Republic of the Philippines

LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY

Tacloban City, Leyte
College of Management and Entrepreneurship

Module 1

The

“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature, it will never fail you. “

TOUR el 103 ECOTOURISM

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE NO.
Course Information 2
Overview 3
Natures Test (Diagnostic Tests) 4
Key Terms 5
Activity 5
Analysis 6
Circle of Life (Abstraction) 6
Troop Activity 16
(Reinforcement Activity)
Alpha Activity 17
(Metacognition Activity)
References 17
Answer Key 17

Course Information
Course Description: Ecotourism
Course Code: Tour (el) 103
Pre-requisite Course: None
Course Credit: 3 units
Year Level: 1st Year BS Tourism Management
Students
Semester Offered: 1st Semester

Overview
In this module you will be able to narrate the brief history and understand the definition
of ecotourism and as to why it is called a sustainable form of tourism. You will be able
to identify the benefits of ecotourism in the community and the economy and also its
positive &negative impacts to our environment. We will be able to identify and explain
briefly its Key Principles and by the end of the module we will be able to critically
analyzethe main factors concerning the Subject.

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 Learning Goals
1. Understand the definition ecotourism and the rationale of ecotourism development
2. Identify the Pros and Cons of ecotourism development
3. Enumerate and adapt the principles of Ecotourism
4. Compare ecotourism with other forms of tourism

Here is the suggested deadline for submission of Activities:

Module 1

Monday – Thursday Schedule Tuesday – Friday Schedule

October 5 / October 8 October 6 / October 9
October 12 / October 15 October 13 / October 16
October 19 / October 22 October 20 / October 23

Learning Activities Estimated Time Suggested Deadline

Self-Check (Diagnostic Test)
Work on it (Activity)
Practice the Knowledge
(Application)
Friendly Support
(Group Activity)
Individual Mentality
(Metacognition Activity)
Allotment Of Submission
10 minutes October 5 & October 8
October 6 & October 9
15 minutes October 5 & October 8
October 6 & October 9
30 minutes October 12 & October 15
October 13 & October 16
1 hour October 19 & October 22
October 20 & October 23
1 hour October 19 & October 22
October 20 & October 23

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 Nature’s Test
TRUE or FALSE. Write True if the statement is correct and False if the statement is
incorrect.
______1. Ecotourism provides a non-extractive means for making money out of
sensitivenatural areas while having the potential to uplift the well-being of host
communities.
______2. A country is called a megadiversity hotspot if it has very few species of
animals and Plants.
______3. Ecotourism is always a sustainable form of tourism.
______4. Executive order (EO) 111 series of 1999, which was issued by then President
Joseph Estrada, Created the National Ecotourism Development Council.
______5. Five percent from the 50% of travel tax collection accruing to the Tourism
Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA)
______6.Ecotourism became popular with the growing strength of the environmental
movements in 2005
_____7.Hector Ceballos-Lascurain is a Mexican architect, environmentalist and
international ecotourism consultant.
_____8.Operations consist of the community, Private groups and Government
_____9.Maximize physical, social, behavioural, and psychological impacts.
_____10. Ruining the Natural Habitats is one of the important benefits of ecotourism.

Key Terms
Agritourism- involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that
brings visitors to a farm or ranch.
Cultural Heritage - is an expression of the ways of living developed by a
community and passed on from generation to generation, including
customs, practices, places, objects, artistic expressions and values.
Ecology - the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms
to one another and to their physical surroundings.
Ecotourist - a person who goes on an organized holiday that is designed
so that the tourist damages the environment as little as possible,

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 especially when some of the money they pay is used to protect the local
environment and animals
Endemic - belonging or native to a particular people or country
Handicrafts - a particular skill of making decorative objects by hand.
Indigenous - produced, growing, living, or occurring natively or
naturally in a particular region or environment
Mass Tourism - refers to the movement of a large number of
organized tourists to popular holiday destinations for recreational
purposes.

Jungle Activity 1-A

Instruction: watch the video (Ecotourism - A Sustainable Way to Travel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWFSx23DqY8
Based on the video you’ve watched, what makes ecotourism a sustainable form of
tourism? And as a student taking up the subject what can you help in order to save the
environment.

