236
A. Machnik
the local authorities ought to encourage its promotion. The ecotourism industry
can only be profitable in the long term, which is why some local governments and
entrepreneurs do not always want to believe in the success of such an initiative.
On the other hand, if investors want to achieve success quickly, it evokes a risk of
environmental imbalance, disturbances in local community life and also a lack of
quality in infrastructure and offerings. If tourists are not well prepared and not aware
of their own impact on the destination they are visiting, they can make more damage
to this area than the classic mass tourist. Such a situation can consistently increase the
distrust of ecotourism; given the general misunderstandings that arose around it, poor
preparation ultimately leads to the undesirable abandonment of efforts to sustainably
run the tourism business. That is why education, detailed and multi-faceted research
about ecotourism development, and a search for the best forms of implementation
of the sustainable development idea in tourism seems to be crucial for contemporary
society. Therefore, it seems important to:
• strengthen education in this field as well as in the sustainability issues in tourism,
both among future tour operators and among representatives of local communities
• reinforce pro-ecological attitudes in society, respect to nature and the environment
• apply a holistic approach to studies connected with ecotourism, especially those
related to:
– destination development strategies
– local communities
– law and political instruments
– stakeholders’ attitudes
– tourist segmentation
– developing tourist motivations and commitment.
• quality and certification
• implement some innovative methods to ecotourism business and solving problems
• keep promoting ecotourism, considering its niche nature
• propagating the principles of sustainable development as a basic paradigm of
contemporary society.
References
Acott TG, La Trobe HL, Howard SH (1998) An evaluation of deep ecotourism and shallow
ecotourism. J Sustain Tour 6(3):238–253
Agreement M (2000) Proposal for an international certification program for sustainable tourism
and ecotourism
Amendah E, Park J (2008) Consumer involvement and psychological antecedents on ecofriendly
destinations: willingness to pay more. J Hosp Mark Manage 1(3–4):262–283
Ballantine JL, Eagles PF (1994) Defining Canadian ecotourists. J Sustain Tour 2(4):210–214
A. Machnik
the local authorities ought to encourage its promotion. The ecotourism industry
can only be profitable in the long term, which is why some local governments and
entrepreneurs do not always want to believe in the success of such an initiative.
On the other hand, if investors want to achieve success quickly, it evokes a risk of
environmental imbalance, disturbances in local community life and also a lack of
quality in infrastructure and offerings. If tourists are not well prepared and not aware
of their own impact on the destination they are visiting, they can make more damage
to this area than the classic mass tourist. Such a situation can consistently increase the
distrust of ecotourism; given the general misunderstandings that arose around it, poor
preparation ultimately leads to the undesirable abandonment of efforts to sustainably
run the tourism business. That is why education, detailed and multi-faceted research
about ecotourism development, and a search for the best forms of implementation
of the sustainable development idea in tourism seems to be crucial for contemporary
society. Therefore, it seems important to:
• strengthen education in this field as well as in the sustainability issues in tourism,
both among future tour operators and among representatives of local communities
• reinforce pro-ecological attitudes in society, respect to nature and the environment
• apply a holistic approach to studies connected with ecotourism, especially those
related to:
– destination development strategies
– local communities
– law and political instruments
– stakeholders’ attitudes
– tourist segmentation
– developing tourist motivations and commitment.
• quality and certification
• implement some innovative methods to ecotourism business and solving problems
• keep promoting ecotourism, considering its niche nature
• propagating the principles of sustainable development as a basic paradigm of
contemporary society.
References
Acott TG, La Trobe HL, Howard SH (1998) An evaluation of deep ecotourism and shallow
ecotourism. J Sustain Tour 6(3):238–253
Agreement M (2000) Proposal for an international certification program for sustainable tourism
and ecotourism
Amendah E, Park J (2008) Consumer involvement and psychological antecedents on ecofriendly
destinations: willingness to pay more. J Hosp Mark Manage 1(3–4):262–283
Ballantine JL, Eagles PF (1994) Defining Canadian ecotourists. J Sustain Tour 2(4):210–214