Development of Ethno Tourism - Essay Example

DEVELOPMENT OF ETHNO TOURISM TO PRESERVE THE COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT By + State Date Development of Ethno tourism to preserve the Community and the Environment Introduction Tourism remains an essential factor that is boosting many economies in the world. There are many forms of tourism, but this essay deals with ethno tourism. With evolution in tourism, ethno tourism is a current trend in the sector of tourism. Travel companies have decided to invest in this tourism sector because of increased competition in the other forms of tourism. The need for fostering this form of tourism has led to the needed development of the ethno tourism sector. Ethno tourism is the form of tourism where tourists travel to different places to experience the different cultures of the local people and understand it better. People living out of this culture tend to get involved into it, to learn the biogenetic and sociocultural aspects of the local people (Goeldner & Ritchie, 2009). Ethno tourism can be developed in a self-sufficient and sustainable way that preserves traditional cultures and the environment. The form of tourism that encourages the preservation of the indigenous culture, and one that does not affect the environment should be promoted. This essay gives the idea that it is possible for development of ethno tourism, and gives the importance of developing it. It also gives the efforts to achieve this, using examples. Importance of ethno tourism development Ethno tourism encourages the development of the cultural identity of the people. Most countries have experienced rapid modernization, thus leading to the spread of modernization. Most cultures in the long run become eroded or contaminated with other forms of modern cultures. The young people become captives of the new cultures and western influences. The traditional cultural identity later dies out because there is no tool of transferring the cultures to the new progeny. However, development of ethno tourism has led to the appreciation and promotion of the traditional cultures all over the world. The maintenance of the community heritage is fostered, and the next generation inherits it. The cultures are studied and documented for further reference by scholars. The documentation of such cultures leads to the long term preservation of the cultures for future reference, thus encouraging cultural identity. Ethno tourism acts as a way of interconnecting two divided cultures. The tourists travel to different regions in order to experience different cultures (Mclaren, 2002). They experience the traditional cultures, and they let the traditional people to learn their cultures as well. This is potentiated via interactions, thus facilitating the cross cultural education and communication. This later builds the cultural tolerance and understanding. The development of the ethno tourism sector therefore, leads to international and intercultural relationship between the people. It also develops cultural diversity and appreciation. The development of the ethno tourism sector leads to acquisition of income by the communities, thus development. The revenues generated via ethno tourism can be channeled in the community development activities such as health, education, provision of clean water, and development of social facilities. The guides during the whole process are also able to earn income in the form of wages or salaries. This can aid to provision of a better form of earnings in the community. If the income is well managed, the community stands to benefit (Mclaren, 2002). The community then learns to appreciate their culture and preserves it, since it is their source of income. Ethno tourism also leads to development of education and capacity building in the community. Most communities do not develop because they lack access to information. The remote environments are exposed to the whole world through the ethno tourism sector. Contact with the external world will lead to e better living standard of the people. Social amenities such as the hospitals, schools, and roads can be built in such areas to foster the tourism. Ethno tourism can also act as a way of uniting the whole community (Goeldner & Ritchie, 2009). Community organization can be strengthened, hence leading to harmony in that society. The traditional communities then benefit from this tourism, hence the need for its development. Lastly, ethno tourism can act as a way of promoting other sectors of the creative industries. Ethno tourism involves many activities such as traditional songs and dances. This provides a versatile platform of promoting the musicians and dancers. Creative areas such as performing arts are greatly supported. This increases the earnings the community and the individuals obtain from their traditions. The songs and dances can also act as trademarks for the promotion of the traditional cultures and the environment. Cultural theatres can be established for the showcasing of the cultures (Atlas Africa International Conference 2002). These trademarks will promote the initiatives and the enterprise of the culture worldwide. The opening up of the cultures of the local people leads to diversification of the tourism industry to promote the talent and cultural belonging among the local people. It also encourages showcasing the cultures all over the world. Therefore, the promotion of ethno tourism leads to the development of other sectors in the traditional creative industries. Efforts to preserve the traditional culture and the environment The traditional culture and the environment have been developed through education. First, the community should be