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From explorers to mass tourism
Tourism Management, Vol. 19, No. 5, pp. 478 488, 1998 © 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved Printed in Great Britain 0261-5177/98 $19.00 + 0.(10
Pergamon
Reports PII: 50261-5177(98)00047-8
From explorers to mass tourism This was the title of the annual conference organized by post-graduate students on the MA Tourism and Social Responsibility, held at the College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth, UK on 16 March 1998. Over one hundred academics, students and practitioners from the West Country region heard eight speakers comprising explorers', specialist, and mass market tour operators. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights" reserved. If conference speakers can be said to illustrate Plog's j tourist typology, this one surely provided some stereotypes. The first two speakers can be categorised as 'explorers'; Benedict Allen has crossed the Amazon Basin at its widest point (5800kin), lived with indigenous peoples in Papua New Guinea, written six books about his journeys, and described his camel journey up the Skeleton Coast of Namibia on television. His description of living with the natives of the Sepik River area in Papua New Guinea conjured images of hardship and personal risk during the male initiation ceremony based on crocodile mythology; in the 10 years since Allen undertook this journey, two missionary groups have moved in - Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist - - and compete with each other. The ceremony Allen experienced has gone forever. Similarly, in the Amazon jungle, the Indians befriended by him have become Westernized in the intervening 7 years. Whilst there can be little doubt that Benedict Allen typifies the 'allocentric', he insisted that 'we're all explorers, it's part of the human condition, and we've got to find a way of fulfilling ourselves as explorers rather than tourists - exploration is about opening yourself up and allowing the place to leave it's mark on you'. In introducing the second speaker, Professor Selwyn suggested that what seems critical is the degree of choice that local peoples have in a global
economy - - or not as the case may be. Nick Mason led the 1992/1993 British Makalu Expedition; this was remarkable for having the largest budget ever to devote to conservation as a corollary to the climb. Apart from taking in 2000 trees contained in their own propagators, the team crushed and removed over 9 tons of rubbish from previous expeditions. Despite criticism from the Royal Geographical Society and the British Mountaineering Council that future expeditions could not hope to operate on this scale, Mason argues that the benefits are of greater importance; total personnel numbered 600 although there were only 30 Europeans and local porters obviously benefited. Many families brought children to be inspected by expedition doctors who would not otherwise have been in the area. Furthermore, to finance the trip (the walk in from Hille to base-camp alone took 3 weeks) live satellite links were established through British Telecom; the latter allowed the BBC's 'own correspondent' to transmit images of the volume of rubbish which took on an enhanced scale when NBC and CNN broadcast to 25 million viewers in the United States. A key point of Mason's paper is the need for sensitivity in wilderness areas: 'tourism' is going to happen so how do we cope with it? One argument suggests that there should possibly be 'facilities' to deal with the refuse generated by base-camps and others; Martin Mowforth, Plymouth
University, and author of the recentlypublished Tourism and Sustainability,'~ was vigorous in stating that this should not even be an issue! With 30 years experience of a different continent, the third 'explorer' - - David Walton of the British Antarctic Survey - - has seen a marked growth in tourism to the Antarctic. Whilst some consider that tourism started in 1924, Walton suggests interest really began in the late 1950s and was stimulated by Lindblad's introduction of the Explorer vessel in the late 1960s. It is an almost entirely cruise-based phenomenon; ~ what has changed in recent years is the size of craft - - the Lindblad Explorer carries about 85 passengers whereas the Hanseatic carries 800. One impact of this is the effect on the 'human zoo' - - Walton asked whether 300 tourists visiting 25 scientists at a rcsearch station was really any different to Allen's coach parties with Thai hill-tribes. Antarctica is protected in many respects by the 1961 Treaty - subscribed to by over 40 nations - and the 1 9 9 1 Protocol for the Environmental Protection of the Antarctic Environment; the latter came into effect this year and creates criminal offences rather than civil ones. Waste disposal, marine pollution, Environmental Impact Assessments, and environmental monitoring -all of which affect tourism, of course - - are now covered by the Protocol. However, tourism to Antarctica is not just concerned with wildlife; a 'blue-ice' runway in the interior permits climbing expeditions to Mount Vincent, the highest peak, parachuting, and ski trips to the South Pole - - Walton makes the observation that 'skiing there has nothing to do with Antarctica - - it's just that the South Pole is there! How long before the first 18-hole golf course with red balls to be visible?' Given open water for only about 2 months a year, some 479
