Is Ecotourism possible in a third world developing country?
In a third world developing country if run by an unremorseful and corrupt government system, ecotourism has little, if no effect at all.
Take the case of Boracay Island in the Philippines, it was an undiscovered and quiet island lined with salmon colored sandy beaches. Boracay was a well-guarded secret until the 70’s came. A foreign movie outfit found out about this island and came over to shoot some scenes and soon enough an island paradise was discovered. The book by a German traveler, Jen Peters helped a lot, the secret island became voted as having the best beach in the world.
What was that about ecotourism again? A social move governed by the principle of generating income from tourists in order to provide funds to keep an area preserved in its natural state. In a third world developing country it is different; the foreigners generated their own income by exploiting the beauty of a place. Foreigners became prominent investors in Boracay, putting up hotels, restaurants, bars, pubs, rough cabanas, souvenir shops all crowded and lined along what was once a vast expanse of beaches: without any regard for proper waste-disposal management.
The cool salmon colored beaches became a myth, now there is a hardly a decent distance left between the small shops and the sailboats waiting on the shore. The beach whatever is left of them to tread on, is adorned with sea weeds and litter from last night’s gigs. This system serves as a natural way of disposing garbage by letting them get washed away at sea.
Ecotourism they say? Jackie Alan Guiliano in his book entitled “The Myth of Ecotourism” discounted ecotourism as a solution. He opines that ecotourism conferences turn out as networking gatherings of tourism players with vested business interests. Mr. Guiliano further warns that ecotourism will only serve the interests of global corporations who are responsible in destroying tourist destinations.
Frankly I don’t agree with him, it doesn’t need to be like that. I saw with my own eyes what Galapagos in nowadays and I can say, that Galapagos model of ecoutourism works perfect.
Ecotourism makes a stronger impact in third world countries as the income goes directly to the persons most in needs. It only becomes a problem when it is controled by the foreign tourist industry.
Great Post! This might be a little off topic but has anyone ever been to an island Boracay? Its like that movie The Beach with Leonardo Dicaprio!