生态旅游的追求[外文翻译]

生态旅游的追求[外文翻译]本科毕业论文外文翻译外文题目: In pursuit of ecotourism出处: Biodiversity and Conservation, 1996, Volume 5,Number 3, Pages 277-291作者: Harold Goodwin原文:In pursuit of ecotourismHarold GoodwinCompeting definitions of ecotourismThe word 'ecotourism' has been coined relatively recently and there remains no consensus about its meaning. 'Ecotourism' has spread rapidly first because it has a number of different meanings and second becauseit has been extensively used opportunistically in marketing, 3 where the tag 'eco-' has come to be synonymous with responsible consumerism. The tourism industry has been quick to exploit the marketing value of ecotourism, the more so since its meaning is unclear and there is no requirement for the operator to do more than alter the packaging. The ecotourist has been variously defined in terms of visitor behaviour and philosophy.The advertising appeals to and promotes these approaches. Ecotourism is 'a niche market for environmentally aware tourists who are interested in observing nature' (Wheat, 1994), described by Steele (1993) as 'aneconomic process where rare and beautiful ecosystems are marketed internationally to attract visitors'. Kelman put it bluntly 'a tour advertised as environmentally friendly can be just as suspect as many of the products tarted up with green packaging at your grocery store' (Wight, 1994).The World Travel and Tourism Environment Research Centre in its 1993 World Travel and Environment Review defined ecotourism as tourism 'with the specific motive of enjoying wildlife or undeveloped natural areas' (WTI'ERC, 1993), making no distinction between nature tourism and ecotourism. Others have also used ecotourism and nature tourism synonymously (Lindberg, 1991; Aylward and Freedman, 1992). Ceballos-Lascurain's, 1987 definition has been used by others (Boo, 1990: Stewart and Sekartjakrarini, 1994):travelling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existingcultural manifestations (both past and present) found in these areas. In these terms, nature-oriented tourism implies a scientific, aesthetic or philosophical approach to travel although the ecological tourist need notbe a professional scientist, artist or philosopher. The main pointis that the person who practices ecotourism has the opportunity of immersing himself/herself in nature in a manner generally not available in the urban environment.' (quoted in Boo, 1990).Ziffer (1989) offered a definition which combined motivation, philosophy, conduct and economic benefit to conservation: 'Ecotourism: a form of tourism inspired primarily by the natural history of an area,including its indigenous cultures. The ecotourist visits relatively undevelopedareas in the spirit of appreciation, participation and sensitivity. The ecotouristpractices a non-consumptive use of wildlife and natural resources and contributesto the visited area through labor or financial means aimed atdirectly benefiting theconservation of the site and the economic well-being of the local residents..'.The American based Ecotourism Society was founded in 1990 'as a center for research,information and policies on developing ecologically sound tourism in natural areas around the world.' The Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as: "purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture and natural history oftheenvironment, taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, whileproducing economicopportunities that make the conservation ofnatural resourcesbeneficial to local people"( Wood,1991 ).These definitions are broadly drawn, seeking to combine ecological and cultural tourism activities, often within frameworks which address philosophy and motivation.The US Office of Technology Assessment of the American Congress concluded that:'While some ecotour operators are out simply to make a profit with little consideration of environmental and social issues, others are sensitive to these issues and may actively contribute to conservation projects/goals' (U S OTA, 1993).They pointed out that there is a:'wealth of literature . .[which].. addresses the nature and growthof ecotourism, itspotential environmental and sociological impacts and planning and managementissues ... no definition of ecotourism has been universally accepted, data arecommonly questionable, and much information and study is needed to assess theimpact of nature travel" (US OTA, 1993).Ecotourism is often defined prescriptively. Consider for example the National Eco-tourism Strategy published in 1994 by the MexicanSecretariat of Tourism in cooperation with the World Conservation Union (Table 2). It has developed a long list of characteristics of ecotourism which constitute a highly prescriptive definition, ~ one which has beentaken-up by the World Tourism Organization (WTO, 1995). It is interesting to note that there is only one reference to protected areas and that where ecotourism is identified as a suitable mechanism for improving links between local communities and protected area managers. Definitions of this nature are difficult to use analytically.The World Tourism Organization (WTO) definition of ecotourism will be the one which is used to determine the volume of ecotourism and to measure its value world-wide. The emerging definition of ecotourism within the WTO and the one which will therefore