LibGuides: MS Humanities: Tourism

Organisations

International Ecotourism Society (TIES)
Comprehensive site, including case studies. Research section contains articles.
Ecotour - Ecotourism at Conservation International
Ecotourism resources including information about specific destinations.
National Geographic Center for Sustainable Tourism
The CSD helps to develop geotourism - tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place. Offers links for tourism professionals, communities and travelers.
Big Volcano Ecotourism Resource Center
This Australian site provides a collection of ecotourism and sustainable tourism research papers, website links, and codes of practice.
Green Key Eco-Rating
A rating system designed to recognize hotels, motels, and resorts that are committed to improving their fiscal and environmental performance...participation is voluntary.

Definitions

Ecotourism is defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."

Principles of Ecotourism

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

Minimize impact
Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
Provide direct financial benefits for conservation
Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people
Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate

Some books

The Debate about Tourism by Louise Spilsbury
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Call Number: S\ 338.4 Spi
ISBN: 9781435896536
Publication Date: 2010-07-15
Investigates the impact of tourism on economics, local communities, and the environment, and includes case studies that demonstrate both the positive and negative impact of tourism.
Overbooked by Elizabeth Becker
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Call Number: S\ 338.4 Bec
ISBN: 1439160996
Publication Date: 2013-04-16
Elizabeth Becker describes her travels around the globe examining the tourist industry from the inside out.
Ecotourists Save the World by Pamela K. Brodowsky; National Wildlife Federation
Call Number: S\ 363.7 Bro
ISBN: 9780399535765
Publication Date: 2010-04-06
Provides information on more than three hundred volunteer programs around the world where participants can learn about conservation and study wildlife.
Tourism by Rufus Bellamy
Call Number: S\ 363.738 Bell
ISBN: 9781607531388
Publication Date: 2010-07-01
Discusses the environmental impact of the tourism industry and explores how the carbon footprint of tourists can be reduced.
What Is the Impact of Tourism? by Roman Espejo
Call Number: S\ 338.4 Wha
ISBN: 9780737741209
Publication Date: 2008-11-07
Collects fourteen essays that provide varying viewpoints on issues concerning the impact of tourism, discussing if the industry is responsive to negative results, if tourism contributes to economic growth, threatens indigenous cultures, or contributes to exploitation of women and children, and other related topics.

Sustainable geo-tourism

Choices

Definitions

The Sustainable Tourism Gateway

Read all about it!

Questions

How does your destination:

* generate greater economic benefits for local people

* involve local people in the decisions that affect their lives

* create connections with local people

* conserve cultural while embracing diversity

• provide access for physically challenged people

What behaviours would you advise visitors in order to be respectful to this destination (think cultural, environmental and religious for example).

Notes

Why travel? Is travel an important part of education. Read this article by Alison Smith in the "WhyDev" blog. Consider her views and look at the comments the article attracted. Do you agree with her point of view?