Reports
sites have become heavily-visited: between 4000 and 7000 per annum at some. Research suggested penguin breeding is not affected but this depends on individual species and what assumptions are made concerning factors to be measured. The drive for new sites could be analogous to tour operators' search for new destinations. A move along the continuum from explorer to mass tourism was illustrated by Noel Joscphides, managing director of tour operator Sunvil Discovery; British tour operating is the most efficient in the world, he commented, with domination of the global business not far off. Sunvil carry approximately 20 000 tourists a year; the largest proportion (about 14000) to Greece. The company is the largest tour operator to the Azores (about 400) and Namibia (about 500). Using cost comparisons for scheduled and charter flights on 'packages', Josephides showed that with the former there is no need to 'force-feed' seats; a 'down-market' operator using charter flights will 'graft' a down-market image on to a destination. A good example of the tourist area life cycle was illustrated by Sunvil's Dan-Air flights to Skiathos in the late 1970s which led to a much more significant penetration of that market by other companies. This permitted Josephides to discuss 'the beginning of the end': over-capacity leads to discounting which the public then come to expect, discounting attracts less-affluent customers who spend less at the destination, the press begins to call the destination spoilt and over-built, too much hastily-built accommodation provides 'flight-seat fodder', and the destination develops a down-market image. Having said that, he believes these sort of 'ghettos' can actually be useful in concentrating a particular type of tourism in one area. In corporate marked contrast, Benjamin Carey, Marketing Manager of Airtours, outlined developments within one of the largest global tour operators. A framework for environmental policy now exists covering waste management, product purchasing, air management, energy conservation, noise pollution, storage, 480
hazardous materials, water management, community action, and laundry a diverse list. This is similar to British Airways' approach epitomised in its Annual Environmental Report? Now that Airtours has Scandinavian interests, influences are beginning to come from that direction. Perhaps a sea-change is developing: Carey is Airtours representative on STAG - the Sustainable Tourism Action Group - - indeed, the company is a founding member of this new industry forum. It remains to be seen whether this is a 'talking shop'. Julia Hendry, executive manager of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (ALTO), represents 155 small and medium-sized tour operators; 'our members tend to be entrepreneurs' with new products and developments who open the market for the mass operators. AlTO was instrumental in the establishment of Green Flag International in 1990, A Skiing and the Environment voluntary agreement in 1993, and is one of the World Travel and Tourism Council's (WTTC) 27 industry partners of Green Globe. As part of the EU Action Plan for Tourism, the association participated in the Visitor Payback project which encouraged tourists to donate to places they had visited. Although combined carryings of AlTO members are two million per annum, the largest member carries around 200 000 and, many, a matter of hundreds, members achieve a 'competitive advantage through differentiation'. Due to speaker over-runs, the panel convened at this point to take questions; it was suggested by one delegate that the WTTC's origination of Green Globe might be an attempt by the industry to avoid regulation being imposed on it - - no satisfactory response was forthcoming. Ben Sier, Plymouth University, thought that the situation was akin to the T i t a n i c - large tour operators were trying to change course to avoid the iceberg of legislation. Nick Mason agreed that regulation of some sort is the way ahead. The last two speakers tackled disparate aspects of tourism: Elina Kivi, Lapcenranta University, illustrated how the Finnish tourism -
-
