Explained
Why conservation must be in local hands
A significant proportion of the world’s remaining biodiversity is currently protected by Indigenous Peoples. Their ances...
What is ecotourism? There’s no doubt it’s an over-used and frequently misused word. At its worst, it’s a classic example of greenwashing, a catch-all term used by unscrupulous tour operators to mislead well-meaning holidaymakers into believing that their trip of a lifetime will benefit nature. At its best, however, ecotourism (or, more accurately, responsible and regenerative tourism) can be a genuine force for good – promoting and rewarding nature-positive actions.
What are the key aspects of sustainable, responsible nature tourism?
Delacour's langur. © Ryan Deboodt
Conserving wildlife and ecosystems
Local fishers on the Irrawaddy River, Myanmar. © Bjorn Olesen
Supporting local communities
Aerial view of mangroves and coastline in Bako National Park, Borneo. © Zafer Kizilkaya
Raising awareness of the environment
(among visitors and local people)
Rangers on patrol in Kenya. © Mwangi Kirubi / TNC
Promoting responsible behaviour
Deforestation witnessed on route from Yambio to Tambura, South Sudan. © Jonny Wright / Fauna & Flora
Minimising detrimental impacts
What are the benefits of ecotourism?
The potential benefits of nature-based tourism are well-documented. It can:
- protect species and their habitats by providing a financial incentive not to destroy them.
- support conservation through profits being reinvested in nature protection.
- generate vital tourist revenue, providing a big boost to a country’s GDP and to local livelihoods.
- raise awareness among visitors, building respect for local communities and nature.
- contribute to sustainable development by supporting nature-friendly livelihood activities.
- encourage public participation and collaboration in valuable research and data-gathering, known as citizen science.
White-water rafting on the Naryn River, one of the many ecotourism activities in Kyrgyzstan. © Juan Pablo Moreiras / Fauna & Flora
White-water rafting on the Naryn River, one of many available ecotourism activities in Kyrgyzstan.
What are some of the potential negative effects of ecotourism?
Critics of ecotourism argue that the potential harm it can cause may outweigh the positives. A major environmental concern is that flying thousands of miles to a remote location can’t be considered net positive for the planet. Ethical concerns include the risk of disturbing wildlife and disrupting remote communities by, for example, exposing them to outside influences that seed dissatisfaction regarding inequality and result in behaviour change.
Ecotourist attractions may also end up as victims of their own popularity, leading to overcrowding. An African safari can quickly lose its appeal if your first ever view of a wild rhino is obscured by a dozen other vehicles encircling the hapless beast – the wildlife equivalent of straining to see the Mona Lisa in a crowded Paris gallery – and that’s without taking account of the stress caused to the animal itself.
Ill-advised tourist developments, chemical and noise pollution and, for example, damage to fragile coral reefs caused by thoughtless anchoring, all take their toll on the species and sites that visitors flock to admire.
Too often, the money brought in by ecotourists flows out of the country into corporate coffers, rather than reaching the intended beneficiaries at a grass-roots level. And even when the money does flow in the right direction, it can create an overdependence on tourist revenue, leaving communities dangerously exposed to unforeseen events such as civil conflict, Covid-19 and other crises that may cause a crucial income stream to dry up overnight.
Peak tourist season in the Masai Mara during the great migration, Kenya. © Stephanie Foote Media
Peak tourist season in the Masai Mara during the great migration, Kenya.
Examples of how ecotourism supports conservation and communities
However, when well-managed, ecotourism can make a tangible and significant contribution to conservation. As an example, an estimated half a million divers a year pay for the privilege of swimming with sharks, contributing millions of dollars to hard-pressed economies. One study in the Maldives found that a single grey reef shark is worth over US$3,000 annually in tourism revenue compared to a one-off value of US$30 to a fisherman.
Mountain gorilla tourism is a key driver of Rwanda’s economy. It contributes over 15% of the country’s GDP, second only to coffee in terms of foreign exchange earnings. Crucially, a proportion of that revenue is shared with the communities who live alongside the mountain gorillas, giving them an incentive to help conserve these endangered great apes.
Mountain gorilla group seen during an ecotourism trip, Rwanda. © Camilla Rhodes / Fauna & Flora
Gorilla tourism makes a vital contribution to the economies of Rwanda, Uganda and DRC.
