About the harmonious development of people and tourism ecology.

The development history, present, future and existing problems of eco-tourism in China

In order to actively promote eco-tourism around the world, the United Nations named 2002 the "Year of Eco-tourism". As one of the activity plans of the United Nations "Year of Ecotourism", the World Ecotourism Summit was held in Quebec, Canada from May 19th to 22nd. At the meeting, 100xxxx representatives from public, private and non-governmental sectors in 13xxxx countries discussed and made suggestions on eco-tourism development issues. The conference issued the "Quebec Ecotourism Declaration" and planned to submit it to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to be held in South Africa from August to September 2002. As a positive response to the United Nations "Year of Ecotourism", many national and local institutions also held various types of seminars in 2002.

The United Nations "Ecotourism Year" and a series of activities surrounding the theme year promote better cooperation among governments, ecotourism operators and consumers, and pave the way for the development of ecotourism around the world. Development provides opportunities. It will also promote the development of ecotourism research and practice in our country.

As early as 1999, my country's National Tourism Administration designated that year as the "Year of Ecological and Environmental Tourism". Various localities also took the opportunity to launch some eco-tourism products and launch vigorous eco-tourism practice activities in our country. With the increasingly popular concept of environmental protection and the implementation of my country's sustainable development strategy, eco-tourism has also achieved considerable development. Especially in recent years, many areas where ecotourism is carried out are located in the west or remote and impoverished mountainous areas. Tourism has been regarded as a dominant industry by the west and impoverished areas with good resource endowments, and has become an important alternative industry for industrial structure adjustment. Ecotourism, a form of tourism that takes into account economic, environmental and social benefits, is highly praised and has become an important choice for the western region and remote poverty-stricken areas to get rid of poverty and achieve sustainable development.

However, because ecotourism has also produced a series of problems during its development, ecotourism has attracted much attention and high hopes, but it has also attracted a lot of criticism. What is true ecotourism? How to achieve the harmonious unity of many goals of eco-tourism and promote the successful practice of eco-tourism? On the occasion of the United Nations' "Year of Eco-tourism" and the fourth year after the implementation of my country's "Year of Eco-Environmental Tourism", we summarize and analyze the problems in the development of my country's eco-tourism to clear the way for the next step in the development of my country's eco-tourism. Obstacles have become an urgent task at present.

1. Proposition and practical development of the concept of eco-tourism

(1) Proposition of the concept of eco-tourism

Who originated the concept of "eco-tourism" It was first proposed, but there is no conclusion yet[1][1]. Most opinions believe that the term "ecotourism" was first proposed in the early 1980s by Ceballos-Lascurain, a special advisor to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and a Mexican expert. However, it was not until the United Nations World Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 that the concept and principles of sustainable development were proposed and promoted around the world that ecotourism became the main form of sustainable development in the tourism industry worldwide. been extensively studied and practiced.

After the concept of "ecotourism" was proposed, many organizations and researchers around the world have defined ecotourism from different perspectives. So far, there has not been a uniformly recognized definition, and the connotation of ecotourism has also been unclear. Opinions vary. However, the goals of ecotourism have been basically recognized: ecotourism should protect natural resources and biological diversity, maintain the sustainability of resource utilization, and achieve sustainable development of the tourism industry. In order to better achieve this goal, ecotourism should promote the development of local economy. Only after economic development can we truly value and protect nature; at the same time, ecotourism should also highlight the significance of environmental education for tourists. Business managers should also pay more attention to and protect nature.

As the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization Frangali pointed out in his speech at the World Ecotourism Summit, "Ecotourism and its sustainable development shoulder an urgent mission in three aspects: Economically, it must stimulate the economy Vitality and poverty reduction; the social aspect of creating jobs for the most vulnerable; and the environmental aspect of providing the necessary financial resources to protect natural and cultural resources. All actors in ecotourism must work together towards these three important goals. ”

(2) International eco-tourism practice

Eco-tourism has become a hot spot in the development of tourism in the world today. The practice area of ??eco-tourism is also constantly expanding, and ecological tourism has been developed earlier. Tourism regions and countries have also accumulated rich experience in practice.

1. The main regions and contents of eco-tourism practice

Africa is one of the important birthplaces of eco-tourism in the world. Its wildlife resources have attracted the attention of the world, especially southern Africa, which has become an international Eco-tourism hotspots include Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Ghana and other countries.

The most developed area of ??ecotourism in the Americas is the Amazon River Basin, represented by countries such as Costa Rica, Honduras, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile, the United States, and Canada.

In Asia, the earliest areas to carry out eco-tourism activities appeared in places such as India, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia.

In addition, eco-tourism has also developed in the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Australia.

The main ecotourism activities carried out in these regions and countries include wildlife visits, primitive tribe tours, ecological observation, river cruises, forest hiking, bird watching, animal ecological education, and visits to indigenous residents.