strategy emphasizes 'elfimys' - - an emotional experience which they hope will be at the core of the tourism product; the country aims to be the leading Baltic nation offering winter and summer tourist experiences by 2010. She outlined the view that, as customers, explorers wanted unique products which could be inexpensive whereas mass tourists looked for a standard product which is cheap: there was not a lot original in this! The elfimys-orientcd tourism product is about 'doing' rather than 'staring'. Last, but certainly far from least, was Brian Wheeller, University of Birmingham, with his usual highstandard provocative style of delivery. The first overhead projection slide made the statement 'if you look like your passport photo, then in all probability you need the journey';5 this led the conference, via Elvis Presley, Antoine de St. Exup6ry's Little Prince and numerous photographic transparencies to the point that high culture is eco-tourism is ego-tourism. It's a theme Wheeller has developed over time but it loses none of its poignancy for that; as with James Burke's BBC series 'Connections' in the late 1970s, he is capable of showing how personal views are so salient in terms of sustainable tourism. How many would agree that Butlins holiday centres are a more sustainable product than Center Pares because such a high proportion of visitors arrive by public transport compared with the latter? Do we make the assumption that the higher the quality of the product, the more up-market and, therefore, more sustainable it is? In a rapid summary, Selwyn noted the need to understand global economic policy in order to identify whether indigenous peoples really have any choice; to what extent can local people organize a 'voice'? Commenting on Wheeller, he reinforced how difficult it is to identify which locals' views count. Elina Kivi's presentation was seen as illustrating the relationship between the Lutheran ethic in Finland and that elsewhere. Antarctica was cited as an example of how law, science and education can be a way forward. The speakers representing tour operators demonstrate the dichotomy between free-market
Reports and free-market within a public context with Julia Hendry occupying the middle ground. Selwyn's final observation was that the sustainable tourism debate shows there are three approaches: the individual project approach - - as with the Makalu expedition, the structural approach advocated by Josephides, and the approach which suggests the debate is useless ~ la Wheeller. Selwyn paid tribute to the MA, which must be unique in its aims in Britain of producing post-graduates with strong awareness of the social responsibility linked to any form of tourism, and to the organizational talents of the students including Susanna Curtin and Joanne Duncan. A significant part in the organisation of this conference was also played by lecturer Jo House.
PII:
References 1. Plog, S. C., Leisure Travel. Making it a Growth Market ... Again] John Wiley, New York, 1991. 2. Mowforth, M. and Munt, I., Tourism
and Sustainability: New Tourism in the Third World. Routledge, London, 1997. 3. Hall, C. M. and Johnston, M. E., Polar Tourisrn: Tourism in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions. Wiley, Chichester, 1995.
4. British Airways Annual Environmental Report, British Airways, London, 1997. 5. Wilson, E., Ladies Home Journal, January 1961, cited by Wheeler.
Graham D. Busby Department qf Land Use & Rural Management University of Plymouth Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 6NQ UK
50261-5177(98)00048-X
Global ecotourism: a report on 'World Ecotour '97', the First World Congress and Exhibition on Ecotourism, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15-18 December 1997 World Ecotour '97, the First World Congress and Exhibition on Ecotourism, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 15 to 18 December 1997. It was organised by the Brazilian Society for the Environment (BIOSFERA). The conference was attended by approximately 2000 people from throughout the world. They shared ecotourism theories, policies, plans, developments and management models. The key outcome of the conference was the realisation that ecotourism is not a passing fad but has well and truly arrived, bearing the promise of environmental conservation, community well-being and economic benefits. The attendant exhibition proved to be a major strength of the conference. With 90 exhibitors" the venture was large, colourful, practical and exciting. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. World Ecotour '97, the First World Congress and Exhibition on Ecotourism, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 15 to 18 December 1997. It was organised by the Brazilian Society for the Environment (BIOSFERA), together with the Brazilian Association for Ecotourism (ECOBRASIL) and the Latin American Association of Environmental Planning and Management (ALAPAM).
