Saturday, April 28, 2018

TOP 10 REVELATIONS FINAL


Elijah Santos
Dr. Rob Williams
Ecotourism
May 2nd, 2018

TOP TEN TAKEAWAYS
  1. SUPER SEXY ECOTOURISM DEFINITION: My first takeaway from the semester is our definition of ecotourism, “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)”. Though this isn’t a direct quote from the book, I think that our collective definition is almost perfect. When discussing ecotourism in other classes, education and indigenous rights are rarely discussed. However, I think that those are two of the most important pieces of the equation. Without them there's no way, as far as I can tell, for the system to be socially sustainable. You need the social sustainability to maintain ecological sustainability.  
  2. THE DUALITY OF GLOBALIZATION: GATS, "will edge out small, independent enterprises as transnational corporations and their affiliates, with the advantage of financial resources and technology, muscle their way in to control the tourist trade in countries in the South" (35). This directly connects back to our globalization class as well as ecotourism. Ecotourism is a strange beast, because it’s unquestionably a product of globalization, but could simultaneously also counteract some of the effects of globalization. When properly utilized, ecotourism supports local communities, preserves indigenous culture, and conserves the environment, all while encouraging global tourism. It essentially counteracts all of the negative effects that we’ve discussed about globalization, but at the same time needs globalization to thrive. It’s a strange phenomenon, but one that could make the tourism industry more sustainable. 
  3. CAPITALISM + ANTHROPOCENTRISM = GOOD? “What makes sense from an environmental and conservation point of view also saves money” (75). This is one of the strongest arguments FOR ecotourism from a capitalist and anthropocentric standpoint. Conservation for conservation’s sake is often argued against by those who aren’t ecologically minded. However, even the most vehement anti-environmentalists can’t argue with saving money. Though it bothers me greatly, this train of thought could oddly work in favor of conservationists. 
  4. GREENWASHING OF ECOTOURISM LITE: “There is frequently a blurring of the boundaries between nature tourism and the more multidimensional concept of ecotourism” (Honey, 76). Ecotourism is far from simple, and it’s often confused with the multitude of different forms of tourism that exist. Even when explaining the idea of ecotourism to friends and family, they still confuse it with nature tourism, “sustainable” tourism, and ecotourism-lite. There’s an immense greenwashing of the industry, and I think that this is where some of the biggest issues lie. Until there’s a widely agreed upon definition and set of BMP’s for the industry, it’s just going to sort of be a free for all with people making up their own definitions. 
  5. WESTERN INTERVENTION = BAD: “In this fragile natural and political environment, ecotourism is widely recognized as the only viable commercial activity capable of both protecting the resource base and providing sustainable livelihoods” (Honey, 122). This is one of the most common arguments that you hear for ecotourism, and one that actually does hold water. However, it seems that the sustainable livelihoods part of the equation is often ignored. Especially when large (western) corporations come in and build infrastructure in countries. Companies like Marriott come in and build hotels, and often the positive economic gain from their operations are then exported back to the west. This causes the local communities to work hard for tourists, but they see very little of the benefits of their labor. 
  6. KENYA'S CRITICAL ERROR: “Overall, however, from the early 1990s onward, Kenya’s tourism industry has been buffeted by internal and external catastrophes, both natural and man-made (Honey, 299). Kenya is a great example of a great idea that was poorly enacted. It had a fantastic community management structure, but it suffered from some of the usual pitfalls. They had issues with lack of funding, since much of the revenue from tourism was siphoned off by warlords or government officials. The lack of formal government intervention also ended up being as much of a hindrance as it is a blessing as well. They had so little responsibility for the parks that they also refused to put significant funding into building tourist infrastructure. This was their main downfall. 
  7. THE SOUTH AFRICAN PARADIGM: “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). South Africa had one of the biggest impacts on me this semester. They have utilized one of the most holistic and best managed ecotourism infrastructures in the world, and they’ve benefitted greatly. Part of the reason why their methods worked so well is that they were willing to evolve. They went into the ecotourism industry with very little funding or experience, but they were able to see what was working. They used trophy hinting for a short time to build revenue, and then transitioned away to a photo-tourism industry that ultimately created a culture of conservation. 
  8. COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT DONE RIGHT: “Ecotourism is playing a dual role in the new South Africa: helping to reintegrate South Africa into the world economy and helping to redress grievances and redistribute wealth to the country’s rural poor” (Honey, 390). South Africa’s tourism methods have slingshotted them into the frontlines of ecotourism developments. Their redistribution of park land to the indigenous communities after apartheid was a bold move. However, this is what has made them so successful. Moving management of parks into the hands of local communities has created a more tailored management system, which is far more efficient. 
  9. ICELAND: THE GLOBAL EXAMPLE? “Iceland’s intelligent tourism tactics took areas that were dead during the financial crisis, and breathed new life back into them. Iceland’s main resource its natural resource. This is precisely what increased the country’s foreign exchange earnings by 12.3 percent in a five year span. That’s a growth rate that most countries rarely if ever see. In this same half decade period, their 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, 2018). Yes, I quoted my own paper. Some of the things that I learned about Iceland’s ecotourism industry were truly revelatory. The fact that they’ve built a semi-sustainable tourism market that has experienced exponential growth is practically unheard of. Iceland’s coasts have suffered from overfishing, but it also holds an important place in their culture. Ecotourism has created a more sustainable, yet equally lucrative, industry for the country. 
  10. THE DANGERS OF OVERTOURISM: “Overtourism represents a potential hazard to popular destinations worldwide, as the dynamic forces that power tourism often inflict unavoidable negative consequences if not managed well. In some countries, this can lead to a decline in tourism as a sustainable framework is never put into place for coping with the economic, environmental, and sociocultural effects of tourism. The impact on local residents cannot be understated either” (Sheivachman, 2016). The idea of overtourism is one that I never thought would apply to ecotourism. However it’s actually one of the biggest threats to Iceland’s tourism industry. However, Iceland has enacted a policy unlike any other country has. They’ve essentially put a carrying capacity on Reykjavik’s hostels and Air BnBs. The goal of this policy is to keep the tourist population in the city at a sustainable level. This is on the. Cutting edge of ecotourism policy. 