Jungle Activity 1-B

Instruction: what are the notable negative effects of ecotourism in your locality? And as
a student taking up the subject what can you help in order to save your environment.

Grade will be based on the following criteria:

Grammar – 25%
Organization of Thought – 25%
Content – 50%

Circle of Life
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A Brief History
Ecotourism became popular with the growing strength of the environmental movements
in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Ecotourism was seen as an alternative to Mass Tourism,
which was associated with negative social and environmental impacts. Ceballos-
Lascurain emphasized the value of ecotourism for environmental conservation. The
emergence of sustainable development paradigm(WCED, 1987) contributed to the
popularity of sustainable forms of tourism, which include Ecotourism. Since then,
ecotourism incorporated ethical concerns for the welfare of Indigenous People, Social
well-being of local residents, and responsible travel behavior.

The Definition
There are at least 85 different definitions of ecotourism but we will focus on one of the
earliest and most popular definition:
Ecotourism (Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, 1983)
Tourism that involves travelling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with the
specific object of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and
animals, as well as any other existing cultural aspects (both past and present) found in
these areas.
To further discuss ecotourism is a form of tourism that fosters learning experiences and
appreciation of the naturalenvironment of some component thereof, within its associate
cultural context. It has the appearance, in the context of best practice, of being
environmentally andsocioculturally sustainable, preferably in a way that enhances the
natural and culturalbase of the destination and promotes the viability of the operation.

Hector Ceballos-Lascurain is a Mexican

architect, environmentalist and international
ecotourism consultant. Hector has performed
research and provided consultations in more than
70 countries worldwide on all aspects of
ecotourism planning and development, including
the architectural design and construction of
ecolodges and other environmentally friendly
facilities. He has co-authored more than 130
books, reports and articles and is credited with
coining the term ‘ecotourism‘ and its preliminary
definition in July 1983.

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 Jungle Activity 2
DIRECTION:
1. Site 5 (five) Ecotourism Attractions found in the Philippines
2. Discuss briefly how they relate to the Definition of Ecotourism found in
the module.
3. Provide pictures
4. Send your activity to the email address provided by your instructor.

Grade will be based on the following criteria:

Grammar – 25%
Organization of Thought – 25%
Content – 50%

Factors contributing to Ecotourism

Environment
Avoiding ecological degradation is a vital component of ecotourism. When
visiting natural areas the eco-traveler remains on designated trails, or within
designated visitor areas to minimize environmental damage. Ecotourists leave nothing
behind and take nothing out of natural areas. Respecting the native wildlife and
vegetation, and refusing to purchase items made from endangered species, such as
tortoise shell or ivory, supports natural resource sustainability. Once back home, the
environmentally-sensitive traveler has the power to further ecotourism concepts by
sharing their positive experiences with family and friends.
Sustainable environmental practices reduce or eliminate damage to natural ecosystems
(i.e., flora, fauna, air, water, soil) while also providing benefits to the natural
environment (e.g., conservation, protection, enhancement of visible landscape) (Bien
2006). Such practices include conducting environmental impact assessments,
minimizing visual impacts insite development, using grey water, using no pesticides,
composting kitchen waste, using renewable energy, using a "carry-in carry-out" policy
for litter and waste, and setting limits on group size.
Culture
Eco-travelers contribute to local economies by ensuring their patronage
benefits political, environmental and social fabrics. Choosing green lodging certified by
a credible authority, and supporting enterprises paying workers a fair wage helps
meet this criteria. By respecting local culture and customs, and buying local products,
food and services, travelers strengthen a region's sustainability. In turn, engaging
with local resources and people provides travelers with a rich and memorable
experience. Sustainable sociocultural practices do not harm the social structure of the
local community or the cultural heritage of the destination. Practices such as using

