Finding a sustainable balance
Wed 19 October 2011
Amanda Kennedy, Bachelor of Comunication
As the global ecotourism sector grows, it is becoming more challenging to find a balance between industry and protection of the environment.
Global tourism accounts for over 10 percent of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and is the second most important form of foreign exchange in 40 of the world’s developing nations.
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defined ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people”.
It also said since the 1990s, the ecotourism industry had grown by 20 to 34 percent each year.
The United Nations Environmental Programme and Conservation International indicated that the majority of global tourism expansion had been in and around the world’s remaining natural areas.
This push stemmed from a growing market concern for sustainable tourism.
TIES said in its Global Ecotourism Fact Sheet that 10 to 20 percent of tourists looked for green options when travelling, and 5 to 10 percent demanded green options.
While ecotourism is clearly a large contributor to the global economy, there are many environmental issues this industry has been facing.
The TIES report indicated several examples, including the degradation of the world’s coral reefs.
Of the 109 countries with coral reefs, 90 are being damaged by tourism. 
Cruise ships anchoring in the reefs, tourists taking home pieces of coral and the harvesting of coral for sale to tourists are just some of the issues facing the reefs.
National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ) executive coordinator Paul Donatiu said he thought more needed to be done to limit the damage recreational activities do to protected natural areas.
“Nature needs to be enjoyed on nature’s terms,” Mr Donatiu said.
“It can’t be allowed to be loved to death.”
Mr Donatiu said he believed the dynamics of ecotourism had changed.
“It’s no longer about just bushwalking or wanting to get out and be a part of nature,” Mr Donatiu said.
Mr Donatiu added there was an expectation for a wider variety of activities in natural areas, such as rock climbing and motocross, and felt more education on the damage these activities cause would help.
Mr Donatiu said the NPAQ realised that completely separating protected areas and people was not a good option.
“Obviously we want the public momentum for protection of the areas we just need to manage the impact,” Mr Donatiu said.
The NPAQ would like to see a limit on the activities that could be enjoyed in a National Park, and were advocating for recreational zones to be set up adjacent or nearby to National Parks rather than in the Parks themselves.
Sunshine Coast Destination Limited (SCDL) communications manager Karen Doane disagreed, and said tourism helped visitors experience first-hand the attributes of the natural attractions, which then educates and encourages everyone to keep the environment and natural attractions as pristine as possible.
“The overall acceptance and importance of ecotourism has grown exponentially,” Ms Doane said.
“Operators have seen the importance of this, not only to attract ecologically minded visitors, but the economic value it adds to their bottom line.”
TIES also found in its studies that ecotourism had a higher return rate to the local communities, and that 80 percent of money from “all-inclusive” package deals goes to airlines, hotels etc, whereas “eco-lodges” put as much as 95 percent of the money made back into the local economy.
SCDL works with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) to promote the adoptions of environmentally sustainable tourism to local operators.
The Council’s Natural Advantage business plan has won major awards for innovation in sustainability.
Ms Doane said sustainable practices in tourism were already becoming the norm.
“Our feeling is that the tourism industry is embracing eco tourism in every way and it can while still remaining viable businesses [sic],” Ms Doane said.
“Most Sunshine Coast operators see incorporating ecotourism and working within the parameters of the natural surroundings as a strength rather than a hindrance.”
“Therefore this should bring positive results to those who keep their businesses focused on these practices.
“Of course, the difficulty always sits between affordability verses sustainability not only by operators, but also those seeking these holiday choices verses one which does not practice eco-tourism.”
Both Ms Doane and Mr Donatiu said that the challenge lay in finding a balance between the need for profit and the need for protecting the environment.
They agreed that without the continued effort and innovation of operators, tourists and governing bodies, ecotourism could become unsustainable.
However both maintained optimistic views that a balance could be achieved.
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Submitted Comments
It's an interesting point, about the damage that these tourists can cause. Eco-tourism is great in theory, but I wonder how much pollution is caused by people travelling for their 'eco-friendly' trip. Great article.
Teale