Ecotourism Interpretation
Introduction
Tourism is the fastest growing industry in Australia with the majority of growth occurring in natural areas (Dowling and Charters, 2000). Now more than ever, people are becoming aware that the world’s natural resources are finite with previously pristine, natural environments shrinking at an alarming rate. Ironically, as our interests in these areas grow, they seem to be disappearing.
Therein lays the challenge: how to manage a tourism industry to the most ecologically sensitive natural areas of the world, which are the most sensitive to outside entities, whilst ensuring sustainability?
There has been extensive research into this question, with many case studies conducted and opinions from experts given over the decades. Research seems to indicate that whilst environmental interpretation is effective in increasing and re-enforcing environmental knowledge both in the short and long-term, it may not be as effective in changing or influencing the behaviours and attitudes of visitors.
This essay will look at environmental interpretation within ecotourism, and its effectiveness in changing or influencing the behaviour or attitudes of visitors. Firstly, definitions of ecotourism and interpretation will be provided which will set the tone for the essay. Then, two case studies involving environmental interpretation will be presented and discussed. Finally, a conclusion will be drawn in terms of the effectiveness of interpretation in relation to knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of visitors to natural areas.
Ecotourism
It is interesting to note that since the beginning of the 1990’s the global ecotourism industry has been growing at the rate of 20 to 34% dependant on the country, location and type of operations. In 2004, ecotourism/nature tourism was growing globally more than three times faster than the entire tourism industry itself. It is also predicted that sustainable tourism will account for over 25% of the world’s travel within the next six
Tourism is the fastest growing industry in Australia with the majority of growth occurring in natural areas (Dowling and Charters, 2000). Now more than ever, people are becoming aware that the world’s natural resources are finite with previously pristine, natural environments shrinking at an alarming rate. Ironically, as our interests in these areas grow, they seem to be disappearing.
Therein lays the challenge: how to manage a tourism industry to the most ecologically sensitive natural areas of the world, which are the most sensitive to outside entities, whilst ensuring sustainability?
There has been extensive research into this question, with many case studies conducted and opinions from experts given over the decades. Research seems to indicate that whilst environmental interpretation is effective in increasing and re-enforcing environmental knowledge both in the short and long-term, it may not be as effective in changing or influencing the behaviours and attitudes of visitors.
This essay will look at environmental interpretation within ecotourism, and its effectiveness in changing or influencing the behaviour or attitudes of visitors. Firstly, definitions of ecotourism and interpretation will be provided which will set the tone for the essay. Then, two case studies involving environmental interpretation will be presented and discussed. Finally, a conclusion will be drawn in terms of the effectiveness of interpretation in relation to knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of visitors to natural areas.
Ecotourism
It is interesting to note that since the beginning of the 1990’s the global ecotourism industry has been growing at the rate of 20 to 34% dependant on the country, location and type of operations. In 2004, ecotourism/nature tourism was growing globally more than three times faster than the entire tourism industry itself. It is also predicted that sustainable tourism will account for over 25% of the world’s travel within the next six
References: 1. Beaumont, N. (2001). Ecotourism and the conservation ethic: Recruiting the uninitiated or preaching to the converted. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 9 (4): (pp. 317-341). 2. Beaumont, N 3. Budowski, G. (1976). Tourism and Environmental Conservation: Conflict, Coexistence, or Symbiosis? Environmental Conservation,3 (1): (pp. 27-32). 4. Burton, R. (1997). The sustainability of ecotourism. In M.J. Stabler (Ed.), Tourism and sustainability: Principles to practice (pp. 357-374). Wallingford: CAB International. 5. Dowling, R.K., & Charters, T 6. Knapp, D. (1996). Evaluating the Impact of Environmental Interpretation: A Review of Three Case Studies. In Coalition for Education in the Outdoors Research Symposium Proceedings (pp. 1-12). Indiana: Bradford Woods. 7. Moscardo, G.M., & Woods, B. (1998). Managing tourism in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area: Interpretation and the experience of visitors on Skyrail. In E. Laws, B. Faulkner, & G. Moscardo (Eds.), Embracing and managing change in tourism (pp.307-323). 8. Newsome, D., Moore, S.A., Dowling, R.K. (2002). Natural Area Tourism: Ecology, Impacts and Management. Clevedon: Channel View Publications. 9. Orams, M 11. Fact sheet: Global Ecotourism. The International Ecotourism Society homepage. Retrieved April 10, 2008, from http://www.ecotourism.org/ 12. Youngentob, K.N., & Hostetler, M