2. What IS the International definition?
Many different
definitions over the
years
Fiji made their own up
for a while and hoped it
would ‘stick’...
Many think is all about
going GREEN and stuff
What does it
mean to you?
3. Ecotourism is defined as
"responsible travel to natural
areas that conserves the
environment and improves
the well-being of local
people."
4. Principles of Ecotourism
Minimise impact
Build environmental & cultural awareness &
respect in both visitors & hosts
Provide :
positive experiences for both visitors & hosts
direct financial benefits for conservation
financial benefits and empowerment
for local people
Raise sensitivity to host countries' political,
environmental, and social climate.
6. Conservation
Offering market-
linked long-term
solutions
Provides effective
economic incentives
for conserving and
enhancing bio-cultural
diversity
Helps protect the
natural and cultural
heritage of our
beautiful planet.
7. Communities
Increasing local capacity
building & employment
opportunities
An effective vehicle for
empowering local
communities around the
world to:
fight against poverty
to achieve sustainable
development
8. Interpretation
Emphasis on
enriching personal
experiences
Environmental
awareness
Promotes greater
understanding and
appreciation for
nature, local society,
and culture.
9. Benchmark
Life is now
EASIER
We have a
standard
test/benchmark!
Just ask the 3
questions about:
1. Conservation
2. Communities
3. Interpretation
10. Simply check 3 Ingredients
Conservation
Does it actively conserve environment and culture?
Communities
Is there real capacity building and are they
empowered?
NOT just hiring employees… ?
Interpretation
Directly ‘teaching’ environmental awareness and
allowing personal experiences ?
Appreciation for nature, local society, and culture?
12. Which One?
Fiji did try to set up own
based on Australian
NEAP
Australia ECO
Certification ?
Green Globe?
Planeta?
STI STEP Eco-
Certification?
13. Ecotourism Awards
Used more than
Certification...
Industry recognition
Major marketing
asset
15. Ecotourism vs. Sustainability
Often confused as same
thing
NOT!
Non ecotourism
companies can be
sustainable (and should
be with good CSR)
Being GREEN is not it!
vs.
18. Rivers Fiji
A local Fijian ecotourism
company dedicated to
sustainability and
specialising in adrenaline
rushes.
One or two-day rafting trips
on the Luva or Upper
Navua Rivers are
guaranteed to get your
blood pumping and your
heart racing, without a
detrimental impact to the
environment
19. Bouma National Heritage Park
Actually 4 coordinated
Ecotourism Products
Tavoro Falls
Waitabu Marine Park
Vidawa Rainforest Hike
Lavena Coastal Walk
NZAID initial support
bnhp.org
21. Waitabu Marine Park
Part of Taveuni’s Bouma
Heritage Park
NZAID and private
sector initial support
only
Sustained fully internally
since 2000
Helen’s Case Study
next…
22. Matava Resort
Award winning eco-resort
Matava Foundation
52 plot organic farm &
training
Community honey
Chickens part of farm
100% Solar Power
Solution
MPA formation & support
23. Bagata Village Tour
Wailevu, Cakaudrove
Village Eco Tour
handicrafts
3 other sites in
development:
Magic Waterfall
Rock Pool Bathing
Hot Springs
Assisted by NGO (WCS)
24. Turtle Island Resort
Eco-Luxury
Largest Solar Plant in
tourism
5 acres local produce farm
Local village tourism
support (Oarsman’s Bay)
25. What is Not Ecotourism...
Common misbelieves and confusions
26. Village Based Tourism?
NOT all village or
community based
tourism is Ecotourism...
Nature-destructive
tourism in villages:
Lomawai Village: Sea
Salt making by clearing
& burning mangroves...
Forest clearing for
village plantations
30. Use of endangered
species in decoration
and advertising
Non-sustainable Marine activities
31. Not all Resorts CAN be Ecotourism
Aim at environmental
sustainability
Good CSR would “lean”
many toward term
ecotourism
Careful not to dilute or
“wash” the term
Ecotourism
32. Voluntourism?
Voluntourism Companies Ecotourism?
GVI
Projects Abroad
Coral Cay Conservation
I.C.E.
School helpers?
Hospital helpers?
Kindergarten builders?
Education Program Volunteer?
NONE HAVE DIRECT NATURE!
These do...
Marine Science?
Scuba diving assistant?
34. We all CANNOT all be Ecotourism
Aim at environmental
sustainability
Good CSR with
environmental
sustainability
Careful not to dilute or
“wash” the term
Ecotourism
Don’t claim to be
something you are not…
35. Follow international Standards
Fiji does not need to re-invent the
wheel
Stick to the Internationally
recognised Benchmark as a guide:
1. Conservation
2. Communities
3. Interpretation
36. Fiji has GREAT Ecotourism
We are good at Ecotourism in Fiji
But must be careful to know what is & isn’t
Entire industry is not Ecotourism & never
will be
Assist new projects aiming to be Ecotourism
to achieve the 3 benchmarks
38. References
Honey, M. (1999) Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who
Owns Paradise? Island Press: Washington, DC
Harrison, D. (1998) Ecotourism and village-based tourism: a policy and
strategy for Fiji. Government Print, Suva, Fiji.
TCSP (1990) Guidelines for the integration of tourism development
and environmental protection in the South Pacific. Tourism Council of
the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
Ayala, H. (1995) From quality product to Eco-product: will Fiji set a
precedent? Tourism Management 16(1): 39-47
King, R. and Weaver, S. (1993) The impact of the environment on the
Fiji tourism industry: a study of industry attitudes. Journal of
Sustainable Tourism 1(2): 97-111
Weaver, S. (1992) Nature Tourism as a means of protecting indigenous
forest resources in Fiji Journal of Pacific Studies 16: 63-73.
(1999) Fijian Ecotourism Gets NZ Govt Aid. Travel Trade April 16 1999,
p 1.
Editor's Notes
"responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people
Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles:
Minimize impact, this means to both what we think of as green and environmental impacts AND the cultural impacts on the communities.
Build environmental & cultural awareness & respect, again this means a two way communication between the visitors and hosts
Provide positive experiences for both visitors & hosts
Provide direct financial benefits for conservation (not just money into the pockets of employees and companies…)
Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people (just saying “we hire locals” ain’t it! EVERY company hires locally in every industry!)
Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate (interpretation)
Communities
Is there real capacity building and are they empowered?
NOT just hiring employees… ?
Interpretation
Directly ‘teaching’ environmental awareness and allowing personal experiences ?
Appreciation for nature, local society, and culture?
Simple now just Benchmark
Conservation
Communities
Interpretation
Going to run through some
ALL are private sector
Some foreign investors
some community