prevail is derived from Australia. Australia's NationalEcotourism Strategy defined ecotourism as 'Nature-based tourism that involves education and interpretation of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable" (Commonwealth Department of Tourism, 1994). The report recognizes that the natural cnvironment includes cultural components and that to be "ecologically sustainable" there must be an appropriate return to the local community and a contribution to the hmg-term conservation of the resource (WTO, 1995).Ecotourism rediscoveredEcotourism is no panacea. A critical approach to ecotourism is essential if it is to be harnessed for the conservation of habitats and species. Ecotourism will not be significantly different from conventional tourism unless it is carefully managed and controlled (Cater,1993). Protected area managers and conservationists need to takemore control over thedefinition and use of the concept and over the supervision of its practise.There is an urgent need to 'put the ecology back into ecotourism' (Valentine, 1993) in order to establish a symbiotic relationship between nature based tourism and conservation. For governments and development agencies ecotourism has much to offer in diversifying rural economies in LDCs in urgent need of foreign exchange. Tour operators will continue to use ecotourism as a marketing tool. It is difficult for consumers to get accurate information about the tours which they are offered and about the operators who claim the mantle of ecotourism.If ecotourism is to become a means of harnessing part of the tourism industry for conservation of habitats and species, it is essential to focus on the activity rather than the motivation of the ecotourists. It is what they do, rather than what they say (or think) they do that impacts on conservation and ecosystems. It is easier to determine whether individual activities and tours meet ecotourism criteria, by contributing directly or indirectly to conservation, than it is to determine whether or not individuals are ecotourists or not.Only conservationists and protected area managers are in a position, or have the expertise, to credibly assert a more useful definition of ecotourism. Ecologists and conservationists need to 'take control of the language being used in the name of ecotourism' (Valentine, 1993) and to use it to benefit conservation and the maintenance of protected areas.It is protected area managers and conservationists, working with localpeople, who are best placed to manage nature tourism to ensure that its environmental impact does not jeopardise the integrity of the ecosystem and that both local people and the park gain significantly from ecotourism.Nature tourism and ecotourism need to be distinguished. Naturetourism is concernedwith the enjoyment of nature, ecotourismadditionally requires a contribution to conservation. Hence thefollowing definition ~ of ecotourism is offered:low impact nature tourism which contributes to the maintenance of species andhabitats eitherdirectly through a contribution to conservationand/or indirectly byproviding revenue to thelocal community sufficient for local peopleto value, andtherefore protect, their wildlife heritagearea as a source of income.According to this definition ecotourism makes a direct or indirect measurable contribution to the continued protection and management of natural habitats and their species.Generally this contribution is likely to be financial but the work of commercial and "not-for-profit' organizations which enable tourists to make a practical contribution should not be ignored. However, their claims too need to be carefullyand openly assessed by conservationists.Ecotourism is too powerful a force, driven by producers andconsumers in the world's largest industry, for conservationists andprotected area managers to allow it to bc controlled and developed by that industry. It is the form and impact of the nature tourism which must be managed to fulfil ecotourism criteria, it is essential that ecotourism is low impact and that this is ensured through careful extensive and intensive visitor management. Protected area managers and conservationists have an opportunity to manage nature tourism and turnit into ecotourism at the point of consumption, whatever the motivation of the tourist. It is the activity which needs to be controlled and used for conservation. If control is inadequate, pollution, habitat destruction, wildlife disturbance and a host of other negative impacts will result. Carrying capacity analysis and limits of acceptable change (LAC) management tools will need to be applied if tourism is to be harnessed for conservation.Ecotourism can demonstrate that good conservation is good economics, to local people and to governments. Re-investment in the maintenance of ecosystems and the species which inhabit them is at the core of ecotourism. Ecotourism can bring money and jobs to local people and increased revenues to national treasuries to enable them to fund park management. Ecotourism serves conservation objectives only if it demonstrates to local people and to governments that they should stop poaching, logging, slash-and-burn agriculture and other forms of encroachment and habitat disturbance to maintain the protected area for tourism.译文:生态旅游的追求生态旅游定义的竞争“生态旅游”这个词，关于它的定义相对于已经创造的含义，近期仍没有达成共识。