community. The service economy is driving growth in most of the countries. It represents a large part of economic activity and its importance continues to grow. Tourism, a large, complex and fragmented industry which is still very difficult to define and measure, is a key component of the service economy (30% of international trade in services in the tropical area). In terms of revenue, tropical countries generate about 70% of world tourism activity. Tourism, which has expanded dramatically over the past 30 years, looks set to continue growing as societies become more mobile and prosperous. Obtaining better information on services, the least developed side of statistics, is an important challenge for statistical agencies and a necessity for political analysis. Measuring tourism is part of a wider move to improve our knowledge of how economies work, what they produce and what changes occur over time. It is no longer enough to measure physical flows (arrivals and overnight stays) and monetary data (revenue and expenditure relating to international tourism). In the early 1980s, the OECD began work to set up a model acceptable at international level which gave rise to the OECD Tourism Economic Accounts, which measure certain socio-economic aspects of tourism. While developing this tool, the OECD produced a more precise definition of tourism, visitors and tourist expenditure [(Note: OECD1996), OECD Tourism Statistics - Design and Application for Policy]. Despite its economic importance, governments, especially in developed economies, still do not adequately recognize tourism. For this reason, the OECD has developed and recently approved the OECD Guidelines for a Tourism Satellite Account and an Employment Module. These integrated statistical tools aim to measure the economic aspects of tourism (value added, jobs, revenue, investment, profits) in order to provide a more convincing demonstration of this activity's economic significance.

Furthermore, together with the United Nations, the World Tourism Organization and the European Commission (Euro stat), the OECD has developed a " UN-WTO-OECD-EUROSTAT Tourism Satellite Account: Recommended Methodological Framework", approved by the 25-member United Nations Statistical Commission on 1 March 2000. A publication is available. Other work undertaken in this area includes statistical research. OECD and Euro stat regularly organize international forums on tourism statistics to share ideas, experiences and concepts with Member and non-members countries, the scientific community and the tourism industry. The United Kingdom, with the support of Euro stat and the OECD, organized the Fifth International Forum on Tourism Statistics (Glasgow, 20-23 June 2000). Similar forums have been organized in Vienna (1994), in Venice (1995), in Sintra (1996) and in Copenhagen (1998).

2.5. Necessary Elements for Tourism Development:

For the successful development of ecotourism, most important is to create awareness among the local about conservation of nature, because nature is main base of ecotourism. Community assets, appropriate management strategy are the key driven force for tourism development in a country. There are various types of nature tourism, these are as follows:

Table 2.1: Elements of tourism development

Types of nature tourism	Hardcore tourist	Dedicated nature tourist	Main stream nature tourist	Causal nature tourist
Characteristics	Researchers or specialist educational groups. Local conditions essential as part of experience.	Make trips specifically to see protected areas. Local conditions part of experience	Elites, status conscious groups, on expensive, usual tours.	Incorporated into tour itineraries, seek western amenities.
Example in Asia	Collaborative research projects at Danjugan, Pi and Banggai, ID	Seashore watching at Handumon, PI	Tiger tops, Chitwan Hotel, Everest view, Nepal	Taman Negara Resort, Malaysia

2. 6. Elements of Ecotourism:

There are several of factors, which attracts Ecotourist’s. It is important to recognize them and identify all potential ecotourism resource. Most ecotourist do not specialize but they are interested in all aspects of the environment and interesting culture. They don’t seek to become experts but they do want to be well informed. Important resources of ecotourism are as follows:

a) Plants: all kinds and ages of tourist are interested in all sorts of plants from the largest to the smallest and they want to know what makes them special. People want to walk through deep mud to explore mangrove because the explanations of how productive mangroves were in providing enough food per hectare to produce 600 tons of prawns made from them more interesting as well as the plants could survive in sea water.

b) Animals: animals are always interesting, however while large animals like tiger, elephant etc and small animals like earthworms and spiders.

c) Geography: peoples are interested in soils and what makes them different. They are fascinated by the erosion and other factors which help shape the surface of the earth as glaciers.

d) Spectacular features: the spectacular features like waterfall, lakes, grand forest, hilly topography etc attract all tourists including eco-tourist.

e) History: people want to know centenary of a very significance historical events.

f) Culture: there are many aspect of culture, which attracts eco-tourist.

