Ecotourism, Sustainable Tourism, and Geotourism: A Discussion (PDF)

Q: How would you differentiate among ecotourism, sustainable tourism, and geotourism? Tourtellot: Ecotourism focuses specifically on natural areas. I\'m convinced that there are elephants roaming Africa and trees growing in Costa Rica that would not be there without ecotourism. Sustainable tourism\...

Q: How would you differentiate among ecotourism, sustainable tourism, and geotourism? Tourtellot: Ecotourism focuses specifically on natural areas. I\'m convinced that there are elephants roaming Africa and trees growing in Costa Rica that would not be there without ecotourism. Sustainable tourism\... seems to say, \"Keep everything the way it is.\" We needed a term that would bring the ecotourism principle out of its **niche** and cover everything that makes travel interesting. Geotourism is defined as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place the environment, heritage, **aesthetics**, culture, and well-being of local people. Q: What happens when tourism is badly managed? Tourtellot: It can destroy a place. Coasts, for example, are extremely vulnerable. Coasts are important for biodiversity because much of marine life has its nurseries in coastline areas. So development there is a highly sensitive issue. Same thing goes for attractive mountainsides like the Rockies of the West. That\'s why when development occurs on a large scale, it\'s important that it be \... well planned. Q: What happens to a destination after years of heavy traffic? Tourtellot: Here\'s an example---at the Petrified Forest \[in northeast Arizona\], it\'s very easy to bend down, pick up a little bit of petrified wood, and pocket it. People think it\'s only one **pebble** in such a vast area, so it makes no difference if they take it. But since millions of visitors over the years have thought the same thing, all of the pebbles have disappeared-meaning there\'s been an enormous loss of what makes the Petrified Forest so special. So, when you\'re talking about an entire location like a town, a stretch of coastline, a wild area, or a national park, it\'s important to listen to park rangers when they tell you where to go and not go, what to do and not do. Q: What happens when tourism is managed well? Tourtellot: It can save a place. When people come \[to\] see something special and unique to an area-its nature, historic structures, great cultural events, beautiful landscapes, even special cuisine they are enjoying and learning more about a destination\'s geographical character\... Travelers spend their money in a way that helps maintain the geographical diversity and distinctiveness of the place they\'re visiting. It can be as simple as spending your money at a little restaurant that serves a regional dish with ingredients from local farmers, rather than at an international **franchise**? that serves the same food you can get back home.