Friday, April 27, 2018

Lizzi's Top 10 Revelations


At the beginning of the ecotourism class this semester, I genuinely had no idea what to expect. I had never given much thought to the multiple aspects of what ecotourism entails which is why when we defined it as "responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. It also creates knowledge and understanding through interpretation and education of all involved as well as being sustainable travel through educational locations". I hadn't given much thought to the different parts of what ecotourism meant, particularly the education aspect. There is also the other aspect of giving back to the community and immersing yourself with the culture completely. This is much more important because it's crucial to give back to the community you're visiting.


When looking into different locations to visit for ecotourism trips, most of them are protected. Usually, "ecotourism involves visits to areas that are under some form of environmental protection by governments, conservations or scientific organizations, or private owners or entrepreneurs” (Honey, 13). This isn't surprising to me in the least bit, however, I do believe there is more that can be done to preserve these lands. The United States has been around since the nineteenth century which allows for ecotourists to visit. Because these lands are being protected by the National Parks Service, it allows the land to be preserved for a longer amount of time because they're being treated with respect.


Taking a look into how the tourism industry markets ecotourism it wasn't surprising me to that they make different vacations look more "green" than they actually are. It's disappointing that “the tourism industry, including the travel pass, has come to view “green travel” as a marketing tool to attract the growing the number of environmentally and socially conscious travelers seeking alternatives to conventional “mass tourism” (Honey, 25). I think that some people go into their trip believing they're being as green as possible during their stay but in reality they've become a victim of "green washing". Green washing can consist of things as simple as just not washing the towels everyday. This isn't necessarily ecotourism if you're just not washing your items everyday or using the cleaning service as much as possible. Many people who consider their trips ecotourism trips aren't practicing every aspect of ecotourism.

Now, obviously to get to these desired locations, it's typical to fly to where the ecotourist wants to go. Unfortunately, “despite the environmental initiatives, there has been growing awareness of the impact of air transportation on climate change” (Honey, 43). It's very clear that climate change is an extremely real thing that is affecting our planet is countless different ways. It's unfortunate that to see the world, you end up hurting it more. Air transportation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gases which means that even though we’re trying to get to locations to see how they’ve been preserved and help them stay that way, we’re slowly killing our planet. 

