Principles & Practices of ECOTOURISM

Ecotourism is a highly controversial term from an ecological, economic and political point ofview. It has been used by ecotourism advocates, made up of professionals from governmentdepartments and industry, to open up new areas for tourism. Unfortunately, it has paved the wayfor the tourism industry to encourage initiatives that have a profound impact on people and theenvironment in the name of ecotourism. Indigenous and local communities have expressed concern and even resisted the onslaught ofsuch ecotourism development at international, regional, national and state levels. On the otherhand, there are also cases where communities are cautiously using ecotourism to increase theirlivelihood and income sources. Ecotourism or sustainable tourism can potentially improve thelivelihoods of local people, particularly those living in and around environmentally fragile areas,and thereby also provides an incentive for local people to conserve these areas.However, there is little or no consensus on the definition of ecotourism. Each player has triedto define it in their favor. Communities have accused ecotourism, its definition and concept, ofbeing largely industry-driven and having evolved through non-consultative processes. Theworrying voices raised during the International Year of Ecotourism 2002 and the processes thatpreceded it,