educated about their community culture and the importance of environmental conservation. This can be done to improve the cultural identity and to prevent the contamination of the traditional culture with the foreign cultures. The traditional cultures can also be educated on the value of their cultures to encourage its preservation. They are educate don the need to preserve their environment to conserve their habitat. For example, in Africa, the governments have decided to educate the indigenous people about their rights. They are advised to plant trees, to preserve their wildlife, in order to improve their traditional heritage. They are discouraged to cut down the trees, but to plant more trees. In Kenya, cultures such as the Maasai have been enlightened to preserve their culture, hence attracting many tourists. Their indigenous fashion, songs, dances, and lifestyle has been a great attraction all over the world. Therefore, educating the indigenous people aids in cultural preservation, and environmental protection. Another strategy is the legislation that provides cultural and environmental protection. The law varies from country to country or region to region. In the SADC countries of Africa, there are legislations regarding the licensing of the tour companies, and the tour guides. Furthermore, there are regulations that are aimed at prevention of environmental destruction. Most countries have decided to ban deforestation, but encourage afforestation. In South Africa, it is illegal to cut down trees without replacement. The law also notices the different communities or tribes in these countries. Countries such as Namibia have introduced a Community Tourism Policy to stress the community involvement in the tourism sector (Atlas Africa International Conference 2002). The jurisdiction over the native land is left for the traditional authorities. The governments have also placed regulations to impose tourism levies to promote the communities as well as the environment. Environmental preservation programs have also been established to preserve the environment. Most tourists tend to travel to different regions with diseases. They travel to the traditional communities and spread the diseases the local communities. This increases the cost of healthcare in the local people thus expensive medical treatment. The governments have put travel regulations that require that tourists with given diseases do not travel to their countries. The tourists are also limited from travelling to areas with contagious diseases, or diseases they are susceptible to. In the tropical Africa, the tourists from the West are encouraged to obtain malaria or polio vaccination before entering the region (Atlas Africa International Conference 2002). This is to protect them, since they are susceptible. They also encourage the local people to preserve their environment, and regulate travelling. These efforts are channeled towards protecting local communities from contagious diseases or environmental pollution. For example, most countries tend to place travel bans on countries with contagious diseases such as swine flu, SARS, and other diseases (Mclaren, 2002). Another strategy is the use of the stakeholder bodies in the given region of tourism. In the small scale traditional tourism, the community remains the most important stakeholder. A committee or a trust may be developed to oversee the benefits that are obtained from the tourism. The stakeholders benefit from the ethno tourism initiative, but they also protect their environment and their culture. The committees develop the regulations that govern the reception, treatment, and handling of the tourists from other regions. The committees organize the groups that act as tour guides to interact with the tourists and educate them of their cultures. The guides are let to learn their cultures in order to be effective guides to the tourists. The regulations available may also limit environmental destruction, hence leading to environmental preservation (Mclaren, 2002). Finally, there are initiatives that have been developed to reduce the population of the people in the urban areas in most countries. These are initiatives to diversify workplaces as well as educational institutions. The individuals who work in urban or rural areas have been transferred to other rural areas in order to encourage cohesion. Individuals from a given community are transferred to another hence leading to promotion of ethno tourism. The individual is forced to learn the cultures of the other community in order to fit effectively. They are forced to value the cultures of the other people, and potentiate valuation of different cultures. They can also learn different methods of environmental conservation methods, which later boost the ethno tourism industries. These efforts develop a self-sufficient method of preservation of traditional cultures and the environment. Conclusion All in all, ethno tourism can be developed in a self-sufficient and sustainable manner that preserves the traditional cultures and the environments. The essay shows that the development of ethno tourism is very important for the traditional communities and their environments as a source of income, provision of social amenities, and cultural identity. Many efforts have been put in place to oversee the development of the ethno tourism, and to preserve culture and the environment. This is done via legislation, education, travel regulations, and the initiatives to reduce the population of the urban areas. Therefore, the development of the ethno tourism sector can be fostered for conservation of traditional communities and the environment. 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