When it comes to protecting land, Costa Rica has done an unbelievable job regardless of the amount of foot traffic. Right now, “more than 25 percent of Costa Rica’s territory, with an estimated land value of $2 billion, is under some form of protection” (Honey, 169). It would be amazing if more places had the ability to protect this much land and have it be at this high of a value. I feel like people would treat the land with more respect if they knew what it was worth. Some people think that they're allowed to venture wherever they please but that's not possible if the land is destroyed by too much foot traffic.

When discussing Tanzania, it was stated that "the increase in lodges and campsites in areas like Serengeti’s western corridor has reduced the incidence of poaching because the presence of larger numbers of tourists and guides makes it harder for poachers to operate” (Honey, 233). I think this is such a benefit for the people of Tanzania because they want to decrease the amount of poaching to preserve the animals that inhabit the areas ecotourists go to visit. It also comes down to safety as well. You can't have poachers where people are staying because there's the small chance they could end up injuring or killing a tourist where they are hunting.




Because ecotourism is something that can bring so much joy as well as revenue to people in a country, it's surprising to me when countries don't go out of their way to create locations that bring in a solid amount of tourism. Zanzibar is one of the best examples because “the word ecotourism has been part of the lexicon of Zanzibar’s government officials and tourism promoters since the early 1990’s. But today, the word is found mainly in print, not in action” (Honey, 269). It's really interesting to me that even though they take the time to promote ecotourism on paper, they don't actually take any action when it comes to ecotourism. Because ecotourism can bring in so much money, I think it would bring lots of opportunities to Zanzibar.


One of the places I would love to visit the most is South Africa, especially because they have so much to offer in terms of ecotourism. The countries "system of national, provincial, and homeland parks has long been considered among the world’s best protected and most carefully tended” (Honey, 391). Because of this, South Africa is able to bring in a substantial amount of tourists, particularly for the animals that they have to show off. There is no where else in the world that can give you that type of experience and the fact that they're able to preserve it so well is amazing. Although it's a great place to visit, keeping in mind that traveling there and respecting the land is of utmost importance. It's also important to take into consideration that you should be learning about the animals and nature you are immersing yourself within because that way people are able to get more out of the experience.

When it comes to the United States, they are "a tourism superpower: it is the number-one-country in the world in tourism receipts and the third-highest in international tourist arrivals (behind France and Spain)” (Honey, 397). This doesn't come as a surprise to me however, I do think that a lot of tourists that are originally from the United States look to other countries for ecotourism when in reality there are amazing places within their own country. There are so many places I would love to explore within the United States but when planning a vacation I typically look to places I may not get more opportunities to go to. It makes me re-think the way I plan my next vacation as well as the activities I plan.

Overall, ecotourism needs support from more than just the ecotourist itself. “Although alliances with NGO’s and experts can provide skills, funds, and political clout, it is difficult for community-based ecotourism to take hold and expand without strong government support” (Honey, 445). Because ecotourism is evolves around exploration of land, it's crucial that those areas have the support of the government to help fund the protection of it. Although there are countless environmentalist groups as well as advocates for the amazing ecotourism locations, unfortunately more is needed. There are more aspects that go into ecotourism that I had originally thought and I would love to see more initiatives taken to protect the land that Mother Nature has provided us with. If not, these miraculous locations could disappear before our eyes.




























Monday, April 23, 2018

Project #2: TOP 10 REVELATIONS Final Examination!

Due as a NEW POST by Wednesday, May 2 at MIDNIGHT!

Using our texts, our case studies, and our class conversations, create a “Top 10 " final examination that explains, with examples, the TEN most important revelations you have had about ECOTOURISM this semester.

To PASS this final examination, you must:

1. Provide at least ONE direct quotation [parenthetically cited, like so--> (Wood, 76)] from our at least one of our texts for EACH of your TEN revelations, as well as references to our student presentations, as relevant, for EACH of your 10 revelations. 

2. Embed a video OR photo to illustrate EACH of your 10 revelations. Use our course blog and your research to assist you in making your reflections.


3. Provide at least a 4-5 sentence paragraphs for each of your TEN revelations, and be sure that you have no grammar, spelling or mechanical errors.