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products/services purchased locally, tourists being informed of ways to minimize their
negative impact on a local community/lifestyle prior to visiting, and not using locally
sourced resources in short supply or sites with restricted access due to cultural
sensitivity (Charters et al. 2003) provide multiple sociocultural benefits. Such benefits
include provision of opportunities for access to resources, awareness of local culture
and host community, and empowerment of local communities in decision-making.
Operations
Running a sustainable operation can lead to higher customer satisfaction. In our
daily lives, we are confronted with growing environmental, social and economic
challenges. People these days are more and more aware of climate change, the value of
clean air and water, high levels of poverty and the interconnectedness of global
economies, and it may improve their impressions of your business to know that you are
addressing one or more of these areas. While there is growing demand for sustainable
travel, the majority of travelers today may not choose travel destinations solely on the
basis of their ecotourism attributes. Nevertheless, the customers you are most likely to
target are aware of sustainability issues. And as this awareness grows, businesses that
are already operating sustainably will find themselves reaping the benefits from this
changing market. There is no single definition or list of criteria that will make a business
sustainable, and it can be difficult to compare one business to another, as much of it
will depend upon the specific context of the business. For example, is a hotel that has
replaced all of its light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs but has no local involvement
more or less sustainable than one that still uses traditional bulbs but supports the local
hospital and schools? The most sustainable options may vary from destination to
destination. Nevertheless, there are some general criteria that can be used to evaluate
a business, within the three pillars of sustainability (environmental, social and
economic).All the players in the development of nature and heritage tourism are
constrained: government by the lack of competitive managerial capacity; financial
intermediaries by a concern for risk, unfamiliarity with the sector, and the exigencies of
the money market; private developers by a lack of capital, the absence of title or lease
rights to the site, and the need for training in the preparation and presentation of
feasibility studies; and NGOs by a lack of capital and public support. However, with
proper coordination, what each of these three groups lacks could be provided by the
other two.

Governments have traditionally had access to grant and soft-loan funds, which are
inaccessible to private sector investors. However, very often these governments do not
have the technical skills or entrepreneurial drive of profit to fully utilize these funds.
NGOs, on the other hand, often have the expertise required to develop nature and
heritage tourism ventures, but lack the funding basis to become fully established. It
seems, therefore, that governments and the private sector should consider some joint
venture, thus allowing the country to optimize whatever benefits may accrue from that
partnership.

Marketing and Promotion

Local communities, private sector enterprises, NGOs, local authorities and protected
areas, national governments and international agencies all have a role to play in
ecotourism development and marketing.

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• Address local community needs and opportunities. All preparatory conferences have
emphasized the importance of working with local and indigenous communities in
determining the level and type of tourism development in their area and in encouraging
individual entrepreneurship, community-based enterprise and employment opportunities
for local people.
• Recognize the key role of private sector businesses. Fostering and working with
successful private sector operations, encouraging and helping them to meet a
combination of commercial, social and environmental objectives, has proved to be a
sound strategy. It is important to strengthen links between private operators and local
communities. International and incoming tour operators have an important role to play,
not only in promoting ecotourism but also in advising on product development and the
overall quality of a destination, relating this to customer requirements.
• Strengthen networking between small enterprises and projects. There was a frequent
call for small ecotourism enterprises to work together, to strengthen their marketing
outreach and encourage common standards. Examples vary from associations of village
community ecotourism products in a number of Asian and African countries, to branded
small farm-based accommodation enterprises in Europe with central booking services.
Two conferences put forward the concept of local clusters of ecotourism initiatives,
thereby establishing a critical mass of product in one area which would provide a
composite visitor experience, be more able to attract business and justify investment in
supporting infrastructure.
• Recognize protected areas as focal points for ecotourism products and marketing.
Often parks and other protected areas provide the main draw for visitors, creating an
opportunity for local communities to gain economic benefit through the provision of
facilities and services. The relationship between protected area authorities and local
communities and tourism enterprises can be a critical one. There are various examples
of stakeholder groups or wider liaison forums attached to national or nature parks,
enabling the park to influence standards, marketing messages and new projects, while
also supporting and coordinating enterprises and reflecting their needs. The quality of a
park’s own facilities and services, and the relationship between visitor management and
conservation policies, is obviously of major importance in its own right. Product
development, marketing and promotion of ecotourism: Summary report 4
• Increase support from national and local government for product development and
marketing of ecotourism. Priorities may include infrastructure improvement, including
sustainable transport, and featuring ecotourism more strongly in destination and
thematic promotional campaigns. Understanding ecotourism markets The preparatory
conferences recognized the importance of a realistic market assessment when
developing and promoting ecotourism products.
• Use more market research. There was a general agreement that not enough is known
about ecotourism markets and more research is needed. This has been partly
addressed by WTO studies of the ecotourism market in the seven main generating
countries, prepared for the International Year and presented at most preparatory
conferences. These studies used quite a narrow definition of ecotourism, characterized
by its size, impacts, educational components as well as visitor interest in nature and
culture in natural areas. Results have pointed to this being a small niche market yet
strongly growing. Although specialist tour operators are important in this market, the
majority of ecotourists are individual travelers making their own arrangements.