2. 7. Stakeholders of Ecotourism:

There are various interests, different motives, and aims of stakeholders in tourism. These are as follows:

Tourist: Visiting place of natural beauty and authentic culture for leisure, adventure.

Tourism-related industries: New marketing strategies to offer new products to environmentally oriented travels.

Local community as well as people: They are benefited from the employment opportunity.

Government: Boost tourist arrivals to increase foreign exchange.

Development agencies and financial institutions: Here include United Nation Funded Agencies, European Economic Community, USAID, World Dank, ADB, etc.

Conservation groups: This includes, WWF, IUCN, WRI

Consultant and researchers: Universities, international researchers on ecopark, tropical forests, tourism and eco-tourism, amongst others.

Students: Students of universities, Schools College, and other institution.

2.8. Facilities Provides by Ecotourism:

· Increase funding for parks and reserve through tourism

· Environmental education for visitors

· Development of community based tourism

· New jobs for local communities

· Increase public awareness

· Development of infrastructure

2. 9. Economic Impacts of Tourism:

Today, tourism is one of the largest and dynamically developing sectors of external economic activities. Its high growth and development rates, considerable volumes of foreign currency inflows, infrastructure development, and introduction of new management and educational experience actively affect various sectors of economy, which positively contribute to the social and economic development of the country as a whole. Most highly developed western countries, such as Switzerland, Austria, and France have accumulated a big deal of their social and economic welfare on profits from tourism. According to recent statistics, tourism provides about 10% of the world’s income and employs almost one tenth of the world’s workforce. All considered, tourism’s actual and potential economic impact is astounding. Many people emphasize the positive aspects of tourism as a source of foreign exchange, a way to balance foreign trade, an “industry without chimney” — in short, manna from heaven. But there are also a number of other positive and negative sides of tourism’s economic boom for local communities, which not always considered by advocates of tourism perspectives. Therefore in this paper I will consider the main social and environment impacts of tourism at the country level.

The enhanced economic performance of participating businesses will make ecopark a powerful economic development tool for communities. Such parks are likely to attract leading-edge corporations and open niches for new or expanded local ventures. Both will create new jobs in much cleaner industrial facilities. Companies in the region will gain new clients for services and buyers for products in the new firms in a park. Development of Ecopark will create programs for extending their economic and environmental benefits across a community’s whole industrial sector. This promises cleaner air, land, and water, major reductions in waste, and a generally more attractive environment.

2.10. Social and Environmental Impacts of Ecotourism:

Socially tourism has a great influence on the host societies. Tourism can be both a source of international amity, peace and understanding and a destroyer and corrupter of indigenous cultures, a source of ecological destruction, an assault of people’s privacy, dignity, and authenticity.

Here are possible positive effects of tourism:

• Developing positive attitudes towards each other

• Learning about each other’s culture and customs

• Reducing negative perceptions and stereotypes

• Developing friendships

• Developing pride, appreciation, understanding, respect, and tolerance for each other’s culture