Ecotourism and New Zealand: An Overview

Ecotourism and New Zealand: An Overview
  1. Introduction
From the time ecotourism was born out of the shortcomings of “turnstile tourism,” there has been a great deal of debate surrounding the possibilities, legitimacy, and effectiveness of the industry. Esteemed author and ecotourism pioneer Martha Honey has established principles for travelers, guides, and organizations to follow for trips and experiences to truly fall under the category of ecotourism. For an ecotourism experience to be considered genuine, it must include responsible travel to and around places of ecological interest, as well as the exploration of “natural areas” and conservation of the environment, improvement of the well-being of local people, and cultivation of shared knowledge and understanding through education of all involved. Through time and development of eco-travel, there have been locations that stand out to curious travelers more than others. Among those, “Aotearoa” has long been known as one of the hottest eco-tourist spots around the globe. Although the island nation is considered a “long-haul” destination, once travelers arrive this geographical gem has much to offer any curious explorer. With rich cultural offerings, diverse landscapes, unique biodiversity, and a positive attitude towards environmental action and awareness, the North and South islands of New Zealand create an open, sprawling playground practically calling to nature-based travelers. However, despite their status as prime adventure classrooms for ecotourists, advantages and disadvantages affect the quality and genuine efforts of ecotourism within each region.



WHERE I'M HEADING W/THIS.....
  1. General History of New Zealand
  2. Geography and Environment of New Zealand
  1. Environmental Policy, Action, and Behavior in New Zealand
  2. Geography and Environment of the North Island
  3. Culture and People of the North Island
  4. Ecotourism on the North Island
  5. Geography and Environment of the South Island
  6. Culture and People of the South Island
  7. Ecotourism on the South Island
  8. Ecotourism on the North Island vs. Ecotourism on the South Island
  9. What New Zealand is Doing Well
  10. What New Zealand Could be Doing Better
  11. Conclusion
  12. References

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Biodomes



Biodomes

Tatum Robinson




As ecotourism gains popularity as a travel option, the demand grows for more sustainable travel options in varying locations. Biodomes have gained popularity in large cities as a way for urban citizens to experience and appreciate nature without traveling to the remote locations that are often ecotourism hubs. One of the most popular biodomes is in the densely populated city of Montreal, Quebec. There are also plans to open biodomes in Tucson, Reykjavik, and Dubai. Since biodomes are still relatively new, there are some controversy surrounding the ethics, sustainability, and accessibility of biodomes. Despite the controversy, biodomes are a modern way to create appreciation of nature in urban areas, and draw tourists in to ecotourism even in areas where ecotourism may not usually be possible.
Biodôme de Montréal (Claude Lafond)


Biodomes are a form of controlled and self sustaining ecosystems that replicate outdoor environments. Biodomes are similar to green houses, except greenhouses have exchanges with elements from the outside world like oxygen, water, and fertilizers, while biodomes are completely sealed off from the outside world and thrive entirely on resources already inside. Also, Biodomes allow animals to be raised inside, while greenhouses typically focus on plants (Brook). Biodomes can also be home to many different kinds of ecosystems. Biodôme de Montréal boasts 4 ecosystems; a tropical rain forest, Laurentian Maple Forest, Gulf of St. Lawrence, and an Antarctic island. Biodomes can serve as a way to conduct research in a controlled, yet natural environment, which allows observation of species that may not otherwise be possible in an outdoor ecosystem.
Tropical Rain Forest biome in Biodôme de Montréal

Despite the research benefits that come along with biodomes, there is controversy surrounding the ethics and fair treatment of animals housed in these facilities. This is a controversy that has been alive in the case of animal treatment at zoos, and the same questions are now being asked about biodomes. There has been specific criticism on housing larger animals in biodomes, such as penguins or primates. In a blog post written in 2008 by a blog focused on animal rights, some of the  exhibits at the Montreal Biodome are criticized. The penguin exhibit is around 50 meters, but King and Emperor penguins are known to travel hundreds of kilometers per year. (Mcarthur). This brings up the question of animal ethics regarding possible space in an indoor ecosystem, and how large animals can be in these types of environments and still thrive. In 2014, the Montreal Biodome conducted a study on salinity levels, and how they could be adjusted to preserve water quality and best benefit aquatic species. This study was done with smaller animals in mind, such as fish, lobster, and urchins. The research team described the priority of the study as follows: “Welfare concerns are now coupled with an increasing need for the sector to affirm its role in conservation, education, research and sustainability” (S. Picq). Due to the space restrictions present at both zoos and biodomes, it can be difficult to keep large animals in a way that adheres to animal ethics and rights. However, it also may be possible that the quality of research that comes from studying species in biodomes may outweigh the ethical concerns.
Penguins at Biodôme de Montréal

