Ecotourism: Cultural and Environmental Learning Research Proposal

The article by Kimmel (1999), besides the analysis of the trend towards learning, points out that learning is a process that must be guided and managed. This means that new methods and techniques must be established within the industry to make cultural and environmental learning an integrated and effective part of ecotourism. Leadership and guidance are therefore emphasized as essential in this process.

Ecotourism not only benefits the environment but as well benefits the natural inhabitants of those environments presenting new opportunities for the livelihood of these individuals and presenting an opportunity for them to educate the world at large about the region in which they reside in terms of its culture. Ecotourism benefits travelers through the information, education and knowledge that they receive not only relating to Ecotourism but in regards to the areas that they are traveling and visiting.

Green tourism or Ecotourism will undoubtedly continue to grow and expand in the future due to the necessity and popularity of Ecotourism. This growth and expansion will results in previously unknown opportunities for individuals residing in and around the Ecotourism areas in terms of advancing their income and their manner of living. For attractions such as the forests of Costa Rica, Ecotourism will serve to mitigate the damage inflicted upon the forests and to avoid a total loss of revenue due to failing of the forest systems in Costa Rica.

References

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Kimmel, J.R. (1999). Ecotourism as Environmental Learning. Journal of Environmental Education, 30(2), 40-44.A www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=95865346

Orams, M.B., & Hill, G.J. (1998). Controlling the Ecotourist in a Wild Dolphin Feeding Program: is Education the Answer?. Journal of Environmental Education, 29(3), 33-38.

Sanborn, R. (2005, September/October). Trekking for Change: Vietnam's Hill Tribes Benefit from Ecotourism. E, 16, 54.

Tuxill, J., & Bright, C. (1999, January). Sharing the Planet: Can Humans and Nature Coexist?. USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), 127, 31.

A www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001700776

Wyels, J.G. (2003, March/April). Common Ground for Farmers and Forests: Alarmed by Signs of Extensive Deforestation over the Past Decades, Groups in Costa Rica Are Developing Programs That Combine Ecological Awareness and Sustainable Agriculture. Americas (English Edition), 55, 22+.

Merg, Mike (2007) Defining Ecotourism. The Untamed Path. Online available at http://www.untamedpath.com/Ecotourism/defining.html

Merg, Mike (2007) What is Ecotourism. The Untamed Path. Online available at http://www.untamedpath.com/Ecotourism/what_is_ecotourism.html

Chafe, Zoe. (2004). Consumer demand and operator support for socially and environmentally responsible tourism. CESD and TIES.

Kimmel, J.R. (1999). Ecotourism as environmental learning. Journal of Environmental Education, vol. 30.

Price, G.G. (2004). Ecotourism operators and environmental education: Enhancing competitive advantage by advertising environmental learning experiences. Tourism Analysis, vol. 8, pg. 143-147.

Sanborn, R. (2005). Trekking for change: Vietnam's hill tribes benefit from ecotourism. Mark Orams and Greg Hill.

Wyels, J.G. (2003). Common ground for farmers and forests: Alarmed by signs of extensive deforestation over….....