Ecotourism and NGOs PDF

Ecotourism and NGOs  Nongovernmental conservation organizations (NGOs) play an ever-increasing role in ecotourism management and development in both the developed and developing world. NGOs concerned with conservation issues have discovered that ecotourism embodies many of the positive elemen...

Ecotourism and NGOs  Nongovernmental conservation organizations (NGOs) play an ever-increasing role in ecotourism management and development in both the developed and developing world. NGOs concerned with conservation issues have discovered that ecotourism embodies many of the positive elements that characterize conservation activities ❖ Mitigation of negative impacts upon the natural environment. ❖ Increase in visitors’ awareness of natural and cultural resources and of the issues that affect their conservation. ❖ Generation of significant income for conservation activities The Role of NGOs As a result of the direct links between ecotourism and conservation, many conservation NGOs embrace ecotourism as part of their organizational activity. However, the roles they play can differ: 1. Some NGOs act as facilitators between other players in the ecotourism context, e.g., communities and the tourism industry, and protected area managers and communities. 2. NGOs may extend their reach and achieve greater conservation impact when they partner with or provide services to a community-based ecotourism enterprise or private ecotourism company. 3. NGOs frequently serve as trainers and sources of relevant technical information and expertise that other institutions involved with ecotourism may not have access to or time to develop. 4. NGOs partner with protected area administrations to implement an aspect of an ecotourism program, e.g., an environmental education or interpretation program. 5. Increasingly, NGOs manage their own private protected areas or are asked to take charge of government-administered protected areas. In these situations, the NGO is responsible for implementing all of the area’s management activities including the public use program, which is where ecotourism is usually housed. 6. NGOs provide ecotourism services such as tour promotion and organization or lodging, transportation and food services.  NGOs play an important role in advancing ecotourism implementation through their positive interaction with local communities, the private sector tourism industry, government- administered protected areas and others. Ecotourism and the Tourism Industry  Of all the participants in the ecotourism activity, the tourism industry is perhaps the most important and the least appreciated by conservationists. Many conservationists dislike having to deal with the corporate, profit-motivated entrepreneurs that they characterize as comprising the tourism industry The Links in the Tourism Chain The Links in the Tourism Chain Essential inputs by various segments of the tourism industry could include: 1. Providing information about the potential market for ecotourism activities. 2. Providing advice concerning visitor preferences in terms of attractions, accommodations, food and transportation services. 3. Marketing an ecotourism activity or program. 4. Providing one or more of the services needed to facilitate visitor access to and appreciation of the ecotourism site. 5. Providing training of local guides and entrepreneurs. 6. Investing in an ecotourism operation. The investment will likely be contingent upon an expectation of a certain level of financial return. 7. Operating an ecotourism operation such as an ecolodge. Within a protected area situation, these operators would be considered concessionaires