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• Take a broad view of the market, recognizing different segments. Many individual
enterprises and destinations have suggested that they are attracting a range of
different types of visitor, including people enjoying an ecotourism experience as part of
a more general holiday, domestic tourists and schools’ groups as well as more specialist
nature tourism niche markets. More informed market segmentation will enable products
and promotional strategies to be adapted to different expectations and requirements.
• Study current visitor flows and local market conditions. The pattern and distribution
of tourism demand in the area, the performance of comparable operations, and the
strengths and weaknesses of the location, should be carefully assessed, before product
development takes place.
Key components of ecotourism products
The composition of ecotourism products should vary in order to satisfy different market
segments and local conditions. However, some general priorities were identified at the
preparatory conferences.
• Address quality, authenticity and security. Throughout the preparatory conferences,
the importance of these three attributes was underlined. Quality does not necessarily
mean luxury, but attention to detail and understanding customer needs. Authenticity is
about meeting a visitor aspiration of ‘seeing the real thing’ while respecting the
sensitivities of local communities and environments. Security is about visitor safety,
perceived and real, but can also be applied to wider issues of reliability.
• Give top priority to the interpretation of nature and culture. The most essential
component of an ecotourism product is the inherent quality of the landscape and
wildlife. The WTO market studies confirmed this as the main visitor motivation, but
closely followed by the opportunity to meet local people and experience cultural
traditions and lifestyles. Ecotourism is distinguished by providing an experience that is
both educative and enjoyable. Quality of interpretation is of paramount importance;
within this, the value of Product development, marketing and promotion of ecotourism:
Summary report 5 good local guides, who know their subject and how to put it over,
has been strongly emphasized.
• Design and manage service facilities to maximize sustainability. Although not the
driving force in an ecotourism offer, accommodation, catering, and opportunities to
make purchases are essential components of the product. There is a whole host of
planning, design and management issues here that affect viability, environmental
impact, enterprise and employment opportunities for local people, value retained in the
local economy and the quality of the visitor experience. Case studies presented during
the preparatory conferences have demonstrated a wealth of good practice in this area
and a growing body of knowledge internationally, on topics such as: eco-lodge design
and management; village-based accommodation and homestay programs; use of local
produce and traditional dishes; and handicraft production and sales.
• Address destination as well as individual product issues. Successful and sustainable
product development in ecotourism also needs to take account of infrastructure,
environmental management and visitor services in the destination as a whole. For
example, the need for more sustainable transport options to and within the destination
was stressed at the European preparatory conference.
• Relate ecotourism to sustainable activity tourism, where appropriate. Although
ecotourism is clearly distinguished from activity tourism, it is apparent that some

