Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
• ecotourism as a form of nature-based tourism that involves education and interpretation
of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically and culturally
sustainable.
The Office of National Tourism (1997) in Australia, for example, defined ecotourism as
'nature-based tourism that involves interpretation of the natural and cultural environment
and ecologically sustainable management of natural areas'.
Ecotourism is seen as ecologically and socially responsible, and as
fostering environmental appreciation and awareness. It is based on the
enjoyment of nature with minimal environmental impact. The educational
element of ecotourism, which enhances understanding of natural
environments and ecological processes, distinguishes it from adventure
travel and sightseeing.
(Office of National Tourism 1997)
Many countries and regions around the world are now focusing on the supply of an
ecotourism product as a means of tourism development (Fennell 1999; Garrod and
Wilson 2003). Unfortunately, much of the ecotourism promotion best fits into the shallow
end of the ecotourism spectrum, in that much of it revolves around the branding of a
product or destination rather than seeking to ensure sustainability. Indeed, one of the
greatest problems of ecotourism is the extent to which such experiences can be supplied
without a limit on the number of people who visit natural areas, as visitation may lead not
only to environmental damage, but also to perceptions of crowding thereby reducing the
quality of the experience. As Kearsley et al. (1997:71) noted, 'From the viewpoint of
tourism…it is the impact of tourists upon tourists that has increasingly led to concern.
Issues of crowding, displacement and host community dissatisfaction have risen to
prominence.'
Crowding is a logical consequence of rising participation in outdoor recreation and
naturebased tourism activities (Gramann 1982). It should therefore be of no great surprise
that crowding is the most frequently studied aspect of wilderness recreation (Shelby et al.
1989). Indeed, many issues in wilderness management and outdoor recreation, such as
satisfaction, desired experiences, carrying capacity and displacement are all related to the
primary issue of crowding. Furthermore, social carrying capacity is increasingly being
recognised as the most critical of all types of carrying capacity, since ecological impacts
can often be controlled by management actions other than limiting use levels; for
example, facilities may be extended and made more effective, and physical capacities are
usually high (Shelby and Heberlein 1984).
Importantly, crowding should not be confused with density. Density refers to the
number of individuals in a given area while crowding refers to the evaluation of a certain
density (Graefe et al. 1984a, 1984b). In a review of thirty-five studies of crowding,
Shelby et al. (1989) identified four sources of variation in perceptions of crowding:
•
Temporal variation
either in terms of time or season within which outdoor recreation
activities are taking place. For example, weekends and public holidays are likely to
experience higher than average use densities thereby resulting in inflated perceptions
of crowding.
