Diploma in Travel and Tourism
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LEARNING UNIT TITLE PAGE
1. Introduction to Ecotourism 5-19
2. Ecotourism Principles 20-29
3. Ecology & Its Key Concepts 29-47
4. Environmental Management 48-57
5. Protected Areas 58-75
6. The National Parks of South Africa 76-91
7. The Community 92-99
8. Culturology 100-118
9. Partnerships 119-128
10. Ecotourism Principles & Local
Communities 129-141
Appendix I Tour Guiding & the Natural
Environment 142-148
Appendix II National Responsible Tourism
Guidelines for South Africa 148-164
Diploma in Travel & Tourism Ecotourism
LEARNING UNIT 1
INTRODUCTION TO ECOTOURISM
KEY OUTPUTS FOR THIS UNITAfter studying this unit you should be able to:
· identify the key South African role players in Ecotourism
· explain the meaning of Ecotourism
· explain why South Africa needs Ecotourism
· understand what Natural Resources are, and how they should be managed
· understand the need for Environmental Economics (= Resource Economics)
· outline the four major study areas of Ecotourism.
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Ecotourism in South Africa
People from all over the world travel to South Africa for the sunshine and to enjoy nature, and there is a growing move towards more and more of these tourists to become known as “Ecotourists”. This is not only a South African phenomenon but also a global trend that means that for South Africa to grow its Ecotourism we have to maintain a competitive edge globally. Right now times for tourism in general are difficult because in the last few years it has become clear that security and disease (e.g. Sept. 11th and SARS), and other matters (e.g. rates of foreign exchange, pricing structures, personal safety, rip-offs by restaurants and/or hotels, etc.) can radically affect all of the tourism industry. Impacting both on the destinations, the numbers of people travelling (or rather NOT travelling), and the kind of people travelling (backpackers, people on packages, etc.).
Because South Africa is renowned for its
§ good weather
§ beautiful and diverse coastline
§ superb scenery
§ friendly and hospitable people from a diverse cultural background
§ for its abundance of wildlife and excellent National Parks
South Africans have the advantage of having their country being a prime destination. But we have to be acutely aware of all threats to all tourism to maintain and grow the industry, and more particularly the Ecotourism industry.
1.2 A Brief History of Ecotourism
Ecotourism is not new. Travellers have been going on safari (a Swahili word meaning “to travel”) in Africa for at least two centuries. Many of Europe's great naturalists of the 19th century “safaried” the continent (mainly through East and southern Africa) identifying and naming plants and animals, and popularising Africa's vast diversity of nature. While at the same time “opening up” the interior with “missionary zeal”. In the 20th century these safaris became much more popular. Initially the visitors were either hunters, explorers, naturalists, writers and/or film makers. They publicised and interpreted their “Africa”, and these early “Ecotourists” laid a firm foundation for the modern Ecotourism industry. By the mid-1900s growing numbers of people were coming to Africa to see and experience for themselves what the continent had to offer.
A definition of “Ecotourism”
The term Ecotourism is comparatively new, although the concept is much older. There are a number of definitions of the term, but perhaps the most comprehensive is that created by the American-based Ecotourism Society, which describes it as; "purposeful travel to natural areas; to understand the cultural and natural history of the environment; taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, while producing economic opportunities that make conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people”. This definition fits neatly into the South African context, catering for the need for conservation of both the cultural and the natural environment, and for sustainable economic development - particularly for the benefit of “local people”. The South African definition, as formulated by Dr G.A Robinson when he was CEO of SANParks in the 1990s, is very similar and essentially reflects the same values with a somewhat different emphasis:
(1) “the protection of living and non-living natural resources,
(2) the promotion of appropriate and environmentally sensitive development, and
(3) the contribution to the goals of achieving social justice and enhancing the quality of life and stability - especially for the communities in the immediate vicinity of protected area”.
