Green Fork in the Road (Cont.)

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Outside Magazine, March 2003

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Green Fork in the Road (Cont.)

THE BIG IDEA

Espen To get things rolling, I'll point out that Outside magazine is, among other things, an adventure magazine with an environmental conscience, and as such, we're interested in finding common cause between the world of adventure travel—the world driven by enthusiasm, by athleticism, by a yen for wild places—and the growing body of ideas that have come to be called ecotourism. Maybe we should begin by defining the difference between ordinary tourism and ecotourism.

Costas Christ: The difference is that ecotourism has a purpose beyond just the personal enjoyment side. Ecotourism leaves behind a direct benefit for the area being visited and also a tangible and direct benefit for those people who live closest to that area. You can have a jungle rafting trip that may be a wonderful trip. It may be fun and enjoyable and you look at the stars and you hear the birds, but it's not necessarily ecotourism. It becomes ecotourism when conversation turns to the site being visited, to the natural areas, to the wildlife and the plants and the biodiversity, and when the trip itself delivers social and economic benefits to the people who live closest to that resource.

I look at ecotourism as the most profound innovation in tourism, perhaps ever. It's a concept that has to do with both what the tourist gains from the travel, and also what they give.

Andy Drumm: Ecotourism is travel to natural areas with responsibility. It's enjoying nature's bounty while not eroding its quality for people who come after us. It encourages local people to have a stake in the conservation of the places we are visiting by ensuring that they get an equitable share of the economic benefits generated by the activity.

Espen: Michael Kaye, you own an ecotourism business. What's the difference between regular travel and ecotourism from your perspective?

Michael Kaye: Ecotourism is nature tourism or adventure tourism with that ethical component. The amount that can be given back varies greatly with the situation and with the amount that the market is willing to pay for the benefits that are going to be left. So ecotourism has a lot of different phases depending upon the conditions and on the altruism of the people who are doing it.

Espen: Oliver Hillel, perhaps you can bring an international perspective to the question.

Oliver Hillel: Ecotourism is a learning experience. People traveling on an ecotour should be able to learn about the destination. And the environment at the destination should not be seen only as a natural environment. In other words, you shouldn't only take an ecotour to learn the names of the birds or the plants; it should extend to intercultural learning between hosts and guests. And I think that's very, very exciting. Many ecotourists refer to that broadening of their horizons and learning about themselves and others as the biggest benefit.

Michael Kaye: I just stepped out of a guide's workshop with 35 naturalist guides and the topic that's being worked on right now is "orchestrated spontaneous cross-cultural experience."

[Laughter]

Stanley Selengut: Ecotourism caters to people who aren't necessarily interested in knowing exactly what they're getting into, but who are open to new experiences. But even more important is the sustainability aspect. Ecotourism developers take on the responsibility for the long-term well being of the place—not only the place itself but also the community around it. So I think it's a much deeper involvement.

Martha Honey: We're moving away from just vegetating on beaches and other hedonistic activities and really going out to engage places and people on different levels. I see ecotourism as kind of a three-legged stool: positive impact on the environment, on the local culture, and on the tourist.

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