Deo, a local craftsman in Kinigi, displays handcrafted souvenirs (gorilla statues and masks) for tourists visiting the Volcanoes National park, Rwanda. © Juan Pablo Moreiras / Fauna & Flora
Handcrafted mountain gorilla souvenirs for sale to tourists visiting Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
What does good ecotourism look like?
There is broad agreement that the ideal ecotourism blueprint needs to tick several key boxes. All stakeholders should be involved in the planning process, particularly the communities directly or indirectly affected, and participate fully in decision-making. Every effort must be made to use small, locally-owned businesses and local people for accommodation, guiding and other activities.
This is the epitome of responsible tourism: balanced power dynamics; local people in control of their natural and cultural resources; visitors welcomed as equals, with as much foreign exchange as possible staying locally. Environmental best practice should be followed, and any environmental impact should be monitored, minimised and, where necessary, compensated. Most important of all, any benefits accruing from ecotourism need to be shared equitably.
How ecotourism contributes to Fauna & Flora’s conservation efforts
Raptors migrating through the Batumi bottleneck, photographed from Sakhalvasho watchpoint, Georgia. © Gizo Seskuria / Fauna & Flora
Georgia
Ecotourism initiatives form part of many of Fauna & Flora’s projects worldwide. Our work to conserve raptors in Georgia includes engaging with birdwatchers who flock to the Batumi bottleneck to witness the spectacular autumn migration of millions of birds of prey.
Lesser whistling ducks in flight over Indawgyi Lake. © Jeremy Holden / Fauna & Flora
Myanmar
Fauna & Flora’s local partner in Myanmar has led the development of a sustainable ecotourism plan alongside nine community-based ecotourism groups around Indawgyi Lake, a birding hotspot, globally important wetland and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Cambodia
Ecotourism is among the diversified livelihood options that we’re developing to support local communities at three of our coastal and marine project sites in Cambodia.
Daniel Chiquin, a local cacao agroforestry farmer. Credit: Max Caal/Ya’axché Conservation Trust
Belize
Our long-term partner in Belize, Ya’axché, is working with local communities in the biologically rich Maya Golden Landscape to integrate ecotourism into their activities as a means of generating additional year-round income for farmers and their families via homestays, including value-added services such as farm-to-table meals that generate more foreign exchange than selling raw commodities.
In Argeş County, Romania, brown bears have increasingly become a roadside attraction. Regular feeding by passers-by has altered their natural behaviour. © Daniel Mîrlea / Fauna & Flora
Romania
In Romania’s Zarand landscape corridor, which Europe’s large carnivores use to move between the Western and Southern Carpathian Mountains, we are promoting wildlife-friendly land management through support for small-scale sustainable agriculture and other rural business enterprises, including the development of infrastructure to pave the way for responsible tourism.
West Papua
Community-based ecotourism is a key component of Fauna & Flora’s sustainable livelihoods work in Raja Ampat, West Papua, where visitors are drawn to spectacular coral reefs and rainforest encounters with birds of paradise, tree kangaroos and other exotic, endemic species.
Community members from a number of villages have received training in tour guiding, homestay provision and social media marketing to support sustainable tourism.
These villages are already benefiting from higher visitor numbers and increased revenues, and there is widespread and increasing enthusiasm throughout Raja Ampat for an initiative that Fauna & Flora’s Maurits Kafiar helped pioneer.
Maurits Kafiar has helped pioneer the development of Raja Ampat’s terrestrial ecotourism programmes.
How can you support responsible tourism?
Before you go:
- Ask where your money is going (will it support conservation/communities?)
- Look for evidence of the multiplier effect, whereby an initial injection of spending will catalyse local economic development
- Check whether a tour operator has a sustainability policy/certification
- Choose an experience that is locally run
- If you’re flying, offset your carbon footprint
Horseback riders cross a spectacular valley in Kyrgyzstan. © Chris Loades / Fauna & Flora
Horseback riders crossing a spectacular valley in Kyrgyzstan.
While you’re there
- Keep your distance to minimise disturbance to wildlife
- Don’t damage natural resources
- Educate yourself and embrace local culture
- Be aware of cultural sensitivities such as dress code and attitudes to photography
- Support local businesses that demonstrate environmental best practice
- Conserve water and energy
- Don’t buy souvenirs made from wildlife products such as tortoiseshell
- Avoid single-use plastic and take your rubbish home with you
- Use local guides and eco-friendly transportation
A kiosk selling handmade crafts to tourists on the border of the mountain gorillas’ protected area, Rwanda. © Steph Baker / Fauna & Flora
A kiosk displaying handmade crafts near Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
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