Einde inhoudsopgave
Corporate Social Responsibility (IVOR nr. 77) 2010/13.3.3.0
13.3.3.0 Introductie
Mr. T.E. Lambooy, datum 17-11-2010
- Datum
17-11-2010
- Auteur
Mr. T.E. Lambooy
- JCDI
JCDI:ADS363392:1
- Vakgebied(en)
Ondernemingsrecht (V)
Voetnoten
Voetnoten
Bishop et al (2008), supra note 10, pp. 84-95.
The statistics have been based on the The International Ecotourism Society, Ecotourism Fact Sheet, 2005, at: www.ecotourism.org/WebModules/WebArticlesNet/articlefiles/15-NEW%20Ecotourism%20Factsheet%20Sept%2005.pdf, accessed on 22 May 2010. Additional information can be obtained from the UN World Tourism Organisation, at: www.world-tourism.organd the World Travel & Tourism Council, at: www.wttc.org, both websites accessed on 2 July 2010.
International Ecotourism Society (Global Ecotourism Fact Sheet), 2006, at: http://www.ecotourism.org/atf/cf/%7B82a87c8d-0b56-4149-8b0a-c4aaced1cd38%7D/TIES% 20GLO-BAL%20ECOTOURISM%20FACT%20SHEET.pdf, accessed on 22 May 2010.
Bishop et al, 2008, supra note 10.
See: http://www.ecotourism.org/site/c.orLQKXPCLmF/b.4835241/k.18B9/About_TIES.htm, accessed on 7 July 2009. See also Stefan Gossling, 'Ecotourism: means to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem functions?',in Ecological Economics, 29, 1999, pp. 303-320, at: http://www.ideal.forestry.ubc.ca/cons481/Readings/Gossling1999.pdf, accessed on 22 May 2010.
S. Heher, 'Ecotourism Investment and Development Models: Donors, NGOs and Private Entrepreneurs', Johnson Graduate School of Management School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University, 2003. See also: IUCN-NL and World Land Trust, Land Purchase for Conservation. An effective strategy for biodiversity conservation, Amsterdam 2009.
Tourism is one of the largest global industries. The tourism industry is composed of a wide range of businesses, from small operations that operate within a local market, to large transport, hotel and tour operator companies that serve global markets and organise several million tour packages every year. Many countries heavily depend on it. South Africa for example, the country with the largest national parks, receives up to 80 per cent of its annual budget from tourism receipts.1 In more than 150 countries, tourism is one of the top five export earners, and in 60 countries it is the top earner.2 Tourism seems to be particularly important for developing countries: it is a principal income generator for 83 per cent of developing countries and the leading one for one third of the poorest countries.3
Eco-tourism is a fast growing sector, with annual exports up to USD 100 billion. It is growing three times faster than other segments of the tourism sector.4 Eco-tourism is a tool that can help to minimise the environmental effects of regular tourism or economic development in general, and it offers the possibility of compatible economic development to local and indigenous people. There is a direct link between biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism. The collected revenues from visiting the protected areas can support the preservation of lands, water areas and biodiversity in general. In addition, money is directed to the local communities for offering to the tourists lodging, food, guiding and transportation. According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), eco-tourism can be defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people".5 To better understand what the notion of eco-tourism entails and how it is different from regular "mass" tourism, TIES developed the following eco-tourism principles:
minimise impact;
build environmental and cultural awareness and respect;
provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts;
provide direct financial benefits for conservation;
provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people;
raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.
Eco-tourism can be considered an emerging market and has been marked as 'the future of tourism'. More and more people wish to visit ecologically sustainable places that combine beautiful nature and habitats. Although today this market is still a grassroots movement, for the large part concentrated in a small number of regions and facilities and dependent on 'caring' consumers, it continues to develop.6 To illustrate this, two eco-tourism business projects will be analysed in this section: the Pan Parks Foundation and the African Parks Foundation.