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The Changing Face of Tourism: Ecotourism
Overpopulation,
industrialization, urbanization and environmental pollution have
disastrous effects on Nature and wildlife. Nowadays we often
hear such words as nature tourism, green tourism, sustainable
tourism, bio-tourism, ecologically responsible tourism,
educational tourism and cultural tourism. But sometimes we don't
fully understand their meaning. All these terms have much in
common but they are not synonyms with ecotourism which probably
involves a little of all of them.
Ecotourism
is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism industry.
The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as
'responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the
environment and improves the well-being of local people.'
Ecotourism has a save-the-planet goal. Unfortunately there are
very few pristine and unpolluted areas left in the world and
they must be protected. Ecotourism is a travelling to natural
destinations with rare flora and fauna.
Environmental
organizations say that ecotourism is 'nature-based, sus-tainably
managed, conservation supporting, and environmentally educated'.
It gives the tourist the opportunity to broaden his mind, to
discover new ways of life, to meet interesting people, to
improve his or her knowledge in history and geography.
Ecotourism provides funds for conservation and benefits the
economic development of local communities as tourists provide
jobs to local people, use local transportation, inns and markets
and make voluntary contributions. Besides, ecotourism helps
people understand the environment around them, makes them
respect different cultures and be careful with Nature. It is an
unforgettable experience which is rewarding at the same time.
Ecotourism is for
environment-conscious people who love Nature, understand the
negative influence of conventional tourism on the environment
and want to minimize it. Ecotourism promotes recycling, energy
efficiency, water conservation, safe disposal of waste and
garbage and creation of economic opportunities for the local
communities.
However
ecotourism may have some negative aspects. The increasing number
of tourists may damage the local environment. Some tourists
don't understand the negative consequences of their visits. Many
of them don't know how to behave and don't follow the main rule
of ecotourism 'Leave nothing behind you except footprints and
take nothing away except photographs'. They pollute drinking
water, pick up rare flowers, disturb wild animals, purchase
souvenirs made from the skin of endangered animals or leaves of
rare plants. Searching for 'untouched places' tourists move off
the beaten path and scare away animals.
First and
foremost ecotourism is education. That is why before visiting
some remote area tourists should learn as much as they can about
its flora, fauna, local people, history, culture and traditions.
It is also useful to learn a few words of the local language.
The more information you learn, the more you will get out of
your trip. It is very important to be open-minded and
respectful.
Don't forget
about conservation and careful attitude to the environment in
your everyday life. Follow the rule, 'Preserve and improve'. And
remember that Nature is very fragile and we ought to take great
care of it like a loving mother who takes great care of her only
child.
1. Read the following sentences and circle TRUE or FALSE:
1) Ecotourism is not so popular nowadays as it was in the
90s of the 20th century. - T F
2) Ecotourism has a save-the-planet goal. -
T F
3) Fortunately, there are a lot of pristine and unpolluted areas
in the world. - T F
4) Ecotourism benefits the economic development of local
communities. - T F
5) Ecotourism is for people who are tired of conventional
tourism. - T F
6) The main rule of ecotourism is 'Pick up as many rare plants
as you can.' - T F
7) First and foremost ecotourism is entertainment. -
T F
8) The more information you learn, the more you will get out of
your trip. - T F
2. Complete each sentence (A— H) with one of the endings
(1—8):
A. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism
as
B. Ecotourism is a travelling to
C. Environmental organizations say that ecotourism is
D. Ecotourism helps people
E. Ecotourism is for environment-conscious people who
F. Ecotourism promotes
G. Searching for 'untouched places' tourists
H. Before visiting some remote area tourists should
1. recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, safe
disposal of waste and garbage and creation of economic
opportunities for the local communities.
2. understand the environment around them, makes them respect
different cultures and be careful with Nature.
3. move off the beaten path and scare away animals.
4. 'nature-based, sustainably managed, conservation supporting,
and environmentally educated'.
5. 'responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the
environment and improves the well-being of local people.'
6. learn as much as they can about its flora, fauna, local
people, history, culture and traditions.
7. love Nature, understand the negative influence of
conventional tourism on the environment and want to minimize it.
8. natural destinations with rare flora and fauna.
3. Give the definitions of the following words
• overpopulation
• industrialization
• urbanization
• environmental pollution
• flora
• fauna
• recycling
• conservation
4. Answer the questions
1) Why do overpopulation, industrialization, urbanization
and environmental pollution have disastrous effects on Nature
and wildlife?
2) Why is ecotourism popular nowadays?
3) What are the main goals of ecotourism?
4) What opportunities does ecotourism give to the tourist?
5) How does ecotourism benefit the economic development of local
communities?
6) What are the negative aspects of ecotourism?
7) Can we say that ecotourism has the power to educate? Why?
8) Why is it important not to forget about conservation and
careful attitude to the environment in our everyday life?
5. Make a list of rules for ecotourists
For example:
1. Keep the places you visit clean. Collect litter that other
tourists left behind.
2. Travel on foot, by bicycle or by boat so that there is no air
pollution.
3.
6. Fill in the table
Ecotourism
PROS CONS
7. Read the quotations below. Choose any quotation and
comment on it
• 'In the middle ages people were tourists because of their
religion, whereas now they are tourists because tourism is their
religion.' (Robert Runcie)
• 'Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.'
(Aldo Leopold)
• 'Conservation means the wise use of the earth and its
resources for the lasting good of men.' (Gifford Pinchot)
• 'Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are
in fact plans to protect man.' (Stewart Udall)
• 'The continued existence of wildlife and wilderness is
important to the quality of life of humans.' (Jim Fowler)
• 'Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the
mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach
some of us more than we can ever learn from books.' (John
Lubbock)
• Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your
teacher.' (William Wordsworth)
• 'Forests, lakes, and rivers, clouds and winds, stars and
flowers, stupendous glaciers and crystal snowflakes - every form
of animate or inanimate existence, leaves Its impress upon the
soul of man.' (Orison Swett Marden)
Look at the picture by Bidstrupp and make up a short story.
Say what you think about these people's behaviour. The words and
word combinations in brackets can help you.
(a lovely summer day, to have a picnic in the country, fresh
air, green grass, to be ecologically conscious individuals, to
love Nature, to be responsible travellers, to discover a pile of
litter, to be filled with indignation, to search for some
unpolluted place, the consequences of other people 's visits, to
be angry with, irresponsible behaviour, careless attitude to
Nature, to set a bad example, to lose all hope, to discover, at
last, to rejoice, to have a splendid time, birds' twittering,
the sense of peace and harmony, to have the loveliest day, to
gather strength, full of energy, positive emotions, to leave all
the rubbish, to be satisfied, to feel closer to Nature, to spend
time wonderfully well)
A.
Describe the tour of your dream. Share your ideas of an ideal
trip with your group mates.
B. Read the text 'The Changing Face of Tourism: Ecotourism' and
say if your idea of an ideal trip coincides with the concept of
ecotourism.
Из учебного пособия
"Открывая
мир с английским языком. Современные темы для обсуждения.
Готовимся к ЕГЭ" Юнёва С.А. 2012г.
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