PLANNING, MONITORING & CONTROLLING ECOTOURISTS ACTIVITIES

One of the most important elements in tourism development is getting the “correct tourists”, that is those who have values similar to the community, those who appreciate the natural environment and are interested in conserving it (Sem & Clement, 1996), otherwise, they will irretrievably damage the very resource that attracts them. Once damage is done, it will be difficult to restore it to its original state. Gunn (1994) maintains that although heavy numbers of visitors in a fragile ecosystem certainly lead to resource depletion, “most environmental damage is caused by lack of plans, policies and action”. The writers opinion is that in combating unlawful acts of the ecotourists to the ecosystem and ecotourism products, the policy makers, in formulating policies, must base on best international practices and public awareness programs to encourage behavioural changes of the tourists.  What makes more important is as stated in the first article of Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (WTO, 1999):

            “The actors in tourism development and tourists themselves are duty-bound to observe the social and cultural traditions and practices of all people, including national minorities and indigenous people”

            All of us shall take initiative to reduce tourism’s negative impacts and promote awareness at all level.  For example, cycling is a sustainable means of transport, relatively cheap and environmentally friendly way to travel (which has important health benefits for people of all ages too!) (Keeble, 2001). Policies that express on the importance of biological diversity conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources, including the tourists, are also needed.  Protection of forest to ensure conservation of biological diversity and to minimize the damage (by tourists) is an example. Commonly used primary tools that can be employed to protect such ecotourism products are regulatory measures.  Controls may be also imposed on tourism activities that typically have an adverse effect on natural environment (ecotourism environment).  More specific controls may exist for potentially damaging tourism activities (or unlawful acts of the tourists (Leitmann, 1998), especially pollution. Legal instruments, such as Wildlife Protection Act 1972, National Parks Act 1980, National Forestry Act 1984, Penal Codes, etc., may be useful in combating unlawful acts of these ecotourists, i.e. pollution. Permits and fees are an accepted management tool to control use (and to monitor any unlawful act) of any ecotourism products.  For example, in Rwanda, by charging each visitor almost $200 a day, the Rwandan government is able to limit the number of visitors into the park while generating the revenue for the park’s upkeep (Ioannides, 1995).

The above is part of a paper, Abdul Aziz Hussin, Badaruddin Mohamed, Abdullah Mahmood & Zulkifli Osman. 2004.  Ecotourism and Pollution:  Dilemma Between Legal Enforcement and Rights of Tourists. Procedings of 3^rd Annual Seminar on Sustainability Science and Management, KUSTEM, Kuala Terengganu.  4-5 May 2004.