E C O T O U R I S M
According to forecasts from the World Tourism Organization, the number of international tourist arrivals is expected to nearly double by the year 2010 to 937 million visitors. While tourism no doubt represents a huge boon to the global economy, this growing industry will also have a lasting impact on the environment. More travelers will certainly lead to some environmental degradation - increased pollution from transportation, construction of more facilities to house and entertain these visitors; and like a herd of bulls in a china shop their sheer numbers can sometimes overwhelm a destination's carrying capacity.
And as the pressures of urban living increase more of these intrepid travelers are seeking pristine natural and cultural sites. The number of visitors to national parks and protected areas and to rural communities continues to rise. And while nature or "eco" tourism is generally considered to have a lower impact than mass tourism - requiring less infrastructure and development - even small scale use can damage the natural resources which attract tourists in the first place. Degradation of the corals of the Great Barrier Reef, deforestation in the Himalayas and disruption of feeding and breeding patterns of wildlife in Kenya's national parks all serve as warnings to the potential dangers of uncontrolled tourism.
And often the effects are not only ecological. Tourism, especially in rural and undeveloped areas has created a dependence on foreign income among the local population. It has displaced traditional customs and social interactions and made communities vulnerable to foreign economic conditions.
Still, tourism is in itself a positive activity. Whether people are interested in culture, relaxation, adventure or health, in the end the motivation is to break out of a routine and achieve some sense of bettering oneself. And it's hard to ignore the opportunities tourism presents for economic development in rural communities. Whether the primary impact is positive or negative largely depends on how this sector is managed. Management structures must be strengthened in order to sustain both environmental quality and a lively tourism industry.
Sensitive natural sites are in limited supply and disappearing at lighting speed. Many experts believe the use of the natural environment is at a critical stage. The challenge today is to promote tourism activities in natural areas, while minimizing the negative impacts on them. A challenge which is being taken up worldwide.
The Agenda 21 action plan sets out a systematic framework to make the tourism industry more environmentally responsible. It urges governments to work with local authorities and the private sector wherever possible to develop an environmental program for management decisions regarding the industry and tourism destinations. Cooperation among all interested parties will be the key to developing successful management systems.
"Tourism can help the environment in many ways, especially by providing economic incentives to protect resources that have little other financial value, such as unique animal species, natural areas and cultural monuments," said WTO Secretary-General, Antonio Enriquez Savignac in announcing the project.
In addition, many international funding agencies have established programs to encourage tourism which favors the protection of the environment, including the REC which has awarded several Earmarked Grants for ecotourism initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe.
As the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) continue to search for means of economic development, the tourism industry presents a number of unique challenges and opportunities. Many of them are actively wooing the world tourism market; and the numbers are on the rise. According to a recent Council of Europe report, the CEE region attracted more than 17% of arrivals to Europe in 1993, with Hungary leading the way as one of the top five world tourism destinations. The CEE countries boast a significant cultural heritage as well as many more untouched natural areas than in the West which present vast opportunities for ecotourism. But as many of these countries continue to struggle with the process of privatizing lands, and generating revenue, the pressure has mounted for exploitation of natural resources.
Because the tourism industry is in the relatively early stages in CEE there are still opportunities to develop a comprehensive management plan rather than an ad hoc system of add-ons. This vision is at the forefront for many countries in the region.
While Albania would be at the top of the alphabetical tourism "yellow pages," it is not likely to be the first place to come to mind when planning an eco-get-a-way. The country is still a virtual unknown on the vacation circuit, but according to Genc Pasko, the new Director for Albania's Ministry of Tourism, it is a top priority for the national economic development.
Indeed the bright Albanian sun shines on nearly 450 kilometers of relatively pristine coastline. The Albanian Alps, numerous lakes, vast forests and the rich cultural heritage of one of the oldest civilizations in Europe, round out the offerings which the Ministry of Tourism hopes will draw visitors and their much-needed hard currency to the country.
With funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development the ministry outlined a detailed set of guidelines for the tourism industry which includes long-term plans for environmental protection. Part of the development efforts include the creation of national parks and protected areas. Some of Albania's most pristine and ecologically valuable areas, such as the lagoon at Diviaka, the marsh areas of Butrint Lake, and the inland forests at Lura are slated to receive protected designation. On the industry side, a PHARE program for tourism in Albania is providing grants and loans to entrepreneurs who want to develop basic services and lodgings. And potential foreign investors have been quick to investigate development opportunities, particularly in the hotel industry in coastal areas.
| GUIDELINES |
|---|
| Guidelines for the development of sustainable tourism in natural areas |
|
But so far Albania has not lost sight of the need to safeguard the environment. Pasko says the ministry is committed to developing tourism in an environmentally friendly way and avoiding the overdevelopment that plagues other destinations. "We will try to develop a tourism that is different from our Mediterranean competitors. We want tourists to find in Albania what they have failed to find in other places," he says.
One of things they may very well fail to find, however, is an easy way to get there. While directly accessible by ferries from Italy and Corfu, overland transportation is another story. Of the few roads there, most are in poor condition and the rail system and the airport in Tirana are obsolete, making travel in the country slow and difficult at best.
To the north, Estonia's burgeoning tourism faces a similar set of issues, but with an added public relations challenge. The popular image of the Baltics is one of lands mired in industrial pollution and dotted with toxic sites from ex-military bases. Yet with only 1.5 million people and uneven land use Estonia has pockets of wildness that are better preserved than that in most Western countries. Tourism can play a vital role in preserving the environment by staving off other commercial, forestry and agricultural development.
In addition to its varied landscapes from seashores to mountains and rich biodiversity, Estonia boast vast rural areas and farmlands. These relatively untouched areas offer numerous opportunities for tourists to enjoy outdoor activities, observe wildlife, and participate in local culture. The Kodukant initiative has developed a network of rural farms and tourism companies which operate under a set of standards developed with the help of local authorities and non-government organizations. The principals for The Natural Way tours include the stipulation that all organizers are local companies or residents; services and products are obtained from local sources; and that one percent of the profits are allocated for protection of the area's natural resources.
The principal of involving local communities in the process is echoed in numerous international initiatives. A joint study by WTO and the United Nations Environment Programme found this element to be essential to the success of ecotourism. "If ecotourism is to receive a higher priority in government plans, especially in developing countries considerable effort must be made to effectively involve local inhabitants in the tourism activity," the report concluded. Closer economic links between ecological preservation and tourism are developing, but much remains to be done.
Ultimately one of the most important goals of ecotourism must be the preservation of nature. Education about the inherent societal values of the environment will be key to reaching this goal. Protected sites are already being used for significant scientific research. Often the findings contribute to an increased recognition of the area's ecological value. The research can also serve to establish benchmarks for preservation, since the sites are often largely intact and relatively pristine ecosystems, they can serve as a basis for comparison.
Travel to wild places has the potential to inform and educate large groups of people about the importance of nature. This awareness will give vital support for efforts to protect the wild world in the future. At summer's end sightseers may return home with more than snapshots and a sunburn, today's ecotourist could bring back a greater appreciation for the natural world and the motivation to protect it.
