Advantages and disadvantages of ecotourism

Eco-tourism was first proposed by Ceballas-Lascurain, a special consultant of IUCN, in 1983. At that time, two main points were given about ecotourism. First, the object of eco-tourism is natural scenery; Secondly, the object of ecotourism cannot be destroyed. In the context of the global environmental crisis, with the awakening of people's awareness of environmental protection, the green movement and green consumption swept the world. Eco-tourism, as a kind of green tourism consumption, has aroused great repercussions around the world. The concept of eco-tourism has spread rapidly around the world, and its connotation is constantly enriched. In view of the deteriorating living environment, the tourism industry defines ecotourism as "returning to nature tourism" and "green tourism" from one of the key points of ecotourism. In view of various environmental problems in the development of tourism, starting from the second point of ecotourism, ecotourism is defined as "protective tourism" and "sustainable development tourism". At the same time, countries around the world carry out eco-tourism according to their own national conditions, forming a unique eco-tourism. Compared with traditional tourism, eco-tourism is characterized by:

(1) The destinations of ecotourism are some complete natural and cultural ecosystems, and participants can get unique experiences, which are primitive and unique.

(2) Eco-tourism emphasizes the miniaturization of tourism scale and limits it to an affordable range, which is not only beneficial to the quality of tourists' sightseeing, but also will not cause great damage to tourism.

(3) Eco-tourism can let tourists participate in it personally, and understand the mystery of eco-tourism in practical experience, so as to love nature more and protect natural and cultural resources.

(4) Eco-tourism is a kind of responsible tourism, and these responsibilities include the protection of tourism resources and the sustainable development of tourism. Because these characteristics of ecotourism can meet the needs of tourism demand and tourism supply, the rise of ecotourism is possible. [Edit this paragraph] It is required that the ultimate goal of ecotourism development is sustainability, and "sustainable development" is the decisive criterion for judging ecotourism, which has been recognized by tourism researchers at home and abroad. According to the meaning of sustainable development, the sustainable development of eco-tourism can be summarized as: managing eco-tourism resources with the theory and method of sustainable development, ensuring the sustainable development of economic, social and ecological benefits of eco-tourism destinations, meeting the needs of contemporary people to carry out eco-tourism, and not affecting the ability of future generations to meet their eco-tourism needs. Specifically, the sustainable development of eco-tourism mainly includes the following meanings and requirements: First, the sustainable development of eco-tourism is to maintain the sustainable development of natural ecology.

Because the object of ecosystem is mainly a relatively complete natural ecosystem, the sustainable development of natural ecosystem will inevitably become an important part of the sustainable development of ecotourism. Ecotourism system is mainly composed of biological environment and abiotic environment. The biological community in the system is a life system, including producers, consumers and decomposers; Abiotic environment is an inanimate system, including sunlight, air, water, soil and inorganic substances. They have formed a colorful and relatively stable structural system and become the main attraction of eco-tourism. A good and rich natural ecological environment is the destination of ecotourism. The natural ecosystem cannot tolerate any exhausting consumption. Therefore, whether commercial developers, management decision-makers or tourists have an unshirkable responsibility to protect the natural ecology, they must know and protect nature in the practice of eco-tourism. This kind of ecological environment protection not only maintains the normal development and circular stability of the natural ecosystem, but also maintains the system of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, that is, respecting local culture. This responsibility of respecting and protecting tourist objects is an important connotation of the sustainable development of ecotourism.

Second, the sustainable development of eco-tourism includes the purpose of promoting the sustainable development of tourist areas.

Promoting the sustainable development of eco-tourism destination economy and society is an important purpose of developing eco-tourism, which is embodied in two levels: individual residents' level and the overall social, economic and cultural level of tourism destination. Residents of tourist destinations are the main components of the social culture of tourist destinations and have the right to maintain their own good development. Therefore, to develop ecotourism, local residents must directly participate in management and service. Economically, this kind of participation makes them get rich economic returns and can effectively promote the economic development of tourist destinations; From the social point of view, the development and penetration of tourism in the local area has broadened the horizons of local residents, improved their quality, and can integrate into modern civilization more quickly; From the environmental point of view, the maintenance and influence of local residents on the natural environment is more direct than that of tourists. In a word, the development of eco-tourism makes it possible for local residents to protect resources scientifically, economically and technically. Generally speaking, the healthy development of eco-tourism is conducive to promoting the sustained growth of tourism economy and injecting new development funds into local economy; In environmental protection, we can give financial support to the protection and management of the natural environment, and improve the environmental protection awareness of tourism managers, tourists and local residents; Promoting the fair distribution of social interests is conducive to increasing the employment opportunities of residents, which will effectively promote the all-round progress and coordinated development of society, economy and culture in eco-tourism destinations.