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ecotourists are looking for activities such as hiking or trail riding to complement the
product offer. This appears to be particularly true in mountain areas, in regions like
Europe and Central Asia. In maritime locations, such as small island states, making
activities like diving and yachting more environmentally sustainable was seen as an
issue for ecotourism. Three conferences also raised the controversial question of the
relationship between hunting and ecotourism, recognizing that this activity, when
carefully controlled, can provide resources for wildlife management and raise the
perceived value of certain species within local communities. Technical support for
communities and enterprises In all regions there is a recognized need for local
communities and small enterprises to receive relevant technical support to assist
product development and marketing.
• Provide relevant local training. Locally available skills training is required, covering
guiding, environmental management, customer care, catering, languages, promotion
and information technology. It has also been emphasized that people from indigenous
and local communities should be supported in taking up management positions in
ecotourism. Capacity building of this kind has been assisted by governments, NGOs,
donor agencies, educational institutions and the private sector, often working fruitfully
in partnership. The importance of developing such programs with local people and
private enterprises, to ensure they are tailored to need and have local ownership, has
been stressed. Some projects have demonstrated the advantage of including local
government officials and NGOs in training programs.
• Encourage people to look together at the local resource and at other projects. A
number of conferences pointed to the value of local study tours to raise people’s
awareness of conservation issues and the opportunities of ecotourism. Projects were
also presented where the stimulation and sound practical knowledge came from visits
to successful ecotourism projects elsewhere. There may be opportunities to develop
more twinning and multi-lateral Links between projects. Product development,
marketing and promotion of ecotourism: Summary report 6
• Provide targeted, accessible financial assistance. The important contribution of
microcredit and small grant schemes for ecotourism was demonstrated by a number of
projects, and there has been a call for more financial support that is within the reach of
local entrepreneurs, including resources for marketing. However, one preparatory
conference emphasized the need to avoid developing ecotourism products that will
remain dependent on public subsidy in the long term. Promoting ecotourism messages
and products in general the preparatory conferences have called for more promotion of
ecotourism, while recognizing that the level of promotion of any one location should be
determined by its carrying capacity and take account of the views of the local
community.
• Promote ecotourism as a concept. There is a particular desire to see more active
promotion of the principles and values of ecotourism, to recipient communities and to
the travelling public. There is a need for a stronger international campaign to make
tourists aware of both the harmful and the beneficial impacts of their activities, and
how this depends on their travel choice. This could go beyond simply the generic
message, with promotional support for relevant certification schemes and for activities
such as donating to conservation causes in destinations visited. One conference
emphasized the need to focus on the promotion of ecotourism to young people, as a
receptive audience and the travelers of the future.

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• Grasp the significant opportunity presented by the Internet. The Internet has had a
major impact as a medium for promoting individual ecotourism products and the
considerable potential it presents is widely recognized. It lends itself well to the
ecotourism market, which is particularly responsive to up to date, detailed information
and reports from previous travelers. A cautionary note was sounded about the lack of
consumer trust in making bookings through the Internet, but this is being overcome as
specific sites and brands are becoming better known. The advent of IT based
Destination Management Systems will help to link demand to supply more efficiently.
• Use a range of techniques and partners. Despite the growth in Internet use, there
was general recognition that ecotourism products should continue to use a range of
promotional tools in their marketing, including working with specialist media and tour
operators. There was a strong call for national and local tourist organizations to become
more actively engaged in promoting ecotourism themes and products, in their
publications and through travel fairs and familiarization trips.
• Provide comprehensive and educative information at all stages. The detail and
accuracy of information supplied to visitors in advance of their stay is particularly
important in this sector. Ecotourists need to know what to expect. As well as covering
travel details and facilities, this should include information on the ecology and culture of
the area and how to respect it. Likewise, the quality of information supplied during their
stay, for example by hosts, protected area authorities or local tour operators, can
greatly affect the visitors’ experience and their impact on the local community.
• Create loyal ambassadors. Almost all conferences stressed the importance of ‘word of
mouth’ recommendation as the most potent form of marketing. Providing visitors with a
quality experience, getting feedback from them and maintaining some post-visit
contact, will help to turn them into committed ecotourists and ambassadors for
conservation.
Market
There are several important questions you need to ask yourself about your market and
your product, so that you can more effectively match the two to each other. At a very
basic level, there is a demand side (the customer) and a supply side (the product) to
any ecotourism business, and you need to make sure they match. A fantastic project
will fail if there is no market for it. Conversely, even if there is a huge market for
ecotourism in an area, if your product fails to meet the interests and demands of that
market, it will not succeed. Understanding your market and product will also help you
figure out what makes your business unique. No matter what type of ecotourism
business you are developing, it is rare that you will be the only business of that type in
a particular location. Thus, the key is to fully understand your market and your product
so that you can figure out where to get the most gains from your business. If you are
providing the exact same product or service as your competitors in the exact same
place, you won’t be as successful as if you manage to differentiate yourself in some
way.
The key points in effectively evaluating your market and product include:
Ensuring that there is tourism appeal: Does your site have genuine value for
tourists? Will they want to come?
Does it meet their needs and interests?
Does it provide an authentic experience?
Does your product offer something different or additional?

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 Ensuring that tourism is possible: Does the site have enough potential for
ecotourism?
Are there attractive elements that you can offer?
Can the area accommodate it?
Is there access to the area? Is there adequate transportation and security?
Ensuring that tourism is wanted by the host community: Will the project be
accepted and supported by the local host community?
Does it create value for them?
Ensuring that your product is viable and sustainable: Does it protect and
conserve the local environment?
Does it benefit local communities?
Is it economically viable in the short and long run?

Troop Activity
Group yourselves into 5, search for one Ecotourism Attraction in Leyte or Samar
then describe the site using the important factors given in the module.
Use PowerPoint for this activity and provide picturesor videos. The group will
present to the instructor through a google meet graded recitation on November
11.
Grade will be based on the following criteria:
Presentation – 15 points
Organization of Thought – 15 points
Content – 20 points

Principles of Ecotourism
Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This
means that those who implement, participate in and market ecotourism activities should
adopt the following ecotourism principles:

Minimize physical, social, behavioural, and psychological impacts.

Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
Generate financial benefits for both local people and private industry.

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 Deliver memorable interpretative experiences to visitors that help raise sensitivity
to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climates.
Design, construct and operate low-impact facilities.
Recognize the rights and spiritual beliefs of the Indigenous People in your
community and work in partnership with them to create empowerment.

PROS of Ecotourism

1. Valuable biological Information: Ecotourism provides the opportunity for not

only environmentalists, but also tourists to learn more about the ecosystems, biology,
and geology of a specific location. Knowing the components of an ecosystem can lead
to a better understanding of how to conserve different species and natural formations.
Ecotourism provides an impactful firsthand experience about sustainable living and eco-
friendly practices.

2. Local economic improvement: In some cases, ecotourism provides sustainable

economic growth for countries. Places like Ecuador, Nepal, Madagascar, and Costa Rica
rely on tourists to build their economies. Regular travel and tourism usually returns only
about 20% of revenue back to local communities while ecotourism can return as much
as 95%.
Ecotourism isn’t only about conversing environments; it’s also about sustaining
communities. For example, Madagascar’s government has started promoting its tourism
as an economic strategy to shrink its 81% poverty rate. Although it’s still in the idea
phase, it’s possible that ecotourism could be the answer to their unemployment crisis.

3. Positive impact on community culture: Not only does ecotourism create jobs for
locals, it also promotes and preserves traditional practices. Locally grown food and
crafted goods creates a direct economic and cultural connection between the tourist
and citizen. Ecotourism promotes these cultural traditions rather than altering native
customs to fit specific international norms. Some consider ecotourism to be a means to
end cultural ignorance, stereotyping, and fear in the world through its ability to educate
travelers.

4. Increased environmental awareness: Most ecotourism programs include

educational components about environment preservation. The tourists can help
spread environmental awareness by taking the information they’ve learned and apply it
to their daily lives.

5. Financial benefits toward conservation: When people spend money on

ecotourism, some of it goes toward conservation efforts like reforestation and
endangered species repopulation projects. Essentially, the more money spent on
ecotourism, the easier it will be to finance conservation projects.

6. Natural resource management: In a global economy where many businesses

exploit natural resources for personal gain, ecotourism introduces the idea of natural
resource management. Rather than depleting resources to meet a high demand,
ecotourism suggests adapting a conscientious mindset to extract natural resources in
the most efficient and sustainable way possible.

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CONS of Ecotourism

1. It risks spoiling a region’s ecosystem:

Too many people will be allowed to explore a particular ecosystem and might disturb
the organisms that are living there. In some cases, habitats could be overly loved,
which means that tourists might unsustainably harvest things for souvenirs, trample on
plants and compact soil, which can be bad for certain areas.

