Sustainable tourism and Eco- tourism are frequently used under the head of tourism. Sometimes it seems that both are synonym of each other. It is therefore, required to differentiate between these two important terms.
There are 4 main points for sustainable tourism :
1- It must not affect the environment adversely.
2- It must be acceptable to the community.
3- It must be profitable for business.
4-It must satisfy the visitor.
The International Ecotourism Society defines Ecotourism as: “ responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people".
7 defining points to describe ecotourism are :
1.Involves travel to natural destinations.
2. Minimizes Negative Impact.
3. Builds environmental awareness .
4. Provides direct financial benefits for conservation.
5. Provides financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
6. Respects local culture.
7. Supports human rights and democratic movements
Sustainable tourism is one of the most important concepts of the tourism industry and one of the deepest forms of tourism that emerged in the 1970s is a concept close to alternative tourism and responsible tourism, which aims to make the tourism industry a sustainable development that has positive effects on local development without affecting the environment, society and economy.
Eco-tourism is to enjoy nature in natural way.
Tourist wants every facility and luxury, which is against eco- tourism. Is it possible to avoid bottle water, warm water to bath, wi-fi connection, spicy food, cane drinks etc.
sustainable tourism means continuity and protection. economic tourism means
prices
Sustainable tourism is a broad concept which focuses on not taking away more than what you give so that in the long run it will continue to thrive. Eco-tourism is a subset focusing more on pristine areas that are sensitive to the human footprint and therefore the tours have to be carefully arranged keeping this in mind.
Dear Nafees, ecotourism is a special interest (or niche) tourism, a specitalized tourist product that requires special organisation, resources and legal framework. It is mostly developed in national and nature parks, but can be developed also elsewhere.
Sustainable tourism is a concept of tourism development that implies the implementation of a particular set of principles into tourism policy regarding economic, social and environmental framework.
Therefore, ecotourism must be developed as sustainable product, but sustainable tourism does not have to be ecotourism. The concept of sustainable tourism can be implemented in every special interest (or niche) tourism.
Regards,
Oliver
May I answer from the real industry perspective? Sustainable tourism when you have to pay large amount of $$$$ to experience the area. This what majority nature guide charge to their tourist. Usually this kind tourism luxury chartered for wealth tourist or where exchange rate seem to be affordable by those addicted to tropical rain-forest @ natural setting environment. Package known to be all-inclusive usually 'selling' this term to promote their destination. The local community does not really benefit from this kind of tourism. Case Study of Borneo, Land Below the Wind.
Eco-tourism on other hand affordable by majority - prefer by young tourist, teenage travelling in group, company incentive to rewards their employees. Eg: to specific tourism based community where eco-friendly setting available, less modern, purely local way tour, contribute to the village economy viability because the tour run by the native @ village people. You pay to the family/household involved directly in the tour whereas in sustainable all is already in package and the benefit goes solely to tour operator alone. In reality eco-tourism is fit to sustainable tourism rather the sustainable tourism itself. Again taking example of Borneo, Malaysia. Contact us for nice and friendly eco-tourism experience :)
Dear Jamalih, the concept of sustainable tourism implies policy that protects tourism form itself. However, sustainability can be misused in many ways, including that you have mentioned in the case of Borneo. In Europe, as a mature tourism market, sustainability is accepted and understood very seriously, particularly in those destinations or even regions that are under pressure of a large number of visitors, particularly same-day visitors.
Hope one day I'll be able to visit Borneo and discover some other (negative) aspects of sustainability.
Best wishes,
Oliver
Dear Oliver Kesar - My point of view reflect to the actual tour taking place in the place so call sustainable setting. The all-inclusive package to the specific place that claim their are 'sustainable' is only benefit direct operator and very minimum contribute to the local except going for Community Based Tourism.
We believe between academic literature and industry wise - there are enormous gap need to carefully address for community, academicians, industry, shareholder, stakeholder etc involved.
Mount Kinabalu is sustainable setting attraction any many times local, native Sabahan are denied their own access to climb this majestic mountain for the sake of 'sustainable' foreign tourists. The Operator prefer European tourist due to exchange rate value. This is how majority tourism operator 'valuing the sustainability concept'.
Sustainability is a broader concept and a matter of concern now a days not only in research world but also in real world. In such 'sustainable tourism' has a vast spread over not limited to nature only. All the other forms like eco-tourism, indigenous tourism, nature based, special interest tourism and alternative tourism comes under the umbrella of sustainable tourism.
Ecotourism may not be differentiated from sustainable tourism.
Ecotourism is a subtype of sustainable tourism, and refers to tourism activities in rural and wilderness areas that develop a direct benefit to regarding the conservation of their natural resources and their well-being. ... Traveling to natural areas to purposefully understand its culture and environment.
Nafees Mohammad
Ecotourism is a subtype of sustainable tourism ,Industry consensus agrees ecotourism is more focused on ecological conservation and educating travelers on local environments and natural surroundings, whereas sustainable tourism focuses on travel that has minimal impact on the environment and local communities. Ecotourism is a form of tourism, or a category of vacation similar to beach, adventure, health, or cultural, while the concept of sustainability can be applied to all types of tourism.
Greetings
Sustainable tourism is a management perspective. However, eco-tourism is a type of tourism. The problem is the definition of Eco-tourism is not satisfied and clear. Although there is no sustainable tourism that we can participate in, we can choose and participate in any kind of eco-tourism, instead.
For me, sustainable tourism is not a type of tourism, as referred. Because we cannot categorise sustainable tourism. What is sustainable tourism? Who can participate in and how? There are no certain answers. Sustainable tourism is a management tool. If we create an Eco-tourism destination that needs to be sustainable. If we create a mass tourism destination, we should keep it sustainable. Tourism must be sustainable not sustain the tourism itself.
You may find interesting to follow the development of the SPOT project - focusing on sustainable spatial planning of tourism destination. https://www.researchgate.net/project/SPOT-Sustainable-Spatial-Planning-of-Tourism-Destinations