Topic: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Ecotourism should be encouraged because it does not hold any dangers for the environment. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
“International Tourism is an
increasingly significant component of international trade as seen in export
earnings from international tourism and passenger transport, which reached 1.5
trillion USD in 2014” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Talep Rifai (UNWTO World
Tourism Barometer, 2015, p. 1). Thus, tourism is one of the most necessary
integration of every country’s development as well as economic on the globe. While
some believed that tourism leads to damage for the environment, there are also
evidences that some type of tourism such as ecotourism does not affect the
environment. Although there is a disagreement for ecotourism, it is widely
convinced that “ecotourism should be encouraged because it does not hold any
dangers for the environment”.
Ecotourism is implemented under the
purpose of conserving and protecting natural area as well as wild life. It is
defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment
and improve the well-being of local people” (The International Ecotourism
Society, 1990). Normally, ecotourism is hold under certain principles such as
reducing impact on environment and raising the awareness of environmental
deterioration and its consequences to tourists and community themselves. For
instance, in Cambodia there are some organizers who are hosting the ecotourism which
is locally called “Community Based Eco-tourism (CBET)” to particular areas that
faced deforestation and wild animal hunting by the local. The organizers “mlup
Baitong” has been working to reform the Anlong Pring Sarus Crane Reserve in
Kampong Trach District of Kampot Province, Cambodia, to a CBET.
In addition, ecotourism can also help
to increase community economic, thus, resulted in land restriction. Being
practiced, ecotourism will not only help to conserve the natural areas but it can
also protect the vast natural treasures while bringing economic opportunities
to typically disadvantaged rural areas. While the industry has faced
difficulties in reconciling its environmental ideals with the growing demand
for ecotourism and the temptation for profit-seeking, the environmental and
economic benefits of ecotourism have far outweighed these drawbacks. Former
residents will have jobs to do because there will be increases of tourists who come
to visit those natural areas. By this mean people will not only protect the
ecosystem but also they will also find better jobs for living.
Moreover, another proof to encourage
ecotourism is about environmental education toward the tourists. Ecotourism is
regarded the most important industry to attract many tourists to visit in each
country. Since it is a form of natural resources based tourism that focused on
experiencing and learning about nature, education about environmental awareness
is compulsory to make former residents as well as tourists know about the
benefits of environment. Without understanding about ecotourism and
environmental education, they will cause many damages to natural resources, making
more impact on most of living components. So ecotourism and environmental
education are highly related and depended on each other. Surely, the success of
ecotourism cannot be achieved without proper environmental education. It means
that the purpose of environmental education is one of the five criteria for
performing ecotourism. It helps all tourists to understand the natural
ecosystems and conservation with their role in environment. When they
understand about the importance of conserving the environment, there will have
a development of eco-centers.
In conclusion, ecotourism should be
encouraged because it does not cause any harm for the environment. It is sustainable
means to protect the environment while at the same time, provides income for
the community in the area. Moreover, tourists are being able to learnt and
realize the importance of natural resource. The authorities in Cambodia should
consider making more effort toward this act since it brings more positive
outcome.
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