Ecotourism the Emerging Ecotourism Market Research Proposal

In fact, marketing ecotourism itself can be a major challenge for many. The Internet is riddled with advertisers who claim the ability to market ecotourism with great success. The International Ecotourism Society, however, recommends supporting education in ecotourism, making more information about ecotourism visible and available, and using the media, as well as smaller ecotourism agencies, to raise awareness about ecotourism excellent marketing skills. In fact, this way of marketing ecotourism is superior because it tackles one of ecotourism's major problems -- visibility. Thus, while the market for ecotourism is growing steadily larger, ecotourism agencies must realize that they need to appeal to a wide variety of people in order to market their brand of tourism. Because one of ecotourism's primary problems is visibility, the International Ecotourism Society's methods of increasing education and visibility is the perfect immediate solution.

Ecotourism in Developing Countries and Conclusion

In addition having benefits for both tourists and the environment, ecotourism is a "soft development strategy" for third world countries. Furthermore, for countries that rely primarily on an agricultural or subsistence income, tourism "could represent an additional income source for the villagers and is generally favoured by the communities as an effective way to enhance the standard of living in the area." Thus, ecotourism can be seen as a win-win situation for the developing and developed world. Developing nations can reap benefits from tourists in the form of additional funds to supplement those already earned through agriculture and other practices. Tourists can earn the benefit of learning about an authentic culture, and widening their horizons. The environment, as well as international relations, stand as passive benefactors from this action, in that they both receive benefits -- increased conservation and a greater sense of global civil society -- from ecotourism without having to contribute to the type of tourism in any real sense. Despite these benefits, however, it is possible that ecotourism could result in negative impacts. For example, Hasse suggests that establishing ecotourism in the Parque National Cusuco may be harmful in the fact that funds from tourism could further exacerbate current cultural and political problems.Thus, while ecotourism can be beneficial to tourists, the environment, developing countries, and international relations in a variety of ways, the ecotourism market also faces a variety of challenges. Some of those challenges include marketing ecotourism to a traditional tourist target audience, as well as insuring that ecotourism does more good than harm. Because an increasing interest in ecotourism has been discovered, ecotourism could very well be an important service in the future.

Bibliography

Daniela Hasse. "The Implications of Ecotourism for Developing Countries: The Case of Cusuco National Park Honduras." Available at http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:dc4WoVbdLr0J:www.opwall.com/Library/Honduras/Honduras%2520Terrestrial/SocioEconomic/Daniela%2520Haase%2520-%2520Ecotourism_Diss.pdf+ecotourism+and+third+world+countries&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=15&gl=us.Internet; accessed 25 November 2008.

The International Ecotourism Society. "Definitions and Principals." Available at http://www.ecotourism.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/eco_template.aspx?articleid=95&zoneid=2.Internet; accessed 24 November 2008.

The International Ecotourism Society. "Oslo Statement on Ecotourism." Available at http://www.ecotourism.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/eco_template.aspx?articleid=15&zoneid=2.Internet; accessed 24 November 2008.

Van Dusen, Allison. "Ten Healthy Reasons to Take a Vacation." Available at http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/02/vacation-work-summer-forbeslife-cx_avd_0806health.html. Internet; accessed 24 November 2008.

Van Dusen, Allison. "Ten Healthy Reasons to Take a Vacation"; available at http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/02/vacation-work-summer-forbeslife-cx_avd_0806health.html;Internet; accessed 24 November 2008.

The International Ecotourism Society. "Definitions and Principals"; available at http://www.ecotourism.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/eco_template.aspx?articleid=95&zoneid=2;Internet; accessed 24 November 2008.

The International Ecotourism Society. "Oslo Statement on Ecotourism;" available at http://www.ecotourism.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/eco_template.aspx?articleid=15&zoneid=2;Internet; accessed 24 November 2008.

The International Ecotourism Society, Oslo, 3.

Daniela Hasse. "The Implications of Ecotourism for Developing Countries: The Case of Cusuco National Park Honduras"; available at http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:dc4WoVbdLr0J:www.opwall.com/Library/Honduras/Honduras%2520Terrestrial/SocioEconomic/Daniela%2520Haase%2520-%2520Ecotourism_Diss.pdf+ecotourism+and+third+world+countries&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=15&gl=us;Internet; accessed 25 November 2008.

Haase Implications

Hasse Implications.....