Ecotourism is slowly developing across the world, as people begin to recognise the effects that irresponsible travelling can have on third-world communities and the environment.

But some countries are still at risk from the damaging effects that tourism has on local communities, such as water abuse, poverty, and environmental damage.

Kay Taylor discusses the implications of irresponsible tourism in under-developed countries, outlines the benefits of ecotourism, and offers ways in which travellers can contribute towards improved working and living conditions for indigenous communities.

Each year, two million people visit Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, spending their money on local foods and souvenirs. Yet only 3% of this money remains in the local area and contributes towards Sharm El-Sheikh’s community development, because such resources are transported into the country rather than sourced locally.

This also results that the area produces ten times more waste than elsewhere, which vastly harms the environment.

This situation is only likely to worsen as tourism expands, as the majority of tourists are arguably unaware of the harrowing effects their holiday is having on the local people of the areas they are visiting.

Each year, over $100 million derived from tourism enables Burma’s Junta military regime to continually enforce inhumane working conditions on the local communities, and force families out of their homes.

Irresponsible tourism has gotten so bad in some areas of the world that the Government now supports a boycott of tourism in particular countries. Burma is predominantly at risk, as money earned from Burma’s tourism directly contributes towards the retained control of the Junta military regime over the country.

It is estimated that each year, over $100 million derived from tourism enables the Junta to continually enforce inhumane working conditions on the local communities and force families out of their homes.

In response, tourists are discouraged from visiting Burma until democracy has been restored, and to avoid holidaying in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt until the area improves its responsible tourism.

Lyn Hughes, editor-in-chief of Wanderlust travel magazine, says: “Tourism can be a double edged sword for destinations, especially in developing countries without adequate infrastructures, and where visitor numbers have swelled too quickly.

“At the same time as supporting local communities, if things aren’t managed properly the negatives can soon outweigh the positives, creating major environmental and cultural issues”.

“An average 18-hole golf course soaks up at least 525,000 gallons of water a day, which is enough to supply the irrigation needs of 100 Malaysian farmers” Tourism Concern

A major disheartening concern is that many indigenous people are often forced out of their homes to make room for tourist developments in countries where tourism is striving. This form of displacement, according to Tourism Concern, is usually met “without warning, compensation or alternative accommodation”, effectively making people homeless for the sake of a new hotel.

Likewise, golf courses and hotel swimming pools, along with extra people visiting the countries, means that water shortages occur for local inhabitants, and Tourism Concern says that “an average 18-hole golf course soaks up at least 525,000 gallons of water a day, which is enough to supply the irrigation needs of 100 Malaysian farmers”.

But there are certain areas of the world where tourism can help communities and the environment, if an ecotourism attitude is established and people take such concerns into account.

According to The International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism involves “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people”.

Zanzibar in Tanzania is currently suffering as a result of tourism, and poorly controlled building developments and pressures on water supply are central to the problem. Visitor numbers have quadrupled over the past ten years, from 50,000 to 200,000 annually, and while holidaymakers are not discouraged from visiting Zanzibar, they are advised to check with tour operators that their preferred locations are managed responsibly.

On a more personal level, countries can largely benefit from community tourism, which sees visitors actively helping to improve living and working conditions of the local communities. Predominantly, community tourism strives to consider the voices of those most affected by irresponsible tourism, and seeks to engage the participation of local people in the planning and consent of tour projects.

Tourism Concern states that community tourism aims to: “Give a fair share of profits back to the local community, (ideally this will include community projects, such as health and schools), involve communities rather than individuals, as working with individuals can disrupt social structures, and be environmentally sustainable”.

Community tourism also focuses on the ideal that indigenous people should have the right to oppose tourism in their home environments. Until recently, many tribal people haven’t had a say in the type of tourism that largely affects their way of life, their lands and their traditional customs, and they have had to succumb to the influences of an ever-expanding western world.

“All too often, governments and private enterprises prefer to maintain their tourist economies rather than their ecosystems” Tourism Concern

With the promotion of ecotourism, such injustice is slowly decreasing, and community tourism is helping people work together to accommodate responsible tourism and to promote the maintenance of the countries’ agriculture and housing developments.

For example, the Community Based Tourism Institute in Thailand works with over 50 hill tribe and coastal villagers to ensure that they have full management over the trekking holidays which are held on their land. (1)

However, some forms of ‘tribal tourism’ are detrimental to indigenous people, as some organised tours visit the same villages all too often, interfering with the everyday lives of villagers.

Omo Valley in Ethiopia is a victim of this ‘tribal tourism’, and Lyn Hughes says: “The recent surge in visitors to Omo Valley is threatening the traditional way of life and creating a commercialised experience.

“Whilst we shouldn’t hold back a region’s development, it is possible to help protect the culture at the same time as building a better infrastructure. People should ensure to choose a tour operator wisely and question their ethics”.

Similarly, badly managed tourism in Ranthambore National Park in India means that instead of proceeds being channeled to pay for conservation, better guiding and funding of new reserves, a higher focus is placed upon packing the area with as many tourists as possible, and tourism is increasing by around 20% each year.

Suggestions have been made to reorganise the park, splitting it into different sections for day-trippers and more serious wildlife enthusiasts, which would help monitor visitor traffic and contribute towards an overall improvement of the wildlife and environment.

Tourism Concern says: “All too often, governments and private enterprises prefer to maintain their tourist economies rather than their ecosystems.

“As a result, tourism developments, which are often built in the most beautiful landscapes and places in the world, threaten and destroy environments and exhaust limited natural resources, destroying these places for local peoples and future tourists”.

70% of American, British and Austrian travelers would be willing to pay an extra $150 to stay in hotels with responsible attitudes to the environment Survey from People and Planet

Venice in Italy is also suffering as a result of day-visitors from cruise ships, who don’t spend the time to contribute to the local ecommerce, and around 250, 000 people visit Venice each weekend in summer.

To combat this problem, it would be more responsible for travelers to spend at least three days in places such as Venice, to stay in a locally managed hotel and buy food at local cafes to sustain the economy.

To avoid a ‘guilt trip’ whilst traveling, Tourism Concern advises that visitors try to put money into local hands. “If you haggle for the lowest price, your bargain may be at the seller’s expense. Even if you pay a little over the odds, does it really matter?”

Also, people are advised to offer a donation to community projects, such as health care schemes and local schools, and to use alternative forms of transport where possible. “The more and further you fly, the more you contribute to global warming and environmental destruction, so consider flying long-haul less often, but staying longer when you’re there”. (1)

Currently, there are no internationally recognised accrediting bodies for fair trade tourism, so travelers must take local customs and livelihoods into consideration when visiting foreign countries. 70% of American, British and Austrian travelers would be willing to pay an extra $150 to stay in hotels with responsible attitudes to the environment, according to a recent survey. (2)

Eco-lodges are consequently an increasingly popular choice of accommodation, as they cater for responsible travelers who are committed to supporting the environment and local communities.

Situated in countries such as India, Egypt, Ecuador, South Africa and Thailand, eco-lodges help to preserve their local environments and utilize the skills of local people.

Promoting awareness of harmful tourism can help people to understand the implications of their travel choices on those who live and work in the desired holiday destinations, and a progressive increase of responsible ecotourism is a positive step towards this ideal.

By Kay Taylor

(1) Tourism Concern.org.

(2) People and Planet.net.