Biodomes first started to come to light in the 1980s. This is when the Eden Project, a biodome system in the United kingdom with the largest indoor rainforest in the world began to start construction, as well as the Montreal Biodome. Both opened their doors in the 90s. This is also the time period that Biosphere 2, a biodome that failed the first time around began construction, began construction. More biodomes were to follow, such the Green Planet in Dubai, and the Amazon Spheres. However, these did not come to fruition until very recently, around 2016/2017. Biodomes are still very modern, with studies still being done on the functionality as well as the ability for organisms to truly thrive inside. Since biodomes are such a new concept, there is not a large quantity of public information available that does not come directly from the websites of existing biodomes, which are meant to draw in customers and focus on the positive aspects. However, there is information on what works and what does not when it comes to construction of biodomes, after the failures of Biosphere 2.
Biosphere 2 2010
Biosphere 2 is a biosphere located in Oracle, Arizona. It is currently a functioning biodome focused on tourism and scientific studies, and has been owned by the University of Arizona since 2011. But before the university took it over, the system experienced a colossal failure that would serve as a cautionary tale for other biodomes across the globe. The point of Biosphere 2 was to prove that human colonization on other planets, such as Mars, was possible, as well as the possibility to use the structure as an apocalyptic shelter, if life on Earth or, “Biosphere 1”, became uninhabitable. In 1991, 8 “bionauts” entered biosphere 2 in attempt to stay within the structure for 2 years to prove the possibility of living in such a system (The University of Arizona). The endeavor made national headlines and was eagerly followed by citizens around the globe. However, almost as soon as the biodome was sealed and the crew members were inside, there was a drastic decline in oxygen within the dome. Almost 18 months into the project, oxygen had to be pumped inside the dome to keep both the crew and the species inside alive, which totally defeated the concept of living in a self sustaining system.
Bionauts 1991

The problem was found to be an ecological one, having to do with excess amounts of carbon dioxide from the excessively nutrient rich soil being consumed by the concrete walls rather than plants. Only 6 out of the 25 small vertebrates originally in the dome survived, and almost every insect species went extinct, causing major pollination problems within the plants “At the same time, some species absolutely thrived in this man-made environment. Crazy ants, cockroaches, and katydids ran rampant, while certain vines (like morning glories) threatened to choke out every other kind of plant” (Walker). The crew members were forced to put significant amounts of energy into simply maintaining their food crops. Biosphere II could not sustain a balanced ecosystem, and therefore failed to fulfill its goals.Overall, the conditions became unlivable and unsafe, and although the crew made it for 2 years, the mission left much to be desired. A similar mission was attempted a few years later, but also proved unsuccessful. After the facility was bounced around to different organizations, it was almost demolished, but ended up being purchased and refurbished by the University of Arizona in 2011.
Biosphere 2 2018


In understanding what makes biodomes such a unique tourism option, as well as assess the successes and failures of biodomes as an ecotourism option, it is crucial to evaluate biodomes by Martha Honey’s five part ecotourism definition. “...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). The first part of the definition is that tourists are travelling to places of ecological interest. This is interesting to evaluate, because while the inside of the domes provide sanctuaries of immense ecological interest, the area around the domes could be totally urban, like in Montreal. Overall, biodomes do technically meet this criteria because the tourism experience is an ecological one, but could also be argued otherwise as the cities that the biodomes are located in are not of ecological interest. It could be argued that since tourists are more likely than not finding lodging within the surrounding cities, that this part of the definition becomes obsolete due to the small amount of time that is really spent in the domes. The same goes for the next part of the definition, which is the travel to natural areas.
The Eden Project, United Kingdom


