Ecotourism Economic, ethics and opportunities

Ecotourism is the attraction of visitors to ecologically sensitive areas.

This type of tourism benefits the local people, the visitor and the environment.

Ecotourism:

South Africa is a country that is rich in biodiversity.Reasons for this biodiversity :a) The country as a very varied climate, like the tropical

weather along the east coast and the almost Mediterranean weather in other parts of the country.

b) The country also has a very varied topography: the low lying belt of the coast, the escarpment and finally the plateau.

This rich biodiversity attracts people from all over the world to come to South Africa.

Ecotourism:

The VisitorThey are able to enjoy the natural beauty of the environment.A large number of both local and international visitors visit areas like the Kruger National park, St. Lucia Wetlands and the Cape fynbos.

The local PeopleIt creates job opportunities e.g. tour leaders, tour guides vendors of food, clothing and gifts.Therefore ecotourism contributes a great deal to the economy.

Benefits to the visitor, the local people and the environment.

Ecotourism encourages public knowledge of environmental issues.

It also creates awareness of environmental issues such as global warming, threat to biodiversity.

Some of the income from the industry is used for environmental issue such as protection of threatened species and the upkeep of the tourist sites.

Benefit to the environment

While ecotourism can have many benefits such as promoting public knowledge, creating awareness and even job opportunities, some tour operators use ecotourism to promote their own business.

Ethical issues

a) The local people are employed at the lowest level and in the lowest paying jobs

b) Accommodation and catering are usually contracted to large international companies therefore these business do not contribute to the economy of the country.

c) Very little or no attempts are made to create interest in the local culture.

d) Usually the tour activities has a negative impact on the environmente) Only a small percentage of the profits or none at all is used for activities

that protect the biodiversity.

These tour operators are guilty of the following: