Ten Takeaways

1. The definition of ecotourism

Martha Honey defines ecotourism as: “...ecotourism is travel to pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and (often) small scale. It helps educate the traveller, provides funds for conservation, directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, and and fosters respect for different cultures and for human rights” (Honey 33). This definition brought to light the fact that ecotourism involves much more than just travel to areas of ecological interest. Before reading this definition, I did not associate ecotourism with benefitting local people, when this is arguably the most important aspect of ecotourism. This definition served as a guide for evaluating every ecotourism destination, and helped guide us in our own research projects.

Infographic depicting some core values of ecotourism

2. The differences between ecotourism, ecotourism lite and turnstile tourism

Ecotourism fits Martha Honey’s definition, as well as truly embodies each part of the definition throughout the trip. It is important to recognize that just because an organization states that a trip or experience is ecotourism does not mean that it is. Ecotourism lite is closer to turnstile tourism, but with an environmental or socially conscious twist.  “When poorly planned, unregulated, and overhyped, ecotourism lite, like mass tourism or even traditional nature tourism can bring only marginal financial benefits but serious environmental or social consequences” (Honey 69). However, the experience is not truly ecotourism, and only has the exterior appearance of following one or more of Honey’s guidelines. Turnstile tourism is a classic trip to Disney World, a stint on a cruise ship, or a stay on Atlantis. This kind of tourism does not benefit host countries, and is oftentimes very socially and environmentally damaging.  

Cruise Ship leaving behind waste and pollution

3. The negative impact that tourism has on indigenous communities

There have been many examples throughout our studies on indigenous communities being negatively impacted by tourism. For example, the Maasai people of Tanzania. “From the outset, conservation organizations in Europe and the United States weighed in to build an increasingly powerful lobby to expel the Maasai, arguing that the Serengeti was too fragile and its water too scarce to support both humans and wildlife” (Honey 220). Since tourism first began, Westerners have been taking advantage of indigenous peoples in the name of tourism and in the interest of generating revenue. Although ecotourism is being practiced now more than ever, this still remains an issue. Oftentimes, there is a “get on board or get out” mindset that gives local people no choice but to participate in tourism or forfeit their land.

Maasai Women, Tanzania

4. If done correctly, implementing ecotourism opportunities in developing nations can positively impact the economy.

True ecotourism benefits the host country in many ways. One of the most important ways for tourism to impact a community is economically. When chain hotels and restaurants are brought to countries in the name of tourism, money from these vacation hot spots flows out of the host country, and back to large corporations in the West. In order for ecotourism to truly be at play, the majority of profits must go to the host country. This was seen in the development of tourism in Iceland. When tourists began to flock to Iceland in pursuit of experiencing the natural beauty, it impacted the economy in a positive way.  “In this same half decade period, there was a complete restructuring of the economy. Tourism surpassed fishing (previously one of the country’s largest industries), and quickly became the predominant form of economic activity” (Santos).

Iceland through an ice lens

5. Voluntourism as an alternative to turnstile tourism- if done correctly

Voluntourism, if done right, can be a great way to travel while meeting the standards of ecotourism. When volunteering abroad, it is important that those doing the volunteering do not assume that what they are doing is inherently helpful because they have good intentions. It is always important to evaluate the impact of the trip throughout the volunteering experience and ensure that the community is truly and need, and truly wants the services being offered by volunteers. In her project about voluntourism in India, Holly discussed how voluntourism aligns with the standards of ecotourism. “Voluntourism, volunteering while traveling as a tourist, turned out to be a great case of ecotourism, and one that makes me want to look into more ecotourism-resulting voluntourism in the future. According to The International Ecotourism Society’s (TIES) page on voluntourism, “You don't need to be affluent, or be able to afford months of free time, to be part of something meaningful and rewarding that helps empower local people, support communities, and enhance skills, capacity and knowledge through travel” (“Voluntourism”)” (Francis).

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, India

6. Sometimes the best way to protect a fragile place is to stay home.

In the case of many remote locations of ecological interest, such as the Galapagos, tourism can be very detrimental. “To date, biodiversity in the Galapagos has survived well, but the long-term future of the biodiversity of the islands may well depend on decisions about sustainable development that are made during the next few years” (Honey 125). This goes for many places around the globe that have been environmentally and socially degraded by even the most well-intentioned tourists. It is important as an ecotourist to recognize the risk of traveling to remote locations, and to know the limits of ecotourism, even if that means not visiting a place of interest. Some ecosystems or societies are simply too fragile to handle influxes of tourists, even if those tourists are practicing ecotourism.