The third part of the definition is that tourists must conserve the environment. This is also an area of much controversy, and one that could be argued for either way. Tourists are not directly conserving the environment by just visiting biodomes, but many biodomes around the world focus on conservation and carry out research and action to contribute to conservation efforts, such as the Eden Project in England. “We’ve helped Natural England conserve some of Cornwall’s precious wildlife by propagating rare plants, such as junipers to re-establish on the Lizard, and 10,000 Devil’s-bit scabious to connect habitats for the endangered marsh fritillary butterfly” (Eden Project). Our horticultural skills and facilities have been essential for these projects.Therefor, by visiting a biodome, tourists are contributing to those efforts and initiatives by providing funding. Also, biodomes could reduce foot traffic to other outdoor natural areas, and may indirectly conserve those areas by reducing the number of visits to them. On the flip side, biodomes obviously require a physical infrastructure as well as amenities to keep tourists comfortable, such as restrooms, special lighting, and oftentimes food and beverages. These resources may dock biodomes points in the conservation aspect, but in this case, the pros seem to outweigh the cons.
The Eden Project, United Kingdom

The next part of the definition is that the tourism in question must benefit the local people. This is difficult to assess given the limited access of information in terms of where profits from biodomes go to, but in theory, a visitor to a biodome would positively impact the surrounding community not just because of revenue from the biodome itself, but because of the likelihood that tourists are not just visiting the biodome and leaving, but also staying, dining, and shopping within the community. A biodome also creates jobs for local people because of the construction, upkeep, research, and education positions needed to keep them running. Also, in a unique example of benefit to community, Amazon’s domes provide a work environment seated in nature, which is proven to promote more efficiency within employees. “Studies suggest that spaces that embrace biophilic design can inspire creativity and even improve brain function. With thousands of plants in a variety of natural spaces, The Spheres will provide an immersive and interesting experience to Amazonians and visitors” (Eiben).  However, biodomes require a lot of importing goods such as wildlife, flora and fauna, food, and other products, which limits local sourcing.
Amazon Spheres 

The fifth and final criteria for a tourist attraction to be considered ecotourism, and also, the area that biodomes excel at the most, is education for all involved. Biodomes provide environmental education in areas where it may otherwise be impossible to find a nature- immersive experience. Biodomes allow visitors to experience nature in a setting that is close to home, rather than traveling far distances to do so. Most biodomes focus on education in the form of tours, research, and programs offered for schools and other children’s groups. Biosphere 2 discusses the importance of education within the dome on their website:  “Its mission is to serve as a center for research, outreach, teaching and life-long learning about Earth, its living systems, and its place in the universe; to catalyze interdisciplinary thinking and understanding about Earth and its future; to be an adaptive tool for Earth education and outreach to industry, government, and the public; and to distill issues related to Earth systems planning and management for use by policymakers, students and the public” (The University of Arizona). Guides in the domes educate visitors on ecosystems, species, and climate within the domes, as well as often going into broader education on conservation. Biodomes allow visitors to experience and become educated on ecosystems that may otherwise be across the world for them, like the indoor rainforest in Dubai.
The Green Planet, Dubai 

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. Biodomes are a great resource to bring nature to places where it may not otherwise be possible, and have the potential to spur ecotourism trips, but are not ecotourism trips in and of themselves. There are many points to consider in deciding if a trip to a biodome is truly an ecotourism experience, but Martha Honey’s five criteria can serve as a guide in deciding what kind of tourism experience constitutes ecotourism on an individualized basis.
The Green Planet, Dubai


Going forward, it is important for visitors of biodomes to keep Honey’s criteria in mind, as well as assess their environmental and social impact on the surrounding communities. Although there are many successes and failures of biodomes, as well as room to improve, they serve as a modern connection to nature in areas where this connection may be otherwise lost. Biodomes provide education to visitors, guides, and researchers as we come to understand the power of these resources and how to create a successful experience for all involved. Biodomes prove that there is a way to bring nature and environmental education to urban areas and places lacking in these experiences. Much like biodomes, ecotourism is also in its early stages. “In my assessment, although ecotourism is indeed rare, often misdefined, and frequently imperfect, it is still in its adolescence, not on its deathbed” (Honey 33). This quote speaks to not only ecotourism, but biodomes, and how there is much work to be done, but also, much time to do it.
The Green Planet, Dubai