The congress took place at Riocentro, site of the World Environment Conference (Agenda 21) held in 1992. The ecotourism congress attracted almost 2000 participants from over 35 countries, while the attendant exhibition had over 90 exhibitors. While in recent times there have been other ecotourism conferences at both the national (for example, ecotourism conferences in Australia) 'e and regional (for example, ecotourism
conferences in Asia) '4 levels, this was one of the first at the truly international level. The opening session comprised a number of contributors, most of whom were from Brazil. The conference was opened by Professor Dorival Bruni, President of BIOSFERA and Conference Coordinator. He spoke of the need for developed countries to help underdeveloped ones in relation to information and resource sharing. Caio Luiz de Carvalho, President of the Brazilian Tourism Authority (Embratur) stated that he views ecotourism as the industry that processes natural resources for tourism without destroying them. In addition he stressed the need for the planning of ecotourism to precede its development as well as the incorporation of an educative component to ecotourism. A keynote address was given by Mr Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General, The World Tourism Organisafion (WTO). He said that it was significant that the conference was being held in the same building as the World Environment Conference and stated that the WTO has applied the principles of Agenda 21 to global tourism development. However, he stated that while tourism can play an integral part in a country's economic development, there is still a lot of work to be done to minimize tourism's adverse impacts on the environment. He then presented the startling statistic that of the 600 million international tourists in 1997, the WTO estimated that 20% are involved in ecotourism. He also suggested that Brazil should adopt sustainable tourism policies in its overall tourism development. Mr Gustavo Krause, Brazilian Minister of the Environment, gave a rousing talk on the tourism-environment relationship. He stressed that ecotourism can only progress in an environment of peace and democracy. He emphasized the need to protect the environment and used the analogy that a living fish is worth more that a contaminated fish. Following the presentation by Mr Krause were a number of Brazilian videos on ecotourism. 481
Pergamon
Reports PII: 50261-5177(98)00047-8
From explorers to mass tourism This was the title of the annual conference organized by post-graduate students on the MA Tourism and Social Responsibility, held at the College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth, UK on 16 March 1998. Over one hundred academics, students and practitioners from the West Country region heard eight speakers comprising explorers', specialist, and mass market tour operators. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights" reserved. If conference speakers can be said to illustrate Plog's j tourist typology, this one surely provided some stereotypes. The first two speakers can be categorised as 'explorers'; Benedict Allen has crossed the Amazon Basin at its widest point (5800kin), lived with indigenous peoples in Papua New Guinea, written six books about his journeys, and described his camel journey up the Skeleton Coast of Namibia on television. His description of living with the natives of the Sepik River area in Papua New Guinea conjured images of hardship and personal risk during the male initiation ceremony based on crocodile mythology; in the 10 years since Allen undertook this journey, two missionary groups have moved in - Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist - - and compete with each other. The ceremony Allen experienced has gone forever. Similarly, in the Amazon jungle, the Indians befriended by him have become Westernized in the intervening 7 years. Whilst there can be little doubt that Benedict Allen typifies the 'allocentric', he insisted that 'we're all explorers, it's part of the human condition, and we've got to find a way of fulfilling ourselves as explorers rather than tourists - exploration is about opening yourself up and allowing the place to leave it's mark on you'. In introducing the second speaker, Professor Selwyn suggested that what seems critical is the degree of choice that local peoples have in a global
