Non-invasive utilization of wildlife is a major incentive for international tourism, but the increase in extraction of natural resources should show more respect to animal rights and welfare. In many destinations, a lion’s share of travel decisions is based on the possibility to see wild animals. Problems in erosion and pollution of environment are better understood than the relationships between visiting tourists and the local wildlife. United Nations declared 2017 “The International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development”, and the theme of annual World Environment Day (5 June) was dedicated to sustainable wildlife experiences by the theme “Connecting People to Nature”.
In spite of unanimously accepted emphasis of respect of nature and decades-long education and studies, unpleasant fact is that there are far too many operations going on in so called ecotourism that do not respect nature or animal rights. The preset outlook presents an excerpt from recent studies and news items regarding the close relationships between international tourism industry and managing and conserving nature – as well as problems in the relationship – in the Year of Sustainable Tourism.
The present overview briefly describes a few conflicts – and also successful examples – between wildlife and wildlife tourism, published recently, mainly in 2016 and 2017.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. 2017 declared The Year of Sustainable Tourism
3. Several aspects of sustainability
4. Limits of Nature
5. Information and education are keys in reaching sustainability
6. People want to see animals – Do the animals want to see people
7. Swimming with dolphins often leads to dangerous habituation
8. Animals are individuals – with individual needs and fears
9. The Last Change Tourism
10. The visitor is urged to respect the wildlife
11. Nature Tourism: Billion dollar/euro business
12. Mutual interests in nature’s and people’s economies
13. Poaching: Huge losses for wildlife and national economies
14. Nature tourism can open doors for criminal activities
15. World Heritage seriously threatened by criminals
16. Respect to animal rights is the key in Responsible Tourism
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This work examines the complex relationship between the international tourism industry and the conservation of nature, focusing on the critical need for increased knowledge and respect for animal rights within the growing sector of wildlife tourism.
- The impact of tourism on the conservation and exploitation of wildlife.
- The necessity of sustainability in ecotourism practices.
- The behavioral and welfare consequences of human-wildlife interactions.
- The economic and social implications of wildlife crime and poaching.
- The shift toward "Last Change Tourism" and its effects on vulnerable habitats.
Excerpt from the Book
Swimming with dolphins often leads to dangerous habituation
One of the most conspicuously advertised forms of wildlife tourism is the possibility to swim with dolphins. These marine mammals are spectacular, often curious to see human swimmers, and dolphins easily habituate, i.e. get used to the close presence of people. Tours are usually tailored to maximize the hopes and wishes of the customer – ecotourist – but far too often neglecting the needs of the dolphin party of the session. Unfortunately, co-swimming with humans can lead to detrimental or even fatal consequences for dolphins. In dolphin tours, the marine mammals are often fed by tour operators or the tourists. Feeding should be avoided or banned, because this leads to habituation of dolphins. In the course of habituation process the dolphins become fearless, and easily adopt habits to approach all vessels. Too close an encounter can result in collisions that are fatal to dolphins.
Wrong kind of friendship in the form of feeding can change the behavior of dolphins. After getting used to receive delicacy from the tourists, dolphins can become aggressive, demanding food from every people approaching. In extreme situations, aggressive dolphins have wounded or even killed people (Christiansen et al., 2016).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter highlights the rising incentive of non-invasive wildlife utilization in international tourism and emphasizes the disconnect between tourism growth and the protection of animal rights.
2017 declared The Year of Sustainable Tourism: This section discusses the UN-declared theme year aimed at promoting sustainable development goals within the global tourism industry.
Several aspects of sustainability: This chapter explores the ecological, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability, noting that the ecological aspect is frequently overlooked.
Limits of Nature: This chapter examines the carrying capacity of environments and how reckless visitor behavior leads to erosion, pollution, and the loss of pristine wilderness values.
Information and education are keys in reaching sustainability: This section stresses the importance of educating tourists and providing proper guidelines to ensure responsible behavior at wildlife sites.
People want to see animals – Do the animals want to see people: This chapter poses the ethical question regarding whether the desire of tourists to see wildlife aligns with the welfare and interests of the animals themselves.
Swimming with dolphins often leads to dangerous habituation: This chapter details the risks of habituation and the negative consequences of feeding marine mammals during tourist interactions.
Animals are individuals – with individual needs and fears: This section explains that different species and individual animals react differently to human presence, requiring customized management strategies.
The Last Change Tourism: This chapter defines the emerging trend of tourists visiting endangered or "doomed" destinations, often driven by the fear that these places will soon disappear.
The visitor is urged to respect the wildlife: This section outlines how major travel agencies are adopting stricter policies to stop booking attractions that violate animal rights.
Nature Tourism: Billion dollar/euro business: This chapter explores the massive economic scale of wildlife tourism and its vital importance to the economies of many developing nations.
Mutual interests in nature’s and people’s economies: This section discusses how the preservation of assets, such as the Great Barrier Reef, is essential for the long-term viability of tourism-related jobs and regional economies.
Poaching: Huge losses for wildlife and national economies: This chapter details the criminal side of wildlife tourism, where commercial infrastructure is sometimes exploited by poachers to facilitate illegal activities.
Nature tourism can open doors for criminal activities: This section warns that providing too much detailed location data on rare species in scientific literature or tourism guides can unintentionally facilitate illegal exploitation.
World Heritage seriously threatened by criminals: This chapter highlights the crisis of poaching within UNESCO World Heritage sites and the threat it poses to both biodiversity and the tourism industry.
Respect to animal rights is the key in Responsible Tourism: The concluding chapter emphasizes that the future of wildlife tourism depends on balancing human demands with the welfare of animals and the active conservation efforts of host countries.
Keywords
Ecotourism, Wildlife Tourism, Sustainability, Animal Rights, Habituation, Poaching, Biodiversity, Responsible Tourism, Last Change Tourism, Environmental Conservation, Wildlife Management, Nature Tourism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The work focuses on the conflicts and challenges within wildlife tourism, emphasizing that the industry often neglects animal rights and natural welfare in favor of economic growth.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The central themes include sustainable tourism practices, the negative impacts of human interference on wildlife, the economics of nature tourism, and the threat of wildlife crime.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to highlight that current mass tourism practices often lead to the over-exploitation of natural resources and to advocate for a more responsible, informed approach to wildlife-based tourism.
Which scientific methods were used?
The author presents an overview and analysis based on a synthesis of recent scientific studies, news items, and industry reports published primarily between 2016 and 2017.
What topics are discussed in the main chapters?
The main sections cover environmental carrying capacity, the behavioral effects of tourism on marine and terrestrial fauna, the rise of "Last Change Tourism," and the impact of poaching on national economies.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Key terms include ecotourism, sustainability, wildlife welfare, habitat degradation, and responsible tourism management.
How does tourism impact animal behavior according to this text?
The text explains that frequent human interaction leads to "habituation," where animals lose their natural fear, often making them more vulnerable to accidents, predation, or aggressive behavior toward humans.
What is "Last Change Tourism"?
It is a trend where tourists specifically seek out destinations that are threatened by environmental destruction, with the goal of seeing these sites before they disappear, which creates a paradox of increasing pressure on already vulnerable habitats.
Why are standard guidelines for wildlife interaction difficult to implement?
Because every species has unique behavioral characteristics and individual animals react differently to human presence, meaning a "one-size-fits-all" approach to tourism management is insufficient.
- Citar trabajo
- PhD Kai Aulio (Autor), 2017, Problems in Ecotourism. More Knowledge is Needed to Understand and Respect Wildlife, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/370448
