Describe What Is Responsible Tourism And Ecotourism? (Essay Sample)

WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND ECOTOURISM?
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The concepts of responsible tourism and ecotourism define conservation-based approaches to tourism. These consider environmental sustainability, the welfare of populations in tourist destinations, economic development, and environmental education. The main idea behind combining the two is conserving the environment for future generations and ensuring that ecological depreciation limits are reduced to negligible levels. To increase the benefits achieved from tourism, stakeholders invest in low impact tourism, environmental awareness, support for local tourism businesses, cultural heritage, and responsible management of tourist activities. The main approaches to implementing responsible tourism and ecotourism include the employment of effective conservation policies, empowerment of communities in tourist destinations, and preserving local cultures.
The creation of effective conservation policies stands out as a leading economic incentive to preserving the environment. Markedly, many third world economies benefit massively from tourism and associated activities. On the other hand, environmental changes and other challenges like the strain on ecological niches continue to threaten the tourist industry. These have created a constant need to preserve the bio-culturally diverse environments and pristine lands that still allow access to undisturbed tourist destinations. Most countries invest in policy development to ensure the communities, tourists, and businesses jointly foster conservationist programs. Besides limiting various practices, strategic partnerships provide incentives that encourage responsible tourism operations. Major conservation policies for responsible tourism and ecotourism in Africa and Europe protect various lands and ban trade in various products including animal parts.
Another approach to implementing responsible tourism and ecotourism is the empowerment of the communities in tourist destinations. The main aim of this approach is to equip the involved communities with the relevant means to implement sustainable management of the environment and natural resources. Notably, this approach also focuses on empowering such communities with resources that help in the protection of wildlife instead of poaching. A typical example of this approach is the case of Laos where the Wildlife Conservation Society implements ecosystem service agreements with the communities and villages in which tourism is undertaken. This program does not only encourage the locals to engage in conservation-based approaches but also uses integrated rural development strategies and nature conservation. Instead of hunting down wildlife for food, investors in responsible tourism and ecotourism avail the financial proceeds of tourism to employ the locals to provide security for the wildlife as they earn a living from their jobs.
Perhaps, the most elemental features of responsible tourism and ecotourism are the higher degree of risk, novelty of destinations, and interaction with local cultures. Hence, the focus on cultural heritage, sustainability, and interaction stands out as a leading economic incentive. Ecotourism provides the motivation for keeping traditions alive and fostering it across generations. As tourists visit environmental and wildlife establishments, they also participate in cultural practices. Some of the most common of these include cultural dances, music, food preparation techniques, and community festivals. As the community presents these cultural elements, cross-cultural interaction occurs to ensure cross-cultural benefits. On the other hand, involved communities get to sustain their cultural practices without erosion from tourism.
In conclusion, responsible tourism and ecotourism define a conservation-based approach in which envi...