economy - - or not as the case may be. Nick Mason led the 1992/1993 British Makalu Expedition; this was remarkable for having the largest budget ever to devote to conservation as a corollary to the climb. Apart from taking in 2000 trees contained in their own propagators, the team crushed and removed over 9 tons of rubbish from previous expeditions. Despite criticism from the Royal Geographical Society and the British Mountaineering Council that future expeditions could not hope to operate on this scale, Mason argues that the benefits are of greater importance; total personnel numbered 600 although there were only 30 Europeans and local porters obviously benefited. Many families brought children to be inspected by expedition doctors who would not otherwise have been in the area. Furthermore, to finance the trip (the walk in from Hille to base-camp alone took 3 weeks) live satellite links were established through British Telecom; the latter allowed the BBC's 'own correspondent' to transmit images of the volume of rubbish which took on an enhanced scale when NBC and CNN broadcast to 25 million viewers in the United States. A key point of Mason's paper is the need for sensitivity in wilderness areas: 'tourism' is going to happen so how do we cope with it? One argument suggests that there should possibly be 'facilities' to deal with the refuse generated by base-camps and others; Martin Mowforth, Plymouth
University, and author of the recentlypublished Tourism and Sustainability,'~ was vigorous in stating that this should not even be an issue! With 30 years experience of a different continent, the third 'explorer' - - David Walton of the British Antarctic Survey - - has seen a marked growth in tourism to the Antarctic. Whilst some consider that tourism started in 1924, Walton suggests interest really began in the late 1950s and was stimulated by Lindblad's introduction of the Explorer vessel in the late 1960s. It is an almost entirely cruise-based phenomenon; ~ what has changed in recent years is the size of craft - - the Lindblad Explorer carries about 85 passengers whereas the Hanseatic carries 800. One impact of this is the effect on the 'human zoo' - - Walton asked whether 300 tourists visiting 25 scientists at a rcsearch station was really any different to Allen's coach parties with Thai hill-tribes. Antarctica is protected in many respects by the 1961 Treaty - subscribed to by over 40 nations - and the 1 9 9 1 Protocol for the Environmental Protection of the Antarctic Environment; the latter came into effect this year and creates criminal offences rather than civil ones. Waste disposal, marine pollution, Environmental Impact Assessments, and environmental monitoring -all of which affect tourism, of course - - are now covered by the Protocol. However, tourism to Antarctica is not just concerned with wildlife; a 'blue-ice' runway in the interior permits climbing expeditions to Mount Vincent, the highest peak, parachuting, and ski trips to the South Pole - - Walton makes the observation that 'skiing there has nothing to do with Antarctica - - it's just that the South Pole is there! How long before the first 18-hole golf course with red balls to be visible?' Given open water for only about 2 months a year, some 479
Reports
sites have become heavily-visited: between 4000 and 7000 per annum at some. Research suggested penguin breeding is not affected but this depends on individual species and what assumptions are made concerning factors to be measured. The drive for new sites could be analogous to tour operators' search for new destinations. A move along the continuum from explorer to mass tourism was illustrated by Noel Joscphides, managing director of tour operator Sunvil Discovery; British tour operating is the most efficient in the world, he commented, with domination of the global business not far off. Sunvil carry approximately 20 000 tourists a year; the largest proportion (about 14000) to Greece. The company is the largest tour operator to the Azores (about 400) and Namibia (about 500). Using cost comparisons for scheduled and charter flights on 'packages', Josephides showed that with the former there is no need to 'force-feed' seats; a 'down-market' operator using charter flights will 'graft' a down-market image on to a destination. A good example of the tourist area life cycle was illustrated by Sunvil's Dan-Air flights to Skiathos in the late 1970s which led to a much more significant penetration of that market by other companies. This permitted Josephides to discuss 'the beginning of the end': over-capacity leads to discounting which the public then come to expect, discounting attracts less-affluent customers who spend less at the destination, the press begins to call the destination spoilt and over-built, too much hastily-built accommodation provides 'flight-seat fodder', and the destination develops a down-market image. Having said that, he believes these sort of 'ghettos' can actually be useful in concentrating a particular type of tourism in one area. In corporate marked contrast, Benjamin Carey, Marketing Manager of Airtours, outlined developments within one of the largest global tour operators. A framework for environmental policy now exists covering waste management, product purchasing, air management, energy conservation, noise pollution, storage, 480