Turtle, Galapagos

7. As a tourist, it can be difficult to tell when travel is really ecotourism rather than ecotourism lite.

It is often difficult to decipher whether or not a tourism opportunity is actually ecotourism or is just being branded that way to draw in more revenue. This is especially prevalent on cruise ships, where cruise lines often have awards claiming “environmental stewardship” while not at all practicing those ideals.“ Currently luxury liners can dump sewage once they are three miles offshore, and can release other wastewater almost anywhere except in Alaskan waters. Ships carrying upwards of three thousand passengers and crew each produce about thirty thousand gallons of raw sewage a day-as much as a small city” (Honey 50). Some of these ecotourism “certifications” are focused only on profit, and not for bringing recognition to small businesses actually carrying out ecotourism. Ecotourism lite can draw in members of the public who are not well-versed on ecotourism, and create a false idea of what it means to travel sustainably.

Cruise ship cartoon 

8. It is always important to not just plan an ecotourism trip, but to reevaluate every step of the way on the trip to make sure that the trip is truly benefiting the community.

Booking a trip with a company that claims to be dedicated to ecotourism, even if extensive research has been done is just one step of truly carrying out ecotourism, does not always guarantee an ecotourism experience. It is important for a traveller to have autonomy in evaluating ecotourism experiences, as this is the only way to ensure ecotourism is being carried out. Being a conscious traveller is always important, as it ensures that even if something goes wrong and the trip is not ecotourism, then that traveller will have the knowledge and resources to turn things around and reassess the situation. Education is one of the most important aspects of ecotourism, and should be begun long before the trip does. “It will take much stronger grass-roots movements, combines with alliances among activists, experts, and NGOs and carefully planned and implemented national ecotourism strategies, to curb the power of the conventional tourism industry” (Honey 447). This quote demonstrates how strong of a hold the conventional tourism industry has on the tourism market, and therefore, how important it is for travellers to do their own research and never blindly trust any organization.

Tourists in Alaska 

9. Biodomes are a way to create an ecotourism experience in an urban landscape, and bring nature to areas where it may not be available.

Biodomes are a way to bring places of ecological interest to places where ecotourism could be possible in every other part of the definition, but may be lacking in the aspect of nature. Biodomes are centers of environmental education that instill an interest in nature and ecology to visitors. However, it is important to ensure that the trip as a whole follows the criteria of ecotourism. This is something I discussed in my research project: “Overall, it is important to analyze the five criteria for ecotourism in order to understand what makes biodomes such a unique aspect of tourism. In order for a trip to a biodome to be considered a true ecotourism experience, one must go beyond the dome and ensure that they are making a positive impact on the surrounding communities and environment by being conscious about lodging, dining, shopping, and travel methods”. Although there are concerns and criticisms surrounding animal welfare in biodomes, since biodomes are relatively new, there is research being done globally about the best way to sustain life within the domes.

Biodome in Montreal 

10. Ecotourism has a long way to go, but is an up and coming way of travel that has a lot of potential to change the way we travel.

Although ecotourism is still a relatively new development in travel, it is becoming increasingly popular, and has the potential to replace turnstile tourism for many travellers. Ecotourism is not only more sustainable, but more fulfilling than turnstile tourism, and offers more life experiences that could not be found in traditional travel.  “Well-run ecotourism is the only option, the only foreign exchange-earning activity that, if done with care and controls, does not lead to irreparable damage to the environment. In other instances, ecotourism is clearly more profitable than the alternative economic activities” (Honey 444). As people become more educated on the environmental and social impacts of tourism, more and more travellers are seeking alternatives. This leads those travellers to ecotourism, and creates the potential for a new take on traveling, and an increase in ecotourists around the globe.

Hanging Bridge, Costa Rica 


Works Cited

Honey, Martha. Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? Island Press, 2008.

Zachary Newman Ecotourism top 10

"Although the travel industry did not originate the concept of ecotourism, it quickly adopted it,
popularized it, mainstreamed it - and watered it down" (Honey 25). We often overlook how a
concept is use beyond its original intent. This results in people misunderstanding the point of
things like Ecotourism. If people were to look at this watered down version of it they would think
that ecotourism just means environmentally themed tourism. Clearing up these misconceptions
is critical if we want to improve the Ecotourism experience.  