The international definition of the word Ecotourism implies far more than merely a nature-experience. The term environment in its broader context has come to include the diverse community activities and cultures of a country's peoples, as well as all the natural resources (including biodiversity). Ecotourism, therefore, implies tourism practices that benefit all concerned parties (all people and all of the environment) - rather than benefiting some and neglecting others. The South Africa definition puts more emphasis on people as the key role players. To ensure that Ecotourist activities meet all the requirements in the definition there are a number of prerequisites that must be met to ensure that Ecotourism is sustainable. SOME of the most important are listed below:
· Proper planning before development
· Sustainable use of resources. This means that there must be no negative impact on either the environment and/or local communities (people)
· Economic viability of all tourism products must be ensured, with significant economic benefits flowing to local communities
· The developers must be held responsible and accountable for the environ-ment on which their business is dependent
· The tourism industry and tourists must be properly regulated.
In South Africa a new element, Afro-tourism or African tourism, is being introduced into the definition of Ecotourism. This refers particularly to the study and enjoyment of the diversity of the cultures present today, and is essentially a marketing ploy.
2 South Africa as a prime Ecotourism destination
The theme that underlies all of South African Tourism's marketing activities for South Africa as a prime destination for the Ecotourist is:
§ “Discover South Africa, Rediscover Yourself”
South Africa has a number of advantages in favour of being a prime Ecotourist destination and these are:
2.1 National Parks
Ecotourism in South Africa probably begins with the country's network of 20 National Parks, representing just about every biological zone or natural environment in the country. Apart from the National Parks there is also a network of marine reserves, other protected areas, and game reserves (with many of the last run by local or provincial authorities, and private enterprise). Many of the National Parks, mountainous regions, and coastal areas feature National Hiking Trails (for which South Africa is famous), presenting an opportunity for serious Ecotourists to walk “into the wilderness”.
2.2 Ecotourism Partnerships
Ecotourism initiatives countrywide are fully cognisant (or should be) of the need to involve neighbouring communities. There are many highly successful partnerships adhering to these principles, ensuring that local communities benefit directly from such projects and development - either through direct partnerships or through a commitment to plough a profit-share back into the community.
2.3 Culture
The cultural side of Ecotourism is also extremely important, and many of the local cultures and traditions are accessible to tourists. There are many tribes and/or ethnic groups in South Africa, and there are no fewer than 11 official languages (12 if one includes “Sign”).
Very old cultures such as the San or Bushmen, living in their age-old traditional way, are unfortunately becoming difficult to find. Anyone fortunate enough to actually witness the lifestyle of the San or Bushmen is in fact witnessing the lifestyles of Homo sapiens, as it was hundreds of thousands of years ago.
2.4 Local Cultural Specialities
South Africa has one of the biggest Indian communities outside India, both Hindu and Muslim. The Afrikaner community maintains many of its pioneer traditions, some of which have become firm features of South African culture. There is also a small, but vibrant, Chinese community as well as other European cultures such as Greek, Portuguese, German, etc. So South Africa is particularly rich in cultures, both indigenous African and from overseas.
2.5 “Adventure” Tourism
Within the framework of Ecotourism lies the concept of Adventure Tourism. These are tourists seeking new avenues of exploring and experiencing their surroundings. Because of South Africa’s vast diversity these niche markets are well represented, and we need to cater more cleverly for this market. Amongst other activities available in South Africa we find:
Extreme water sports such as:
· diving, including snorkelling or scuba - not only around the coastline but also in inland waters
· rafting and canoeing - there is some of the world’s best river rafting, canoeing, and kayaking available on South African rivers
· yachting and power boating - both at sea and on inland waters is becoming increasingly popular
· South Africa is world renowned as a windsurfing destination
· surfing and/or parasailing/gliding are sports that are also well catered for in South Africa, and the world surfing championships are often held here.
