There is the recent controversy over the rise of ecotourism who may later become tour guides. Ecotourism is the study of exotic and endangered environments in order to support research developments and conservation efforts of flora and fauna.
Ecotourism can contribute to the economy of the country. This guide helps understand the pros and cons of ecotourism and its impact on the environment and the local community.
Pros:
1. Improve local economies: Countries that promote diversity of ecological locations receive more tourists and also develop job opportunities for the citizens reducing poverty in the area.
2. Valuable biological information: Ecotourism offers an opportunity to tourists and environmentalists to know more about the biology, ecosystem, and geology of a certain area. This plays a key role in the conversation of different species in the area.
3. Environmental awareness: There is a lot of information on environmental preservation and tourists can spread this environmental awareness information widely as well as apply it in their daily lives.
4. Natural resource management: Ecotourism contributes to the management of natural resources by developing a mindset that helps extract the resources in an efficient and suitable manner.
5. Promote local culture: Ecotourism not only provide job opportunities but also contribute to the preservations of traditional practices. Local food products and crafted goods create a cultural connection between the local people and the tourist.
6. Sustainable source of income: Ecotourism brings a substantial source of revenue to the
citizens and contributes 95% of revenue to the local communities. This leads to the development of a sustainable economy and the utilization of available resources.
7. Affordable: Tourists can enjoy ecotourism activities at minimal costs and have access to traditional resort facilities.
8. Conversation of the environment: A lot of money spend on ecotourism helps in the conservation projects. It helps in the protection of endangered species populations and in reforestation.
9. Local market: Ecotourism provides a market for locally produced goods like carvings and local arts among others.
10. Valuable experience: Traveling to different ecotourism areas can provide valuable benefits to people as well as gasp new learning experiences.
Cons:
1. Degradation of the ecosystem: The tour guides may take tourists to untouched areas by humans disrupting the ecosystem in that area. This can disrupt the hunting patterns, lead to soil erosion or even habitat loss.
2. The threat to indigenous culture: Relocating native groups and cultures threaten traditional practices. More tourists in an area will make the locals adopt the cultural behaviors of the tourists.
3. Relocation of the local community: Local communities may be displaced in order to create space for the construction of hotels, excavation of natural resources or to expand ecotourism. The displaced people never get any financial compensation or benefit from job opportunities.
4. The integrity of ecotourism organizations: Many ecotourism organizations have turned into a marketing ploy to entice tourists instead of adhering to eco-friendly eco-tourist policies.
5. Habitat fragmentation: Development of areas surrounding the visited areas leads to habitat loss and wildlife disturbances since most of the species depend on expanses of undisturbed habitat.
6. Human-wildlife conflicts: There is increased human-wildlife conflict between the tourism industry and the tourist due to fragmentation or when wildlife destroys property in nearby communities.
7. Destruction of natural landscape: Travelling to exotic places via planes, cars by environmentalists, and tourists destroy natural landscapes. It contributes to global pollution thus indirectly affecting the ecosystem of an area.
8. Poaching: When the wildlife become more accustomed to humans for their survival and sometimes they may vulnerable to poaching.
9. Stressing wildlife: Human activity in the wildlife areas may stress them and this may negatively affect the reproduction, migration, and natural behavior patterns of some species.
10. Local community issues: Failure to involve local communities in the planning, implementation, and management of ecotourism is met with resistance and this results in conflicts.