“Ecotourism lite is propelled by travel agents, tour operators, airlines, and cruise lines, large hotel
and resort chains, and international tourism organizations which promote quick, superficially “green”
visits within conventional packages” (Honey, 68). While it is true that these light programs do not
actually fit with the spirit of Ecotourism they are not all bad. They at least are doing something to
promote the environment. While we can wish all day that they would be perfectly how we want that
can’t happen. We have to learn to make dew with what we have.

“These displaced people have created a new class of ‘conservation refugees’ found on every
continent but Antartica” (Honey, 98). Everything has an impact even protecting the world. We can
try to do our best for everyone but that runs the risk of not doing enough.This becomes an interesting
question of how much are we willing to risk for the world to become a better place. Doing nothing is
just as much a choice as doing something.

“Ecotourism has also precipitated immigration, increased pressures on the ecosystem and civic
infrastructures, and raised the risk introduced alien species” (Honey 122). Just because we think
something is good does not make it infauable. It is important to take into account the dangers involved
in any action or program. If we do not do this then we run the risk of doing more harm than good.
Once we have looked at a problem it its entirety we can act.

“While ecotourism has brought more income and opportunities, it has also increased social and
economic inequality” (Honey 190). Ecotourism is a double edged sword, it provides great benefits
but at a risk. While as I mentioned before we must look at everything sometimes we have to risk the
bad things for improvement. If we move to slow more problems can occur. What matters is the
people who make the decision are aware.

"By 1987, tourism had become Kenya's number-one foreign exchange earner, surpassing both tea
and coffee" (Honey 296).  Ecotourism can be an incredibly profitable industry if it is done correctly.
This industry can bring in wealth to locations that normally could not get it without industrializing.
This means that economics success is no longer directly tied to industrial power. If we are able to
ring this more into everyday life we will be able to protect our world and still grow.

“It was only with the advent of colonial game reserves that indigenous Africans began to view
wildlife with hostility" (Honey 350). This is a prime example of what will happen if we addressed
this problem incorrectly. Actions without thought will lead to pain and people resisting ecological
improvements in the future. Honestly I did not go into this thinking about how native culture plays
a part in Ecotourism. The consideration of natives is something that is very important as they are
just as much people as anyone else.

“Even more significant than the increased numbers of ecotourists is the shift over the last three
decades in the paradigm and in the discourse on both protected area management and on nature
tourism” (Honey 443). For large amounts of change a shift in how we see the world is very important.
This is because of leaver points and a shift in paradigm is the highest of them. Also large amounts
of people is not necessarily a good thing as they can do more harm to an area then good. It is more
important that people know how to treat the environment then simply enjoy it.

“There is frequently a blurring of the boundaries between nature tourism and the more
multidimensional concept of ecotourism” (Honey 76). Clearing up misconceptions is important in
many fields for all sorts of reasons. This is particularly true in regards to the environment due to the
large number of misconceptions their are about it. Things like Ecotourism and climate change are
often not understood by the common person so it is up to us to help them understand. Honestly the
biggest thing that I will take away from this class is how important it is for people who do know more
to explain it in ways that people can understand.

“For much of the past forty years, and in the past decade more than ever, many have predicted that
wildlife tourism will help to pull Tanzania out of poverty” (Honey, 217). This is a very optimistic
thought and is one that can be applied to the world not just Tanzania. Ecotourism can do a lot of
benefit for our world if we do it correctly. While by itself it will not save our world there's nothing
wrong with looking on the bright side. We must always be striving for improvement even if it will
only slow the inevitable destruction of our world.

Ecotourism top 10

Griffin Cummings
Ecotourism
Williams
04/30/18
Top Ten Takeaways
1) Ecotourism is a new concept to me. I had never heard of it before this semester, but surprisingly, I’ve heard it since, outside of this class. Martha Honey defines ecotourism as “travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and often small scale. It helps educate the traveler, provides funds for conservation, directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, and fosters a respect for different cultures and for human rights,” (Honey, 33) this is a multi-faceted approach to a inter-disciplinary problem. Ecotourism is both a means and an end for a country: it is a noble goal to have, but at the end of the day it is a method that facilitates economic and cultural growth without ousting the natural communities.