2. It can ruin natural habitats:

Highly visited ecotourism destinations will more likely see development and
encroachment in and around the region, which can lead to habitat fragmentation and
destruction, leading to loss of species that depend on their natural habitats. New
structures, pollution, noise and other activities can lead to wildlife disturbances.

3. It can lead to conflicts within the tourism sector:

Activities that come with ecotourism can become a problem for communities if locals
are not doing their part in helping manage them. Typically, this can happen when an
outside ecotourism agency wants to establish tourist activities without the permission of
the locals, leading to conflicts between members of the local people and the industry.
This said, ecotourism must fully involve local communities to be successful.
No matter the intentions, the bottom line with ecotourism is that there will always be
some sort of impact on the local people and ecosystem, including the good and bad. It
would take wise planning, proper ecological management, commitment from the locals
and responsibility of tourists to make it sustainable and work for all.

4. Threats to indigenous cultures:

As a repercussion to relocating native groups, cultures and traditional practices become
threatened. The lack of resources that may come from relocation isn’t the only reason
locals may start to reject ancient practices in order to simply survive. The growing
number of tourists also puts a strain on the freedom of cultural expression. Natives are
seen as a backdrop or prop during tour guides, objectifying culture groups and
encouraging stereotyping.

In less serious cases, the interaction between tourists and locals creates a gradual shift
in culture. The more often native groups are exposed to travelers, the more they learn
and adapt to cultural behavior patterns of the tourists.

5. Illegal practices defeat the cause:

It is natural for eco-tourists to get excited at the sight of cute and exotic wildlife. This
too has some negative implications. To fuel the excitement, locals/guides resort to
some aggressive actions like pulling out a reptile or tying an animal to enable a closer
interaction with the tourists. Often animals are heavily sedated or brutally tamed to
serve various purposes of the tourists. Driven by poverty, locals illegally keep animals to
satisfy the tourists. Cages and enclaves in many wildlife sanctuaries are not up to the
mark where the animals can be animals.

6. Compromised land space:

Ecotourism is gaining popularity and to meet the demands of ecotourists undeveloped
land is being converted into profitable spaces. Resorts and varied types of
accommodation set ups are cropping up disturbing the natural landscape. Too many
tourist footfalls are upsetting the natural wilderness.

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7. Resource crisis:
The growing trend of ecotourism may create water and energy crisis affecting the
marginalized community most. Although ecotourism is aimed at minimizing resource
depletion but too much of it can backfire.

Learn Some More!

Instructions:
1. In your Notebook, write 20 different forms of Tourism.
2. Briefly discuss each.
3. Give one example for each form.
4. Use the following table for your guide.
FORM DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE

5. Answer the question provided:

a. What are the forms of Tourism that are closely related to Ecotourism. Explain
your answer.

Grade will be based on the following criteria:

Grammar – 10%
Organization of Thought – 25%
Content – 65%

References
Cruz, Reil G (2017). ECOTOURISM
Cruz, Zenaida (2013). PRINCIPLES OF TOURISM Part II
Goeldner, Charles and Retchie, Brent (2003). TOURISM: Principles, Practices and
Philosophies, 9th Edition, John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Halloway, J. Christopher (2002).The Business of Tourism, 6 th Edition, Pearson Education
Ltd.
Libsada, Carlos (1998). ECOTOURISM in the Philippine Setting. Bookmark, Inc.

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr339
https://ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism/
https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/2012-032.pdf
https://bsc.smebg.net/ecotourguide/best_practices/articles/files/Product_development.
pdf
https://www.worldtrips.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-ecotourism

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 Answer Key
NATURE’S TEST
1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. True
7. True
8. True
9. False
10. False

Prepared by:

Mary Christine E. De Luna

Jude Anthony L. Gatela

Instructor

Evaluators:

Ariel B. Lunzaga, PhD Evangeline V. Sanchez, DM-HRM Chinchinella S. Bofill, DM

CME Dean HM/TM Program Head International/Local Practicum
Coordinator

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