Works Cited
Eiben, Ben. “Inspiring Innovation with Biophilia.” U.S. Amazon Blog, Amazon, 24 Mar. 2018, blog.aboutamazon.com/amazon-offices/inspiring-innovation-with-biophilia.
“FAUNA AND FLORA OF THE FIVE ECOSYSTEMS OF THE AMERICAS AT THE BIODOME.” Space for Life, Ville De Montréal , 2017, espacepourlavie.ca/en.

“Learn with Us, Educational Charity - .” Eden Project, Cornwall, Eden Project, 2017, www.edenproject.com/learn.
“Our Story.” The Green Planet, Dubai, UAE, The Green Planet, 2018, www.thegreenplanetdubai.com/en/schools.
Picq, S. “Coupling Salinity Reduction to Aquatic Animal Well-Being and Ecosystem Representativeness at the Biodôme De Montréal.” OPEN ACCESSJZAR Evidence-Based PracticeJournal of Zoo and Aquarium Research, vol. 3, no. 2, 2015, pp. 70–76.
Walker, Erin. “What Went Wrong?” Kenyon.edu, Kenyon College, biology.kenyon.edu/slonc/bio3/2000projects/carroll_d_walker_e/whatwentwrong.html.
“What Is Biosphere 2.” Biosphere 2 , The University If Arizona, 2017, biosphere2.org/visit/what-is-biosphere-2.





The Wonder to the North.
Throughout the world there are many places of ecological interest each with their own
draws. Having both a distinct culture and an environment of interest is what draws
people in. Most of these places are considered distinct if they are different from the
culture of the United States as it is one of the largest group of people who actively go on
tour. However people often overlook that culture is not entirely defined by country and
location and that travel to exotic places is not a requirement for ecotourism. We could
learn a lot about our world from looking closer to home. ALASKA ACTS AS ONE OF
THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF A NORTH AMERICAN ECOTOURISM
DESTINATION, IN THE PAST DECADE, WITH IT HAVING A DISTINCT CULTURE
FROM THE REST OF THE CONTENT AND IT HAVE A INTERESTING ECOSYSTEM
IN PLACE, WITH THE PROPER CARE AND REGULATION IT COULD BECOME
EVEN GREATER.
Tourism has been a very large industry in North America for quite along time given that
the countries that call this place home were in large part created by foreign powers. The
main kind of tourism that can be found here is turnstile, or classic, tourism. Locations
such as Disney World, New York city, and other well known sights attract people from
all over the world. This however does not make them good for our environment and
culture, and in many cases makes it worse. For instance places such as Yellowstone
and Niagara Falls while looking nature related are much closer to turnstile in practice
often leading to ecological problems. It has not only been bad things happening as
some places in the Americas have actually been trying to create a sustainable
experience. For instance Yosemite national park while overrun with tourists year round
in actively trying to reduce traffic and keep specific areas tourist free as to protect them.


Alaska is a prime year round destination due to the connection that travelers can
establish with nature while their. One of the leading things to why Alaska is above and
beyond other locations in North America is the establishment of the Alaska Wilderness
Recreation & Tourism Association. They are an association of over 300 nature based
tourism companies with the purpose of protecting natural resources. The fact that
Alaska cares enough to self regulate its ecotourism is a huge step forward.


While the decision and implementation of ecotourism in Alaska is in its later stages with
regards to the environment there has been much less talk regarding the cultural impact
of it. The largest fear that locals have is their loss of control over their local community
from the introduction of tourism. Due to economic pressure they are being drawn to
participate in it while it provides risk to their community. The main thing that they want is
to be included in the dialogue about ecotourism and tourism in general in Alaska.


Among the larger concerns of what might happen with the introduction of Ecotourism to
Alaska is that it might take away from the fishing industry that is one of the largest job
markets in the state. This is not a completely in valid concern as in 2016 the total
number of people employed in the Alaskan fishing industry dropped by 6.4%. While this
job loss was not directly linked to be the result of an expanding Ecotourism market it
does show that the industry is not complealty sound and that if people start to show
more interest in a industry that promotes prestean nature might take some more away.