2. Main experiences in the development of international ecotourism

In the process of ecotourism development, the above countries and regions have adopted a series of effective measures. The main methods are as follows : (1) Legislate to protect the ecological environment. For example, in 1916, the United States passed a bill establishing the National Park Service, which put the management of national parks on a legal track. In the UK, the new National Park Protection Act was passed in 1993, aiming to strengthen the protection of natural landscapes and ecological environments. Since the Rio Conference in 1992, Japan has enacted the Basic Environmental Law. In 1923 Finland promulgated the Nature Conservation Act. (2) Formulate development plans and strategies. The United States formulated an ecotourism development plan in 1994 to adapt to tourists' growing demand for ecotourism. Australia spent 100xxxx Australian dollars to implement the national ecological development strategy. The Mexican government has formulated the "Tourism Plan for the 21st Century", and ecotourism is a key promotion project of the plan. The Kenyan government has formulated many important national development strategies, among which ecotourism is particularly regarded as a key project. (3) Carry out tourism environmental protection promotion. In the process of developing eco-tourism, many countries have put forward different slogans and initiatives. For example, the United Kingdom launched the "green tourism" movement, and the Japan Tourism Industry Association held many seminars aimed at protecting the ecology and published the "Tourists Declaration to Protect the Planet”. (4) Pay attention to the interests of local people. Kenya, a country that developed ecotourism earlier, proposed the “Wildlife Development and Benefit Sharing Plan” during the development process of ecotourism. By changing traditional fishing methods, the Philippines has not only developed eco-tourism but also provided locals with an alternative source of income. (5) A variety of technical means to strengthen management. Many countries that are developing eco-tourism have strictly controlled the number of tourists entering eco-tourism areas, constantly monitored the impact of human behavior on the natural ecology, used professional technology to minimize waste processing, and conserved and utilized water resources. and other means to achieve the purpose of strengthening the management of eco-tourism areas. The Australian Joint Department of Tourism, the Australian Tourism Association and other organizations have also issued a series of guidance manuals on eco-tourism [2][2]. In addition, many countries have implemented a separation system of operation and management and implemented a licensing system to strengthen management.

1. The current development status of eco-tourism in China

Although the concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature expounded by eco-tourism can vaguely find its source of thought in ancient Chinese sages, however, As a clear term "ecotourism", it is completely imported. The development of ecotourism in my country can be summarized from two aspects: research and development in theoretical circles and practice in various parts of my country:

(1) Research on ecotourism

Although tourism and the environment are Issues closely related to eco-tourism have attracted the attention of the tourism industry as early as the early 1970s, but the concept of "eco-tourism" was introduced to our country through foreign countries and gradually became accepted. It was not until September 1993 that the "First East Asia National Parks and Nature Reserves Conference" was held in Beijing and the document "Outline of Action Plan for East Asia Protected Areas" was adopted, marking the first time that the concept of ecotourism was put into document form in China. Confirmed[3][3].

In 1995, the "China's First Ecotourism Seminar" was held in Xishuangbanna. This conference was jointly organized by the China Tourism Association, the Ecotourism Professional Committee and relevant units. 118 scholars attended discussion. The meeting discussed the definition and connotation of ecotourism; the relationship between ecotourism and nature tourism protection; how to carry out environmental education in ecotourism; the comprehensive evaluation of China's ecotourism resources and the overall strategy for sustainable utilization; and the selection of ecotourism routes. During the seminar, the "Initiative for the Development of Eco-tourism in my country" was also published, marking the starting point of my country's attention to eco-tourism and eco-tourism research. After the seminar, articles on ecotourism research were frequently published in various publications, making the concept of "ecotourism" quickly and generally accepted in the country.

Since then, in the past ten years, a large number of documents and materials on ecotourism research have focused on basic theoretical research such as defining the concept of ecotourism, explaining its connotation, exploring its functions, and describing its characteristics. , many experts and scholars have given the concept of "ecotourism" Chinese characteristics based on China's national conditions. There are dozens of definitions of "ecotourism" in China, and some concepts and definitions have aroused widespread concern and even controversy. For a time, there were divergent opinions on the connotation of ecotourism.

Recently, more attention has been paid to research on China’s ecotourism practices. In the research on practice, two hot spots have been roughly formed, one is the study of the judgment and attention issues of the conditions for carrying out ecotourism in my country, and the other is the case study of ecotourism planning for specific regions.

(2) About the practice of ecotourism

my country's ecotourism is mainly developed based on nature reserves, forest parks, scenic spots, etc. In 1982, my country's first national forest park, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, was established, organically combining tourism development with ecological and environmental protection. Since then, the construction of forest parks and forest eco-tourism have developed rapidly. Although the forest tourism developed at this time is not eco-tourism in the strict sense, it has provided a good foundation for the development of eco-tourism. By the beginning of 1999, nearly 900 forest parks of different types and levels had been built across the country. Since the establishment of the first batch of nature reserves in 1956, by the end of 1997, 932 nature reserves of various types have been established, including 124 at the national level, and 1xxxx have been officially approved to join the World Biosphere Reserve Network. There are 512 scenic spots in my country, with a total area of ??9.xxxx square kilometers.

