Tourism and the Environment - Tourism: Principles, Practices, Philosophies - page 388

Provides environmental education for visitors

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Encourages and enhancement (the

creation of new or enlarged national and state parks, forest preserves, biosphere reserves,
recreation areas, beaches, marine and underwater trails, and attractions)

heritage preservation and environmental preservation

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Developing countries host many ecotourists. In Brazil, nature travel has become the country's
largest new source of revenue. In south-central Africa, Rwanda is ecotourism is the third largest source

of foreign exchange earnings. Much of this is generated by visitors to the Mountain Gorilla Project
begun in the 1970s. The success of this project has convinced the national government to preserve and
protect the critical habitat of the gorilla. It has also brought about support for other parks and reserves
in that country.
In Costa Rica, 60 percent of visitors are interested in seeing the national park system, which is 11
percent of the country

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s land area. If biological and private reserves are added, the protected areas
total 23 percent of the nation.

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Dangers and Limitations of Ecotourism

A low-density rural population is typically found at ecotourism destinations. Most of these people
depend on the use of the natural environment for their livelihood. Introduce tourism and it has an
effect on local populations : There is the danger that tourism consumes resources and has the ability

to overconsume. If an ecotour operator does not hire local people to perform services needed by the
tour group and use local supplies, the financial bene ts of ecotourism are not shared with the local
population. This results in the local population and the tourists competing for scarce natural resources,
which is unhealthy for the environment. To be successful as tour operators, it is imperative that the
local people be involved. If not, their pressing need for survival will doubtless prevail, and this is very
likely to damage the very natural attractions that first lured the visitors there.

Paos Volcano National Park in Costa Rica is a popular natural attraction. In addition to the giant volcano
crater, the park also possesses abundant wildlife and unusual vegetation. PhotobyRichardMills;courtesy
ofInternationalExpeditions,Inc.