Ecotourism is...

Ecotourism is a series of complex interactions between the economy and the environment.  When executed with conservation in mind, ecotourism has the potential to protect the environment and ensure sustainability while, simultaneously, stimulating the economy and creating funding for conservation efforts. However, when executed solely for economic gains, ecotourism can lead to environmental exploitation, habitat loss, or harm the economic growth and stability of associated industries or peoples.

My interest in ecotourism stems from an interest in environmental conservation. Though I do briefly explore the economic benefits of ecotourism, my primary goal is to find the best way to protect the environment for future generations, not the best way to grow the economy. For my analysis of ecotourism, I will focus on the businesses I interacted with while abroad and the messages I received about ecotourism and conservation while traveling as an ecotourist in New Zealand and Australia during Summer 2016.

To navigate this website, begin by heading over to the Glossary, familiarize yourself with relevant terms, and read about the definition of Ecotourism I use throughout the website. This definition of ecotourism is more broad than many traditional academic definitions, but aligns more closely with the colloquial and industry usage of the term. Feel free to refer back to the Glossary as needed throughout your exploration of the website. 

Next, go to the Features section to read about the current environmental issues in New Zealand and Australia. Both countries are home to a wide host of endemic and endangered species, which are now threatened as a result of global warming, human impact, and invasive species.  

Staying in the Features section, below the two Environment at Risk articles, I examine a variety of case studies from my travels in New Zealand and Australia. By deconstructing existing forms of ecotourism, I enumerate potential benefits and drawbacks of using ecotourism as a conservation strategy.

I hypothesize that ecotourism can be an effective way to protect the environment because it provides an economic incentive for preserving resources and creating sustainable growth. However, as demonstrated by my case studies, the ability of ecotourism to protect the environment is often limited by external factors, including global warming, habitat fragmentation, and a lack of inter-organizational cooperation. In order to mitigate the external impacts on conservation, international treaties must be established and government regulations must be strictly enforced. Additionally, internal factors, such as the effect of human use, also reduce ecotourism's effectiveness as a conservation strategy. The conclusion of my findings can be found under Lessons. 

In order to minimize the internal and external limitations of ecotourism, more research needs to be done on threatened ecosystems and species and the impact of humans.  To read about some current research on New Zealand and Australian species or to read more about my trip specifically, visit the Journal section. 

I hope that by visiting this website and exploring the complexities of ecotourism you may begin to reassess your own tourism practices and advocate for more responsible forms of ecotourism.