Terrestrial activities such as:
· Vehicle safaris, especially 4x4 trails, are becoming increasingly popular and these can be found in many different natural environments around the country. In keeping within the Ecotourism framework every effort is made, and should be made, to avoid environmental damage and lessen the impact of this activity
· Cycling - both road and mountain biking are growing in popularity. There are many organised cycling events, as well as trails that may be done at any time
· Cross-country running and orienteering
South Africa also has many other advantages over most African countries because we offer modern infrastructure such as:
· A sophisticated transport infrastructure (road, rail and air)
· A readily accessible international financial and banking system
· A wide range of accommodation facilities - ranging from the best world standards to hiking huts, camping safaris, and private B&Bs
· Restaurants that also serve takeaways to international standards, and of many cuisines
· International shopping venues and locations where African arts and crafts are readily available - where our different cultures may be experienced and where we cater for discerning tastes
· Advanced medical facilities.
3 The Focus of Ecotourism
In the past much of the focus of Ecotourism was on the natural environment. Thus Ecotourism came to incorporate other forms of tourism such as “Nature Tourism”, “Wilderness Tourism”, “Low Impact Tourism” and “Sustainable Tourism”, to name some. More recently “culture” has also been included in Ecotourism, and the diagram below is an attempt to encapsulate the five fundamental elements of Ecotourism today:
Figure representing the five contemporary components of Ecotourism.
4 KEY ROLE PLAYERS
Ecotourism involves a large cross section of professionals. It is in fact a joint operation of caring and creative people who combine their experience on many different levels. Each role player has an important function in the development, operation and marketing of Eco-tourism, and of Ecotourism destinations.
The KEY role players in any Ecotourism activity are:
· The authority (such as the State, a local authority, and/or an owner [if the land is privately owned] from whom permission to operate must be obtained)
· The tour operator (a registered company and/or individual who brings in the Ecotourists)
· The local community (the people who live adjacent to and/or in the area of operation)
· The tourists (the individuals who use the facilities and who are the clients of the operator, and/or those who use the facilities themselves).
It is important that all these role players adhere to a strict set of guidelines or values to ensure that all the criteria are met (see those discussed in the INTRODUCTION).
The Strategic Framework for Tourism Development in South Africa, compiled by South African Tourism and The Development Bank of S.A., emphasises the values of:
· equitable socio-economic benefits for all participants and communities
· community involvement in decision-making and levels of responsibility, and
· economic and resource sustainability - which requires the balanced management of renewable Ecotourism resources (both human and natural).
5 NEW ASPECTS OF ECOTOURISM RELEVANT TO SOUTH AFRICA
Today Ecotourism in South Africa has also come to include ‘tourist participation’ in all aspects of the operation. This means that the Ecotourist should not only experience all the natural aspects of Ecotourism, but they should also be exposed to (and involved - where feasible) with aspects of local community life. Thus the Ecotourist should have an integrated and holistic experience, a truly South African episode.
Important experiential aspects include such things as:
· Ethos–bonding. This implies that the Ecotourist wants to do more than just travel and participate in activities such as hiking, snorkelling and/or viewing wildlife, etc. – in fact the entire spectrum of outdoor activities that is part of “the African Experience”. The Ecotourist also wants to get “involved”’ or “participate” in local community matters and/or interact with “locals” in some way. They want to gain insights into the needs and daily life activities of local people, and to better understand their cultural values.
· Exposed to the New Democracy. A complete change has occurred in South Africa with regards to a new and emerging democracy post-1994. To be exposed to this new stage and process of development in South Africa’s history is of interest and enlightening to many Ecotourists. They are particularly interested in aspects of the “peace and reconciliation” process, and how family values and personal freedoms have changed.
· Natural and Cultural Diversity. South Africa has been marketed as “A World in one Country”. It not only has a rich diversity of wildlife and scenic splendour, but also an unusual mix of different cultural and ethnic groups, each with their own language, food, religion and customs. This excites foreigners, as the conservation of cultural diversity is now a recognised global issue.
Surveys of South Africa’s most popular features reveal that these are: