Zambia’s
tourism sector is currently one of the country’s growth potential areas. It has
been given the non-traditional export status and is receiving a lot of support
from the Government by way of infrastructure development, promotion of
increased private sector participation, as well as attractive tax incentives
for all investments in the sector.
Zambia’s
tourism potential draws from its natural environment, from which abound a
variety of tourism attractions. The main tourism attractions in the country
include; the Victoria Falls (which is one of the most renowned beautiful
transcendental Seven Natural Wonders of the World), and the wealth of wildlife
spread out in the country’s 19 national parks and 34 game management areas with
a total area of 65,000 km2. Furthermore the country boasts of vast
waterfalls, lakes and rivers, one of the largest concentrations of bird species
in the world, a rich cultural heritage and several monuments spread across the
country. It is against this background many people have entered in tourism
related business while trying to conserve natural resources and improving
social economic activities in the country.
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| Ecoturism trail |
Considering Ecotourism
Ecotourism
is a travel activity that ensures direct financial support to local people
where tourism activities are being generated and enjoyed. It teaches travellers
to respect local cultures of destinations where travellers are visiting. It
supports small stakeholders to ensure that money must not go out from the local
economies. It discourages mass tourism, mass constructions of hotels, tourism
resorts and mass activities in fragile areas". For many countries,
ecotourism is not simply a marginal activity to finance protection of the environment, but is a major industry of the
national economy.
Natural resource management can be
utilized as a specialized tool for the development of ecotourism. There are
several places throughout the world where the amount of natural resources are
abundant. But, with human encroachment and habitats these resources are
depleting. Without knowing the proper utilization of certain resources they are
destroyed and floral and faunal species are becoming extinct. Ecotourism
programs can be introduced for the conservation of these resources. Several
plans and proper management programs can be introduced so that these resources
remain untouched.
Though
there are problems experienced, in general the ecotourism market appears to be
producing sound environmental and socio-economic benefits as per the objectives
of any individual ecotourism venture. Ecotourism guarantees maintenance of
environmental integrity by utilizing Natural Resource Management as a
specialized tool for its development. The first positive impact is that
successful ecotourism ventures generally result in the formation of parks or
natural protected areas within the host community. This is important in many
ways to the community as it is the first aids in the environmental protection
of the area; and it generates financial revenue through entrance fees,
donations and government support and it provides valuable jobs that add to the
social and economic structure of the host community.
Therefore,
the introduction of national parks and protected areas as one of ecotourism
objectives benefit these locations ecologically, and by providing conservation
incentives to the community adjacent to the area help in preserving the
integrity of wildlife. There are several places throughout the country where
the amount of natural resources are abundant. But, with human encroachment and
habitats distraction they are destroyed and floral and faunal species are
becoming extinct. This is countered by the introduction of ecotourism programs
for the conservation of host areas’ resources. Through several ecotourism plans
and proper management programs, the negative impacts are countered and
consequently environmental pristine beauty restored.
Job Creation through Ecotourism
Job
creation is also one of the positive impacts of ecotourism which includes
direct and indirect employment opportunities. The first direct employment
opportunity as jobs within the park or protected areas. Although these jobs are
relatively few, they are an important economic contributor to the community. In
this way ecotourism contributes to sustainable development in involved community
also point out however that while some jobs are being created for the tourism
industry, many occupations and resources (such as hunting and agriculture) are
taken away due to the formation of national parks and protected areas. Local
people have become employed as national park tour guides, campground operators,
and craft and food producers, and through these initiatives have produced
successful community development projects such as clinics, schools, and water
sources. Since sustainable tourism is the priority of ecotourism, it does not
only return financial benefits to the local people, however, it also returns to
the environment of the region as much as it removes when Eco-tourists visit a
remote pristine location. The latter is achieved by supporting environmentally-conscious
projects. Eco-tourists are more affluent than the average tourist and have more
leisure time, they are willing to pay more money for services and products in
order to get a natural experience and support environmentally-conscious
projects. Eco-tourists are indeed improving the livelihoods of involved
communities and as a consequence invoking a sense of belonging in the affected
people.
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| Local community can be hired as guides |
Community Empowerment
Another
positive impact of ecotourism is the opportunity for community empowerment. Examines
the prospect of community empowerment and argues that there are four levels of
empowerment that may be achieved through successful community-based ecotourism
ventures: psychological, social, political, and economic. In essence, each
level of empowerment is meant to be long-lasting, not seasonal, and is designed
to support a community's well-being and future mental and physical health.
Community participation is vital to any successful ecotourism project and this
very active participation ensures that local residents are a part of the plan,
having the final say in what their community needs and wants. Without active
participation and equal distribution of profit, a project is destined to fail
because the residents will not care enough or know enough about it. However,
empowering the people to cast their interests gives them a sense of belonging
and this makes it difficult to get back at the policies they advocated for.
Through winning the backing of the community for environmentally-conscious
policies, ecotourism plays an important role in preserving the environment.
Scenic communities around the world -Zambia inclusive- face a dilemma:
Tourism had has brought in much-needed cash to economies, but unrestrained
tourism is a source of much environmental degradation ultimately ecological
damage. Ecotourism, just as sustainable tourism, helps solve this dilemma by
encouraging conscious and environmentally aware travel. Ecotourism aims to
provide a way for travellers to visit even fragile or protected environments in
a way that does little lasting damage. Ecotourism operators
are concerned with the sensitivity of the ecosystem thus are offering solutions
so as to reduce the harm that is done to the environment but at the same time
provides tourists with enjoyment as well.
In summary, ecotourism seeks to provide a traveller with an enriching,
educational experience in return for his aid in conserving and protecting the
delicate environment of the region, economically benefiting local peoples, and
contributing to sustainable development in the region or country. Ecotourism
has benefited rural people in various locations adjacent to protected areas
through both its direct and indirect employment. Therefore imperative to note
that carefully planned ecotourism projects will be an invaluable environmental
safeguard as well as an important opportunity for community-based development.
Based on the literature reviewed for this paper, I would have to conclude that
ecotourism is a valuable contributor to sustainable community development.
However, it is as well evident that the ecotourism has not solely yielded
social-economic and environment positive results in host locations.
Social-economically and environmentally, there have been sure downsides to
ecotourism in Zambia, and this could be attributed to the fact that there has
not been strong commitment and adherence to the goals and objectives of
ecotourism by the community and government.
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