Vinales Valley, Cuba

2) True ecotourism is very hard to identify, with many organizations claiming to be sustainable travel organizations, when in reality they represent something closer to turnstile tourism. This could kill the movement in it’s infancy, as at the core of ecotourism “is the support of locally owned business, local hiring, and local purchasing, all practices that are circumscribed under the international trade agreements and organizations,” (Honey, 34) this massive push for international travel companies in growing nations can permanently cripple a nations ability to provide sustainable travel options. The second issue with tat is that often these travel styles fall short of sustaining the local culture.

South Africa

3) Ecotourism is a relatively new concept for an industry that is hundreds, if not thousands of years old. The growing nature of the travel industry can be both the biggest aid and the greatest hinderance to the continued expansion of ecotourism: “the tourism industry is dominated by transnational corporations that are, on one hand, becoming increasingly interlinked and consolidated, on the other, spreading around the world and penetrating new markets,” (Honey, 38) if it is not clear, the fact that these markets are so connected with one another is a great boon to ecotourism, if they can create change in one major player. The downside is that it will be hard to make one organization switch before the others. Because this is such a growing market and such a new concept, it can be easily picked up by potential ecotourist providers. This makes it an attractive solution to many ugly issues.

Stone Town, Zanzibar

4) Ecotourism is a threat to the old guard of travel, the all-inclusive resort trips, or the massive international hotel chains. This movement is a threat to the old cruise ship types of travel that have quickly defined the word tourist over the past one hundred years. Can they exist together? No, I do not think they could. I think Martha Honey Puts it well, “…mass tourism industry, is anathema to the concepts and practices of ecotourism. These high-volume, prepaid, packaged holidays—with their celebration of sun-and-fun, overconsumption, self-indulgence, and brief ports of call to allow toasts to buy local souvenirs or duty-free First-World luxuries—are mirror opposite of the small-scale, locally owned, culturally sensitive precepts of ecotourism,” (Honey, 49) who knew Honey had so much venom? In all seriousness, this quote highlights the inherent inability for old tourism and ecotourism to coexist. One cannot exist in the same place as the other.

5) In light of the issues with traditional, mass tourism, another thing to be aware of is ‘ecotourism lite’, which can be seen in the example of Maho bay, where a service was claiming to be a sustainably, ecotourist destination in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. While appearances may support this, there is much more to ecotourism than appearing sustainable, even if you are low impact. “Ecotourism should meet four criteria: (1) it should be designed, built and operated so that it leaves a “soft imprint”; (2) it should contribute money to the local economy and local community services; (3) it should be financially to environmental protection; and (4) it should educate visitors and members of the local community,” (Honey, 74) falling short of that isn’t terrible, but it makes it hard to be a ‘true’ ecotourist service, rather than a ‘green’ travel service. It is important to make the distinction between things that say they are ecotourist, and true ecotourism.

6) So while there is a great responsibility for the country and the organization to be sustainable and qualify as something under ecotourism, much of it actually falls onto the travelers themselves. If we actively put forward our willingness to pay for ecotourism, our willingness to be sure about the companies we travel with, more organizations will be tempted to access that market by switching over to ecotourist practices. We need to be thoughtful and deliberate with our money when we travel. Thankfully: “about 13 percent of all  US outbound leisure travelers could be considered ecotourists… In Europe 20 to 30 percent of travelers are aware if the needs ad values of sustainable tourism…In Germany 65 percent of travelers expect environment quality,” (Honey, 77) so we see more and more people becoming aware of their power as travelers.

7) There is a sort of brutal hypocrisy in the ecotourism world. This is seen in the fact that by even traveling to certain places, we are putting them at risk.I would point to Lizzie White’s presentation on Palau, where I believe there was a swimming area with jellyfish, that became a very popular tourist hotspot, so much so that even the sustainable travel to the area was so disruptive that the government needed to step in and shut the area down to the public. I would also point to my own project on the Galapagos, which has some of the best operators in the word in terms of education, there simply is too much traffic in the area for them to continue tourism as it is going. Beyond the environment, cultures too, are infringed upon: “Many of the world’s approximately 350 million indigenous people like in spectacularly beautiful parts of the globe, areas increasingly penetrated by tourism, frequently in the name of ecotourism…these struggles have pitted local communities and indigenous people against their own governments, international development agencies like the World Bank and USAID, and, not infrequently, against the agendas of international conservation organizations,” (Honey, 98), these cultures are forced to be at odds with travel organizations and those who want to preserve natural areas. When our goal is the preservation of both culture and the conservation of the environment, this can be tricky. Being aware of the needs of the local community, be it a local culture or a local natural community, is the only way to institute progressive ecotourist destinations.

