Tourism Concern cautious about International Year of Ecotourism

As the United Nations today launches the ‘International Year of Ecotourism’, Tourism Concern, the educational charity and membership organisation campaigning for ethical and fair trade tourism, has released a statement voicing its concern that a sudden growth in ‘ecotourism’ may not necessarily work in the interests of both local and indigenous people in Southern destinations.

The International Year of Ecotourism (IYE) year is being launched in New York by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The IYE will include a range of activities, including a World Ecotourism Summit from 19-22 May 2002 in Quebec, Canada.

In a statement released today, Tourism Concern said that the IYE has been met with enthusiasm by many tourist boards and tour operators but with scepticism by many non-governmental organisations, particularly those in the South (Third World countries). Tourism Concern is concerned that the problems of unsustainable tourism development cannot be solved by promoting ‘ecotourism’, which it says, is a “small, niche market and also, by its nature, necessitates developing tourism in fragile, sensitive areas. This could be fraught with difficulties if demand for ecotourism increases significantly.”

Patricia Barnett, director of Tourism Concern, said: “While Tourism Concern is pleased that the impacts of tourism are being addressed by the international community through the International Year of Ecotourism, we feel that ecotourism is such a small part of the tourism industry it will not make a significant difference to the sustainability of the overall industry.

“Tourism Concern has always pointed out that just because something is marketed as ‘ecotourism’, doesn’t mean necessarily mean that it supports long-term protection of the environment. This is true even in countries which are well-known as ecotourism destinations like Belize or Costa Rica.

“Belize, for instance, is one of the world’s best-known ecotourism capitals. However, it is something of a victim of its own success. It now has a highly competitive tourism industry more interested in marketing a product than ensuring that it is environmentally sound, or that the people are benefiting from it. Local people are marginalised as outsiders buy up the land. Locals are angry that they can no longer access their own forests, which have been their natural home for generations and their islands are sold out to American ecotourism developers.”

Click on the following link to read the Tourism Concern in-depth briefing on ecotourism.