The core tenets of Ecotourism are very important to consider when looking at an
example of ecotourism. In the case of Alaska and North America two of them
specifically interest us first what constitutes traveling to a place of ecological interest
and second if that location has done a good job of both respecting local culture and
including it. Both of these things are very important to understand if Alaska is a good
example when compared to others on the continent.
The reason I feel the need to ask the question what is considered travel to places of
ecological interest is that it is often used to describe going someplace new and different
then the one you were in before. Most people would say you need to travel to a place
with a culture different to your own in order to count. But what if you already lived in a
location that is of ecological interest? How distinct does the culture have to be? For the
first of thous questions going to a new location is completely required for ecotourism,
tourism is in the name. Going out and experiencing nature where you live is a good
thing but it does not count as tourism as it does nothing to broaden your horizons. The
answer to the second is similar, the culture you go to has to be distinct enough that it
broduns your world view not just affirms it.
We need to ask these questions because The United States is one of the largest
contributors to the tourism industry and as we are part of it we feel the need to only
consider something ecotourism if it is for us. It is flawed to look at things this way as it is
not ecotourism for some in Greenland, or India to go interact with nature  where they life
but it is for us. This also means that while it is possible that as Alaska is part of the
United States us traveling their should not be ecotourism, however for the people from
other countries there is no reason for it not to be.


The second thing we must consider is how is the ecotourism interacting with the local
population. This is something the North American countries have struggled with over the
years as it is primarily people from countries across the sea that now control the vast
amount of land. According to the 2017 census 6.3% of the population of Alaska is
Native American or Alaskan Native. While this does not sound like much people are still
people and that means we must take them into account when doing tourism in Alaska.


Ecotourism does have one advantage in alaska and that is the sheer size of it coming in
at well over 100 million acres of land. This means there is quite a bit of land that is not
being used to house and support its population of 739,795 people, being the 4th
smallest in terms of population making up 0.22% of the national population on the
largest amount of land by area. Most of this land is unused due to it being too far from
civilization and two cold and remote to be used for much. If the ecotourism industry
focuses their efforts on that land rather than the coastline the would do minimal cultural
damage.
This does not mean we can squander it just if we play our cards right we should be able to
have enough land for both the people and the environment. Doing such development might
not be the most economically feasible as well as it would mean developing in an area that is
not used and has no pre existing structure. Also as the ocean and sea life is a big draw
people might prefer to be in an area along the sea buting stress on a more high tension area.
With its breathtaking beauty and natural wonder Alaska is a great place to travel to no
matter what. Once we take into account ecotourism and travel with intent both to enjoy
and preserve the natural world we find it to be an amazing location when compared to
the rest of North America in this day and age. Across the continent we see tones of
turnstile tourism and nature based tourism that is in fact just a different lense on ternstile
tourism. Going forward, if the proper care is taken, Alaska could easily become not only
the best example of ecotourism on the continent but in the world


WORK CITED
“Eco Tours in Alaska - Sustainable Tourism & Conservation Laws.” Alaska Ecotourism Tours -
Sustainable Tourism & Conservation Laws,
www.internationalwildlifelaw.org/alaska.html.
“Our Sustainability Focus - Ecotourism.” Alaska Outdoors, www.travelalaskaoutdoors.com/about/sustainability.
“PIKE'S WATERFRONT LODGE.” Weme Template, www.adventuregreenalaska.org/.
Ridgeway, Gianna. Impacts of Eco-Tourism, www.nativescience.org/html/eco-tourism.html.
“Sustainable Travel & Ecotourism in Alaska.” Sustainable Travel & Ecotourism in Alaska | Frommer's,
www.frommers.com/destinations/alaska/planning-a-trip/sustainable-travel--ecotourism.
“U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Alaska.” Census Bureau QuickFacts, www.census.gov/quickfacts/AK.
US States - Ranked by Population 2018, worldpopulationreview.com/states/.
Welch, Laine. “Alaska Lost Fishing Jobs in 2016.” National Fisherman, 14 Nov. 2017,
www.nationalfisherman.com/alaska/alaska-lost-fishing-jobs-2016/.