8) Ecotourism, well tourism in general, is a great source of revenue for nations to build infrastructure and areas dedicated to conservation. The Galapagos is one of the more obvious areas that use their profits as them. The Ecuadorian government receives around a third of it’s tourism revenue from the Galapagos, and with that money they are interested in continuing research on the islands. The Charles Darwin research station is completely funded off of the tourism o the archipelago. I remember that Viñales in Cuba was almost entirely build up from the money received by tourists. However, “today the state it typically consigned to activities that do not generate income: setting tourism policies, carrying out overseas marketing, educating and training the workforce, establishing natural attractions, national parks and reserves, marine areas, waterfalls…,” (Honey, 106) the reason for the switch is actually due to the amount of potential profits made by the sector, the government will full control over the area could reap the benefits while the workers didn’t see much. This allows the benefits not to solely be delegated by the gov’t.

9) Ecotourist mentalities are spreading across the world, and many nations are seeing it as a solution to many growing issues, namely the massive losses in natural area, the dropping levels of economic gain from local areas, the lack of money from international travel organization, and so on. Personally I believe that ecotourism is also extremely useful for bridging the gaps between cultures. Therefore I find it surprising that the United States, which is the biggest exporter of tourists is also known as one of the least tolerant of other cultures. We have had at least 30.1 million international travelers one year (Honey, 397), but we don’t see all of those people standing up and advocating for international cooperation within our country. I want to see that change occur.

10) Creating ecotourism is on us, as citizens of a growing world. We need to create anchors for sustainable travel, to have a port where travelers who are aware of their impact can visit, learn and experience the joy of international travel without having to undercut the peoples and the environments of the nation they are visiting. This will take people working hard, communicating with each other across seas, to come up with an experience that from start to finish, supports local culture, stimulates the economy and also preserve that natural life of the area. Going through this book I think we can see countries all across the world benefitting from this movement. I especially see ecotourism as a boon to the middle-east and Africa, as they are very wild areas that have minimal human development, but hey have a strong need for economic stability. They are in a perfect place to take their future out of the hands of the IMF or the World bank, and bring it into their own power. However to see this change really take place I think we need more participation from the governments. both the travelers home country and the destination of travel, the governments should be pushing for ecotourism, as it breeds better cooperation, among other things. “Although nearly every country is nowadays promoting ecotourism, in reality much of the implementation has been left to the private sector, with little planning or control exerted by national governments,” (Honey, 446), if we see federal support reenforce the private sector, I think there is a much better chance for ecotourism to occur, while avoiding the pratfalls of the past.

Ecotourism: Ultimate Top 10

Martha Honey Source

1.    Ecotourism’s Definition is a Bit Ambiguous

Megan Epler Wood and Martha Honey have given promising definitions of ecotourism, but the general concept is still ambiguous. This results in a lot of misconceptions about what is really ecotourism and causes the term to be thrown around when it possibly shouldn’t be. By combining Wood and Honey’s definitions, our class determined the best definition was the following: “Ecotourism is tourism in 1) places of ecological interest; 2) involving responsible travel to “natural areas” that 3) conserves the environment, 4) improves the well-being of local people, and 5) creates shared knowledge and understanding through interpretation and education of all involved (staff, travelers, and community residents).” If the definition was more universal and well known, it would prevent the misuse of the term’s goals.

2.    Revenue from Ecotourism Often Exceeds that of a more Exploitative One

Whale Watching Photo Source

“A study in Iceland found that the economic value of whale watching worldwide is $1 billion, far more than any financial gain that would come from hunting” (Honey 23). The economic benefit from ecotourism is often much higher than practices that were exploitative like trophy hunting or logging. This enables a higher use of ecotourism because it has major potential to provide more revenue to the local economy while being much more responsible and sustainable. However, it has to be implemented and maintained well to achieve the intended benefits.