The 1999 Kunming World Expo and the 1999 National Tourism Administration’s “99 Eco-Environmental Tourism” themed event have greatly promoted my country’s eco-tourism practice. In 1999, Chengdu, Sichuan took the opportunity of being the main venue of World Tourism Day to launch Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Mount Emei, Leshan Giant Buddha and other scenic spots to develop eco-tourism products. Subsequently, Hunan Zhangjiajie National Forest Park held the International Forest Protection Festival and launched Wulingyuan and other eco-tourism areas. Starting from Hunan and Sichuan, ecotourism has gradually developed across the country. In 2001, a survey of 10xxxx nature reserves at or above the provincial level across the country showed that 8xxxx reserves had officially launched tourism, and 12 reserves had annual tourist arrivals of more than 1xxxx yuan.

1. Main areas for ecotourism development practice

At present, in China, the open ecotourism areas mainly include forest parks, scenic spots, nature reserves, etc. Areas with earlier and more mature ecotourism development include Shangri-La, Zhongdian, Xishuangbanna, Changbai Mountain, Lancang River Basin, Dinghu Mountain, Zhaoqing in Guangdong, and Hanas in Xinjiang. According to the type of eco-tourism carried out, my country's currently famous eco-tourism scenic spots can be divided into the following nine categories: 1) Mountain ecological scenic spots, represented by the Five Sacred Mountains, famous Buddhist mountains, famous Taoist mountains, etc. 2) Lake ecological scenic spots are represented by Changbai Mountain Tianchi, Zhaoqing Xinghu, Qinghai Lake in Qinghai, etc. 3) Forest ecological scenic spots are represented by Changbai Mountain in Jilin, Shennongjia in Hubei, and the tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. 4) Grassland ecological scenic spots are represented by Hulun Buir Grassland in Inner Mongolia. 5) Marine ecological scenic spots are represented by the mangrove coasts in Beihai, Guangxi and Wenchang, Hainan. 6) Bird watching ecological scenic spots are represented by Jiangxi Poyang Lake Overwintering Migratory Bird Nature Reserve and Qinghai Lake Bird Island. 7) Ice and snow ecotourism areas are represented by Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, Yunnan, and Changbai Mountain in Yanbian, Jilin. 8) Rafting ecological scenic spots are represented by Shennongjia in Hubei. 9) Hiking adventure ecological scenic spots are represented by Tibet’s Mount Everest, Lop Nur Desert, and the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon [4][4].

2. The main types of eco-tourism products in my country

As early as the 1999 Eco-Environmental Tourism Year, the types of eco-tourism launched at that time mainly included bird watching, wildlife tourism, Ten categories of special products, including bicycle tours, rafting tours, desert adventures, environmental protection, natural ecological inspections, ski tours, mountaineering expeditions, Shangri-La tours, and ocean tours, with a total of 193 items, recommending forests for ecotourism to the world Park 11xxxx, China Scenic Area xxxx in the World Heritage List, China Biosphere Reserve 1xxxx, China Botanical Garden 1xxxx. In 1999, the National Tourism Administration and relevant departments gradually planned and developed and built a number of eco-tourism areas. The main types include oceans, mountains, deserts, grasslands, tropical animals and plants, etc. At present, the form of eco-tourism in my country has developed from native natural landscape to semi-artificial ecological landscape. Tourism objects include wilderness, glaciers, nature reserves, rural pastoral landscape, etc. Eco-tourism forms include sightseeing, viewing, scientific research, adventure, hunting, etc. Fishing, pastoral picking and ecological agriculture main activities, etc., present a diversified pattern.

(3) Contradictions between ecotourism research and practice

Although the practice of ecotourism is constantly going on, many experts and scholars still have doubts about the current ecotourism development in my country. There are objections. Most researchers believe that ecotourism in the true sense should take ecological protection as an established premise and take environmental education and the popularization of natural knowledge as its core content. It is a high-level tourism activity that seeks knowledge. First of all, in terms of development and operation, ecotourism is an industry with high technological content and should be operated with the close participation of science and technology. Tourism developers and operators must have a good understanding of the characteristics of the regional ecosystem in which they are located and possess the ecological environment. Conservation expertise. Secondly, in terms of market, ecotourism in the true sense requires participants to have a high level of environmental awareness. Moreover, the ecotourism market is mostly in remote areas with fragile ecosystems, which determines that ecotourism consumption is much higher than general mass tourism consumption. Therefore, most of the tourists who participate in ecotourism are economically wealthy people with a high level of education and strong environmental awareness, which is in clear contrast to mass tourism.

At present, many ecotourism practices in our country have not met the essential requirements of ecotourism. They emphasize the "understanding and getting into nature" aspect of ecotourism, while ignoring the goal of "protecting nature" of ecotourism. Some ecotourism products are not Ecotourism products in the true sense are nature tourism or another form of sightseeing tourism. The development of such products must be cautious and slow, otherwise such ecotourism development will inevitably cause a lot of problems.