Sustainable Tourism Development Through Ecotourism: A Conceptual Approach

Eco-tourism is the development of a region’s tourism industry in such a way as to not damage or deplete the resources and attractions that make the region attractive to tourists. The learning of ecotourism offers many opportunities to reflect on the importance of sustainability, and the possibilities of implementing approaches which move us in a new track. But it also suggests that there are significant obstacles. Overcoming these obstacles requires more than well-intentioned policies; it requires a new association of communal forces, a move towards broad-based self-governing involvement in all aspects of life, within each country and in the concert of nations. The magnitude of the tourism industry can be clearly seen from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) statistics. The WTTC estimates that in the year 2002, travel, tourism and related activities will contribute to approximately 10% of the world’s GDP, growing to 10.6% by 2012. The industry is currently estimated to help generate 1 in every 12.8 jobs, 7.8% of total employment. This will rise to 8.6% by 2012 (WTTC 2002). Tourism, travel and hospitality industry has helped to create millions of jobs in developing countries. For example official estimates for 2002 suggest China has 51.1 million jobs associated to tourism and India 23.7 million jobs. In this paper we have explored the sustainable growth with respect to self sufficiency and dualistic development.