3.    Many Countries are Starting to Rely on Ecotourism

For example, “In the Galapagos, more than almost anywhere in the world, the only viable commercial activity is high-quality, limited, and carefully monitored ecotourism” (Honey 136). With the revenue increase and high potential of ecotourism, there are some places that have started to rely on this type of tourism to support themselves. Easter Island is another example of a society that depends on the number of tourists that visit. This both shows how powerful ecotourism can be as well as how crucial it is that we continue to work with and perfect the concept of ecotourism.

Costa Rica National Parks Map Source

4.    National Parks Have Increased with Ecotourism

In general, the increase in ecotourism has also created a direct increase in national parks and reserves worldwide. “Today, more than 25% of Costa Rica’s territory…is under some form of protection” (Honey 169). The ecotourism industry has encouraged and founded new protected areas of land which is both important for the growing industry as well as the environment. National parks and reserves serve as the foundation for ecotourism and also is essential for conserving biodiversity and mitigating the damages we have already done to our planet.

5.    Natives have been Pushed off of Their Land

Maasai Fighting Eviction Source

Even though protecting land is highly important, the methods used to take the land for the park was very irresponsible in many instances, as native groups were often forced off of the land that had lived on for generations. For example, “If there is a single place in Tanzania that embodies the tensions between wildlife conservation, local rights and development, and tourism investment, it is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area” (Honey 237). There, they hurt the Maasai and “[reduced] the Maasai in NCA to the status of squatters in their own home” (Honey 239). This created a huge ethical problem surrounding the ways new reservations were formed and executed.

6.    Environmental Degradation Has Increased in Some Places

Even though a main focus is put on making the tourism industry more environmentally and sustainable, there have been places where ecotourism actually increased the negative impact of humans. In Kenya, “some donors and conservationists voiced concern that Western was concentrating too heavily on community projects in the buffer zones and neglecting conservation, protection, infrastructure improvement, and income-generation priorities” (Honey 311). While it is important that all of the ecotourism principles are in mind, having eco-hotels throw all of their trash outside in a heap is defeating the purpose of developing the ecotourism industry.

7.    Stricter Standards of Ecotourism are Necessary

According to Martha Honey, one of the ecotourism’s shams is “the growth of private parks […] the continuing leakage of profits away from ecotourism projects all highlight a continuing need for governments to develop and enforce clear standards, guidelines, and monitoring procedures” (447). There is a clear need for more explicit standards and procedures to help prevent any misuse of the industry. By using models of other countries, stricter guidelines are feasible to be made and would likely make ecotourism around the world more successful. We cannot meet the industry’s goals if we do not have set measures on how to achieve them properly. The video above is great for expressing the general guidelines of ecotourism, but it is lacking in a lot of the facets and needs to be greatly expanded upon.

Ecotourism Lite Sign Source

8.    Ecotourism Lite and Greenwashing are Commercializing Ecotourism

“Much of what is marketed as ecotourism amounts to only ecotourism lite, which offers tidbits of nature or minor environmental reforms such as not changing the sheets daily” (Honey 443). Much like the term sustainability, ecotourism and its meaning have been watered down due to improper use of it. If people go throwing the term around, especially in marketing their business, consumers will have a much harder time deciphering what is true and what is lite. Not washing the sheets every day is a step in the right direction, but nowhere close to being considered ecotourism. 

9.    The Ecotourism Industry has been Close to Great in Some Places

South African National Parks Map Source

There were no perfect case studies discussed in class because ecotourism can inherently be more perfected, but there were a few instances that were very successful and promising for the industry as a whole. “South Africa has built some of the world’s top scientifically managed, best-policed, most luxurious, least expensive, and most exclusive national parks” (Honey 348). There have been issues within South Africa’s industry, but they are by far one of the better examples from Martha Honey’s research. This makes it possible for other countries trying to boost ecotourism to be able to look at how South Africa runs their industry and using tips from a country that has already gone through a significant amount of progress.

10.  There is Still Hope

It is easy to look at case of studies of ecotourism and feel that it is not worth the tribulations, but it is worth developing further. Countries that struggled to implement the industry initially have already been bettering their systems and recognizing their own failures. With anything, a bit of failure is normally very constructive, and it can be the same for ecotourism. “It will take much stronger grassroots movements, combines with alliances among activists, experts, and NGOs and carefully planned and implemented national ecotourism strategies, to curb the power of the conventional tourism industry” (Honey 447). There are many measures that will have to be taken, but it is possible.

Sources:

Honey, Martha. Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? 2nd ed., Island Press, 2008.