• Increasing self-esteem of hosts and tourists

• Psychological satisfaction with interaction

So, social contacts between tourists and local people may result in mutual appreciation, understanding, tolerance, awareness, learning, family bonding respect, and liking. Residents are educated about the outside world without leaving their homes, while their visitors significantly learn about a distinctive culture. Local communities are benefited through contribution by tourism to the improvement of the social infrastructure like schools, libraries, health care institutions, internet cafes, and so on. Besides, if local culture is the base for attracting tourists to the region, it helps to preserve the local traditions and handicrafts which maybe were on the link of the extinction. For example in Uzbekistan, particularly in such famous regions as Samarqand, Buhara, and Horezm tourists contribute significantly to the preservation of traditional handcrafting wood carving, hammered copper work, handmade silk and carpets, and of course to preservation and maintenance of architectural and historical monuments. Since Uzbekistan proclaimed its independence in 1991 many museums and monuments were renovated or opened to promote the national culture and traditions. Growing interest in this culture makes the local people proud of their way of life. On the other side tourism can increase tension, hostility, and suspicion. Claims of tourism as a vital force for peace are exaggerated. Indeed there is little evidence that tourism is drawing the world together (Robinson, 1999). In this context economic and social impacts on the local community depend on how much of the incomes generated by tourists go to the host communities. In most all-inclusive package tours more than 80% of travelers’ fees go to the airlines, hotels and other international companies, not to local businessmen and workers. On the other hand large hotel chain restaurants often import food to satisfy foreign visitors and rarely employ local staff for senior management positions, preventing local farmers and workers from reaping the benefit of their presence. Tourism has the power to affect cultural change. Successful development of a resource can lead to numerous negative impacts. Among these are overdevelopment, assimilation, conflict, and artificial reconstruction. While presenting a culture to tourists may help preserve the culture, it can also dilute or even destroy it. The point is to promote tourism in the region so that it would both give incomes and create respect for the local tradition and culture. There are also both negative and positive impacts of tourism on the local ecology. Tourism often grows into mass- tourism. It leads to the over consumption, pollution, and lack of resources. However, from the ecological point of view tourism is often more acceptable and preferable than any other industrial production, as it is environmentally friendlier. The problem is that it is not easy to change the traditional way of life of the local communities. It often creates pseudo conflicts. Undoubtedly in some regions or countries the alternative industries are even more harmful to the environment than tourism. Besides that in many countries of Asia and the Pacific, for example in Cook Islands, Samoa and others, tourism is the main source of income or the friendliest to the environment. It is at least better than chopping down the forests or destroying coral reefs.

2. 11. Contribution of Ecotourism in Forest Conservation:

Ecotourism can provide direct and indirect financial benefits, it also play an important role in forest conservation. Contribution of ecotourism in forest conservation and biodiversity conservation are as follows:

a) Voluntary payment of higher entrance fees when the revenue is proven to support conservation efforts.

b) Donation of a portion of revenue used for conservation projects managed by reliable environmental organization.

c) Training of park rangers to be able to professionally guide and serve tourist.

d) Selection of responsible tourists who are highly motivated to protect nature and conserve wildlife.

e) Provision of knowledgeable guide who understand park interpretation and wildlife conservation.

(Source-sumarwoto, 1997).

2. 12. Ecotourism Development in Bangladesh:

Sustainable tourism allows visitors to enjoy an attractive phenomenon, communities, of region in such a way the local culture and environment remains unimpaired. Ecotourism is the only way to develop sustainable tourism in any country. However, ecotourism is a very new concept in South Asian country especially in Bangladesh.

2.13. Potentiality of Ecotourism in Bangladesh:

Bangladesh enjoys a unique position that easily accessible from many popular destinations in south Asia. This is a real adventure, and particularly true of the Chittagong Hill Tracts that provides a truly pristine and exiting destination for travelers. According to the lonely planet Bangladesh profile, three destinations were visiting are the Govinda Shiva and Jagannath Temple Putia, Rajshahi. St. Martin Iland, and Rangamati and Kaptai Lake in Chitaagong hill tracts and Madhabkunda waterfall in sylhet.

Our country is the home of Royal Bengle Tigers, leopards, Asiatic elephant, monkeys, gibbons, otters and mongooses. Reptiles including the sea tortoise, mud turtle, river tortoise, phythons, crocodiles, gharials and a varieties of snakes. There are more then 600 species of birds, including the paradise Flycatcher and the most spectacular kingfisher and fishing angles (IUCN, 2000). The climate of Bangladesh is subtropical and tropical and tropical and there are six main seasons, namely: grishmo orsummer, Barsha or Monson, Shorot or Fall, Hemonto or Fall, Sheit or Winter and Bashonto or Spring. The bangle region has a multi-faced folk heritage, enrich by its ancient animist, Buddhist, Hindo, and Muslim roots. Weaving pottery and terracotta sculpture are some the earliest from of artistic expression. The world heritage committee has included the Sundarban in World Heritage List. Largest unique sea beach in the world, situated in Cox’s Bazar, in one of the most attractive tourism place in Bangladesh. All these features are very much popular in the country and all over the world. These tourism places are very much potential to provide employment opportunity, government revenue and earn foreign currency.

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