Tourism Marketing and Travel Marketing: News: Company News, Travel Industry News, Tourism Commentary

Ecotourism principles & practice

by Bryan Wilson email
2005/10/01

There is considerable debate about the utility of maintaining a purist perspective about the meaning of ecotourism—whether it is more useful as a guiding concept or a set of strict criteria. There are very few of us who live or operate a business in a manner that is truly sustainable, but a responsible manner of living requires that we continue in a sincere effort toward repairing damange, and building social and biological health in whatever areas we inhabit or visit. In that light, it seems to me that the concepts of ecotourism can be of best utility if used as vehicles on the path toward ecologically sound actions, with the recognition that a purist approach may deter some from ever starting on that path. There is a dynamic balance between making gains and improvements by allowing for the sometimes imperfect application of these principles and the need to maintain the integrity of the concepts. Stating this is not the same as accepting greenwashing by ceding the term “ecotourism” for use by irresponsible tourism ventures. Of course, it is the results on the ground that matter!

As we put these principles into practice in a world fraught with economic and political pressures, it is helpful to keep in mind several other principles, borrowed from the permaculture movement: start small, leave pristine environments alone, create diverse systems, and return surpluses to the systems from which they came. Starting small means making only small mistakes (and we will all make mistakes!) and having time to learn from them. Leaving pristine environments alone means only developing tourist infrastructure in areas that are already touched or compromised by human inhabitation. Ecotourism can be part of an approach to rehabilitate damaged lands—there are enough beautiful, but damaged, places and cultures which need care that we do not need to be extending tourism infrastructure or encouraging visitation into the most fragile areas (including space tourism). Creating diverse systems implies for tourism that we not rely upon one approach, one organization, or one actor to work, but trying several approaches. It also reminds us that even ecotourism should only remain one livelihood source within a community and that it should not displace traditional livelihoods or functions within natural systems. Returning surpluses to the systems from which they came mean tourism shouldn’t be an extractive industry—tourism should help build social and natural resources within the host communities and ecosystems, rather than export them all to economic centers in exchange for low service sector wages.

The article 'Ecotourism Concepts, Priinciples, and Applications' expands upon the ideas in this commentary. I am curious to hear your thoughts about these questions.

Bosnia back on the map

by Andrew Villone email
2004/08/25

Last year when I visited Sarajevo, I found the lovely old Turkish quarter bustling, though mostly with locals. That was fine by me—more time to haggle on prices for scarves, copper engravings and the like—plus, there's no waiting around for a table to eat the best cuisine that the Balkans have to offer. When you combine a Turkish-style old town in Central Europe with some of the friendliest locals around and good value for your money, it's bound to be just a matter of time before the tourists start to return. This summer comes word that tourism to the country has increased four-fold—and it's only August. It appears that Bosnia-Herzegovina is back on the tourist map.

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Things were quite different during my first trip, five years earlier. Although I only spent half a day in Mostar, it left a big impression on me. I had never walked down streets where the scars of war were so visible. There were more UN vehicles than tourists and only a handful of places open—or at least places that I wanted to go inside. I found it odd that the few tourist shops and agencies that were open all had pictures of a beautiful old bridge spanning across the river. Hey, wasn't that the same bridge that got blown up some six years earlier?

Without seeing this 430 year-old bridge and not even knowing whether or not I would ever have a chance to, I left Mostar with an indelible image of their national symbol. Through the years I've watched it be put back together via web-cams (nothing says progress like web-cams from four different angles!). Last month, the historical and symbolic Mostar Bridge was finally re-opened after many years of repair. It was one of the few times since last decade's war where news of BiH made it to the front pages of CNN online.

The local newspaper here in Seattle recently did a couple of travel pieces on Sarajevo and Mostar . Other articles have appeared recently in many UK newspapers. The BBC will soon be airing a 5-part series on the return of tourism to BiH.

The first guidebook exclusively on Bosnia-Herzegovina, by the British company Bradt, came out a few months back and already has garnered enough interest for a 2nd printing. Bradt has done a nice job of beating out bigger guides to the ex-Yugoslavia countries. Now if they can just squeeze out a Serbia book, I might be able to finally retire my 1982 Fodor's Yugoslavia book.

If you're thinking about visiting, I recommend contacting Sartours for half-day tours of Sarajevo. Owner and guide Sead has a great wealth of knowledge about the city and local history. For day trips, hikes, outdoor activities and eco-friendly excursions, check out Green Visions . Tim Clancy, one of the company's coordinators, is also the author of Bradt's Bosnia book.