Did you see how some local communities suffered during the pandemic due to a sudden lack of tourism over a long period of time? Or are you aware of how wildlife is stressed and even gets sick in certain destinations from too many visitors in their natural habitat?
Believe it or not, these problems are not just present for huge tourist institutions. Even or especially ecotourism, a more sustainable form of tourism, brings issues like these. Although ecotourism was created in response to the growing concerns about the negative impact of mass tourism, it now brings some disadvantages for the environment and local communities.
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Environmental, socio-economic and organizational problems with ecotourism
Ecotourism has established itself as a sustainable alternative to mass tourism and is often praised as a means of promoting environmental protection and preserving sensitive ecosystems. But behind this supposedly green facade, there are also problems and challenges in sustainable tourism that cannot be overlooked.
Excessive tourism in fragile ecosystems
The idea behind ecotourism is to protect natural resources while visitors experience the beauty and unique charm of the ambience. The irony is, that excessive tourism can lead to the degradation of the very resources it is supposed to protect.
In many popular ecotourism destinations around the world, such as national parks or nature reserves, the massive crowds of tourists lead to an over-exploitation of the environment. Footpaths become wide roads, sensitive habitats are disturbed and the flora and fauna suffer from the increasing pressure.
So one of the challenges sustainable tourism is facing is the destruction of nature instead of preserving it.
The carbon footprint as another problem of ecotourism
Another issue of ecotourism is the concern over the carbon footprint of traveling to different countries in the world. Especially ecotourism destinations are often remote and seemingly have little developed infrastructure. Which makes them even harder to reach. So getting there might require long flights and subsequent overland travel, which can generate significant amounts of CO2 emissions.
In addition, local activities, such as guided tours, boat trips or safaris produce extra CO2 emissions. The use of motorized vehicles, entering sensitive ecosystems and the consumption of resources such as water and energy all contribute to environmental pollution and therefore contradict the actual goal of ecotourism.
The cultural impact of sustainable tourism
Some other challenges of the sustainable tourism development are concerning socio-economic relations. In fact, one of the dark sides of ecotourism is the displacement and disruption of local communities.
In some cases, governments or companies from the private sector were so driven to develop more ecotourism projects that they completely forgot about the rights and needs of local people. This has led to conflicts where communities have been displaced or had their traditional way of life impacted to make way for tourism infrastructure.
In addition, cultural impacts can occur when local traditions and customs are commercialized and adapted for tourism. This can lead to the local population distancing from their own cultural values and identities when these are used for the entertainment of tourists.
Economic dependency
Further drawbacks of ecotourism are related to the potential economic dependence on this industry. While ecotourism can theoretically help boost local economies and create jobs, over-reliance on this source of revenue carries significant risks.
As tourism revenue is often only seasonal and very volatile, communities that rely heavily on ecotourism can be vulnerable to sudden changes in the travel industry or external shocks such as natural disasters or political unrest. This then leads to instability in the local economy and actually threatens the livelihoods of people who depend on ecotourism.
Greenwashing as a main problem with ecotourism
Greenwashing is still one of the key issues in sustainable tourism. Because despite the growing popularity of ecotourism, there are still companies that exploit the concept of greenwashing to give themselves an environmentally friendly image. Without actually implementing sustainable practices.
Some companies for instance use ecotourism labels or certifications to give the impression that they are environmentally conscious while continuing environmentally damaging practices.
This obviously leads to confusion among consumers looking for authentic sustainable but touristic experiences and ultimately undermines trust in the ecotourism industry as a whole.
Loss of authenticity
Other disadvantages of sustainable tourism are the loss of authenticity and the transformation of once authentic experiences into commercialized, inauthentic attractions.
In some cases, popular ecotourism destinations can become overcrowded tourist traps that emphasize mass entertainment rather than environmental conservation. The result is that visitors who are seeking genuine connections with nature and local cultures are disappointed or even avoid a certain place. It is certainly problematic when the commercial interest in an environment is prioritized over nature conservation.
Problems with ecotourism in real life
In case you don’t believe that an initially positive ecotourism development can also face issues and challenges, here are two real life best (or in this case worst) practices.
- Costa Rica
An example of the challenges of ecotourism can be found in Costa Rica. A country known for its environmental protection efforts. Despite its pioneering role in ecotourism, many of the country’s ecologically sensitive areas are facing overexploitation and pollution due to the massive crowds of incoming tourists.
The Manuel Antonio National Park is a prime example of this. The high rise of visitor numbers has led to increased pressure on ecosystems and environmental problems such as trash and soil erosion. The lesson learnt from this case study is that a sustainable approach to ecotourism requires not only the protection of nature, but also the limitation of visitor numbers and appropriate infrastructure planning.
- Galápagos Islands
Another example of current issues in sustainable tourism is the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. Which are famous for their unique biodiversity. Although these magical islands are known for their strict conservation measures, the ambience of the islands are increasingly threatened by tourism.
The high demand for ecotourism experiences has led to a lot of pressure on sensitive ecosystems and some species are endangered by human presence. This case study highlights the need for balanced regulation and sustainable management to ensure the long-term protection of nature and biodiversity.
How to avoid common issues of ecotourism
There are some major steps that can be taken by tourism authorities, governments and influential companies, that can make a difference when it comes to common ecotourism drawbacks:
- Better involvement of communities
The responsible parties should emphasize greater involvement of local communities in the planning and implementation of ecotourism projects. This is how it can be ensured that they benefit from revenues while protecting natural resources.
- More and standardized regulation
It needs the implementation of stricter regulations and monitoring systems to prevent environmentally damaging behavior. The continued control process of these rules and regulations ensures that ecotourism practices are sustainable.
- Promotion of responsible tourist behavior
It is also important to raise travelers’ awareness of the impact of their behavior on the environment and local communities. Therefore the emphasis should be on promoting a respectful and sustainable approach to nature and the cultures tourists visit.
Since we are travelers we are also part of these sustainable tourism problems. But this doesn’t mean that we all shouldn’t travel at all anymore. We should simply be more careful of our actions and try to take care of our planet as well as be more inclusive and respectful with other cultures. What is your idea of how to minimize negative impacts of ecotourism? Let us know in the comments.
