Roger D. Needham

Ecotourism: The Evolving Contemporary Definition

A rise in the popularity of ecotourism has coincided with voluminous definitional discourse. Amongst stakeholders, confusion has resulted from the disparate nature of these definitions. In the absence of a common definition or set of key tenets the challenge has been to ensure operational ecotourism that adheres to the theoretical underpinnings of the concept. Without some semblance of definitional consensus, ecotourism may be on a precarious course whereby the ethics upon which the activity is conceptualised, the natural environment upon which the activity depends, and the legitimacy of the industry are at risk. The ambition of this research is to disentangle a set of themes from the evolving definitional debate in order to provide a framework for the development of ecotourism policy and applications. Recurring themes are identified through the application of content analysis methodology to select contemporary definitions. Those themes that appear most frequently are then introduced as an ecotourism conceptual framework based on key tenets. The tenets are meant to represent a set of established fundamental beliefs central to ecotourism: (1) nature-based; (2) preservation/conservation; (3) education; (4) sustainability; (5) distribution of benefits; and (6) ethics/responsibility/awareness.

Internet-based Ecotourism Marketing: Evaluating Canadian Sensitivity to Ecotourism Tenets

The internet is providing a new and important electronic commerce medium for tourism. In the ecotourism case, it provides the primary mechanism for promoting ecotourism opportunities (providers) and for researching and planning ecotourism experiences (consumers). As a matter of concern, the literature establishes that the congruency of traditional ecotourism marketing with established ecotourism tenets is limited. Ecotourism may be on a ‘precarious course’ whereby the natural environment, long-term sustainability and legitimacy of the industry are at risk. The scale of the internet and its use to promote ‘disingenuous’ ecotourism products may accelerate negative outcomes. However, our understanding of internet-based ecotourism marketing – both delivery and outcomes – is limited. Through the application of a content analysis framework, this paper assesses the congruency of internet-based ecotourism marketing with ecotourism tenets. The study finds the use of the term ‘ecotourism’ and its tenets to market tourism experiences is a well-established internet-based marketing activity, and congruency between ecotourism tenets and ecotourism marketing messages is contentious amongst the Canadian sample providers. It supports antecedent claims that disingenuous ecotourism marketing is the norm, not the exception. Recommendations for improving marketing success, long-term sustainability of the industry and delivery of ‘genuine’ ecotourism products are presented.

The cosmopolite-localite model: Newspaper types and natural hazard information potentials

This article presents a description of thecostmopolite-localite model, a conceptual framework in which institutional and news coverage characteristics are organized according to four broad types. Hypothetical reporting patterns for natural hazards are graphed for the types along a continuum exhibiting local, fegional, provincial, and international characteristics. A similar graphical presentation is used to describe the models application to Canadian and American newspaper response to selected hazards affecting near and distant places. In conclusion, the value of the model to students and practioners of resource management is considered.

The Arctic as a Regional Sea

Although many people still view the Arctic as little affected by human activity, the region has been the home of Man for thousands of years and its wildlife and ecology have been changed in many ways in the last four hundred years as a result particularly of the commercial and technical activities of western industrial nations. Three forces are, however, now bringing more and more attention to the use and conservation of arctic lands and seas: (a) arctic petroleum exploration and development, which is becoming increasingly extensive offshore in Alaska, Canada, and Norway; (2) The Law of the Sea Convention, which is leading to the division of the formerly open Arctic into large spheres of national jurisdiction through the declaration of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ); and (3) the World Conservation Strategy, which is providing the conceptual basis for the international cooperation and comprehensive management that is clearly needed to introduce sustainable development in the Arctic. It is suggested that one promising means of planning and implementing balanced use and conservation in the waters and adjacent lands of the Arctic is through the UNEP Regional Seas Programme. This institutional arrangement is already being used in similar resource-management circumstances in eleven other regions of the world. The Regional Seas Programme is action-oriented and includes four basic elements: (1) promotion of international and regional conventions, guidelines, and activities; (2) assessment of marine pollution and related effects; (3) coordination in protection, development, and management; and (4) support through training, education, and other means.