1. Ecotourism A Special Type of Sustainable Tourism
Prof. Biljana Petrevska
Goce Delcev University
Stip Macedonia
Prof. Nazmiye Erdogan
Başkent University
Ankara Turkey

2. SUBJECT OF THE PRESENTATION
Firstly, to give a few basic definitions and to assess the prevailing mainstream theoretical explanations on ecotourism. Secondly, to analyze alternative theoretical explanations and critisizm of ecotourism. Finally, to present my critical ideas and conclusion

3. MAINSTREAM THEORETICAl Explanations

4. Mainstream theoretical explanations
Ecotourism is a growing segment of the global tourism industry that is making significant positive contributions to
The environmental, social, cultural and economic well-being of destinations and local communities around the world.
Suitable balance between dimensions must be established to maintain its long-term sustainability.

5. The UN International Year of Ecotourism’ of 2002
Marked a major rise of Ecotourism as an Important Form of Sustainable Tourism
(Butcher, 2006)

6. WHAT IS ECOTOURISM?

7. TIES Definition
“Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people and involves education and interpretation”

8. Sustainability “Ecotourism is based on nature travel, including the
principle of sustainability”

9. Why is ecotourism important?
Ecotourism has provided an impetus to assist in
“GREENING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY”
on many fronts
TIES, 2015

10. ECOTOURISM PRINCIPLES

11. Ecotourism Principles
Minimize physical, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts
Build environmental and cultural awareness, and respect
Provide positive experiences for visitors and hosts
Produce direct financial benefits for conservation
Generate financial benefits for local people
Design, construct and operate low-impact facilities

12. TIES and UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 2012
By increasing capacity building opportunities, ecotourism is also an effective vehicle for empowering local communities around the world: To fight against poverty To achieve sustainable development
Surendran, Sekhar 2011

13. Mainstream theoretical explanations FIND
Problems in Ecotourism
Solutions in Ecotourism
Individual knowledge
Behavior of Some tourists
Tour operators
Local people
Environmental education of especially ecotourists
Empowerment of local people who are interested in ecotourism
Successful ecotourism planning is a function of establishing sound goals and criteria

14. Ecotourism carrying capacity
The ecotourism planning is based on two important criteria:
Local tourism resources
Ecotourism carrying capacity
Shi, Zhao and others, 2015

15. Alternative theoretical explanations and Criticism

16. Mainstream Views It represents eco-friendly use of natural resources
One of the most stated principle of ecotourism is sustainable use of exhaustible natural resources with no or minimal negative environmental effect:
It represents eco-friendly use of natural resources
Surendran, Sekhar, 2011

17. Criticism of mainstream views
This prescriptive narrative assumes that the protective use of natural areas is inevitable and necessary for generating source of income This focus on the notion of balance between economic interests and environmental conservation is one of the main tenets of ecotourism This notion is nourished by the ideology of development and sustainable tourism

18. Criticism of mainstream views
The proponents of ecotourism have failed to see the threat caused by such activities Tourism development in protected areas or ecotourism provides
An alternative to the exploitative use of environmental resources
(Drumm, 2008)

19. Criticism of mainstream views
Almost all mainstream definitions agree that ecotourism involves traveling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural places;
There are serious problems in such explanations, because ecotourism must be determined
By the nature of activity
Not by the place of activity
It is not the location or the quantity, but the nature of the activity, use, organization and outcome that must characterize ecotourism
But, not all tourism to natural areas is ecotourism

20. Outcomes of ecotourism
Isaacs criticizes ecotourism as a wildlife conservation strategy for its inability to insure the long term protection of environmental assets. He claims that;
Ecotourism is only a proxy market designed to attract customers
Many protected areas in developing countries is found to be poorly planned, with the infrastructure and management inadequate even unsuitable for ecotourism.

21. Therefore, the net benefits from such conservation are low and occasionally negative for the members of local communities

22. Outcomes of ecotourism
As a result it is claimed that the term “ecotourism” is somewhat vague
The IUCN has listed ecotourism as the second major threat to protected areas

23. Problems associated with ecotourism
Revenue leakages, as labor is drawn from urban sector, instead of focusing on training of unskilled or less-skilled locals
Inequitable distribution of income among the locals
Compulsory displacement for the creation of national parks
Damage to crop and livestock by wildlife
Sticking only to gun and guard approach
for preservation
Insensitive attitude of the tourist
Lack of education for visitors as well as locals policy gap in terms of poor planning and improper unethical management of ecotourism
All such problems infuse negative attitude in the minds of the locals and ecotourism as a policy fails
(Das, Chatterjee 2015)

24. During the implementation of the ecotourism policy
New “environment friendly” Products
are produced
Clean production processes
Environmental monitoring
are developed
Reducing waste
Maximizing the energy savings
are taken
By the same system that creates environmental problems…????

25. According to this marginal view
Sustainability, in fact, refers to the sustainability of the industrial structures…????

26. Problems of its own
Ecotourism will be unable to solve many of the environmental problems its proponents believe it can
It also may create problems of its own….???
(ISAACS, 2000)

27. Ecotourism stakeholders
There are lots of suggestions, recommendations and talks about the functions of ecotourism to improve The environment and economic welfare of local people by forming a symbiotic relationship between powerful parties involved in ecotourism and local people However the main point is missing in these recommendations:
How to establish a symbiotic relationship among the involved parties???

28. Ecotourism is local’s saviors???
The mainstream idea of ecotourism nicely fits in the sustainable development notion:
There are poor, conventional and economically inactive local communities.
These communities need jobs and products of modern life
Ecotourism is one of their saviors:
Ecotourism brings the opportunities of welfare, safety, security to the local communities
What they have to do is simply to participate in the action for development. ..???

29. AND FINALLY
Thus, the global practices of economic exploitation are metamorphosed into the providers of goods and services for the benefit of people on earth ...!!!!!!!!!!

30. take only photographs leave only footprints!