hazardous materials, water management, community action, and laundry a diverse list. This is similar to British Airways' approach epitomised in its Annual Environmental Report? Now that Airtours has Scandinavian interests, influences are beginning to come from that direction. Perhaps a sea-change is developing: Carey is Airtours representative on STAG - the Sustainable Tourism Action Group - - indeed, the company is a founding member of this new industry forum. It remains to be seen whether this is a 'talking shop'. Julia Hendry, executive manager of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (ALTO), represents 155 small and medium-sized tour operators; 'our members tend to be entrepreneurs' with new products and developments who open the market for the mass operators. AlTO was instrumental in the establishment of Green Flag International in 1990, A Skiing and the Environment voluntary agreement in 1993, and is one of the World Travel and Tourism Council's (WTTC) 27 industry partners of Green Globe. As part of the EU Action Plan for Tourism, the association participated in the Visitor Payback project which encouraged tourists to donate to places they had visited. Although combined carryings of AlTO members are two million per annum, the largest member carries around 200 000 and, many, a matter of hundreds, members achieve a 'competitive advantage through differentiation'. Due to speaker over-runs, the panel convened at this point to take questions; it was suggested by one delegate that the WTTC's origination of Green Globe might be an attempt by the industry to avoid regulation being imposed on it - - no satisfactory response was forthcoming. Ben Sier, Plymouth University, thought that the situation was akin to the T i t a n i c - large tour operators were trying to change course to avoid the iceberg of legislation. Nick Mason agreed that regulation of some sort is the way ahead. The last two speakers tackled disparate aspects of tourism: Elina Kivi, Lapcenranta University, illustrated how the Finnish tourism -
-
strategy emphasizes 'elfimys' - - an emotional experience which they hope will be at the core of the tourism product; the country aims to be the leading Baltic nation offering winter and summer tourist experiences by 2010. She outlined the view that, as customers, explorers wanted unique products which could be inexpensive whereas mass tourists looked for a standard product which is cheap: there was not a lot original in this! The elfimys-orientcd tourism product is about 'doing' rather than 'staring'. Last, but certainly far from least, was Brian Wheeller, University of Birmingham, with his usual highstandard provocative style of delivery. The first overhead projection slide made the statement 'if you look like your passport photo, then in all probability you need the journey';5 this led the conference, via Elvis Presley, Antoine de St. Exup6ry's Little Prince and numerous photographic transparencies to the point that high culture is eco-tourism is ego-tourism. It's a theme Wheeller has developed over time but it loses none of its poignancy for that; as with James Burke's BBC series 'Connections' in the late 1970s, he is capable of showing how personal views are so salient in terms of sustainable tourism. How many would agree that Butlins holiday centres are a more sustainable product than Center Pares because such a high proportion of visitors arrive by public transport compared with the latter? Do we make the assumption that the higher the quality of the product, the more up-market and, therefore, more sustainable it is? In a rapid summary, Selwyn noted the need to understand global economic policy in order to identify whether indigenous peoples really have any choice; to what extent can local people organize a 'voice'? Commenting on Wheeller, he reinforced how difficult it is to identify which locals' views count. Elina Kivi's presentation was seen as illustrating the relationship between the Lutheran ethic in Finland and that elsewhere. Antarctica was cited as an example of how law, science and education can be a way forward. The speakers representing tour operators demonstrate the dichotomy between free-market
Reports and free-market within a public context with Julia Hendry occupying the middle ground. Selwyn's final observation was that the sustainable tourism debate shows there are three approaches: the individual project approach - - as with the Makalu expedition, the structural approach advocated by Josephides, and the approach which suggests the debate is useless ~ la Wheeller. Selwyn paid tribute to the MA, which must be unique in its aims in Britain of producing post-graduates with strong awareness of the social responsibility linked to any form of tourism, and to the organizational talents of the students including Susanna Curtin and Joanne Duncan. A significant part in the organisation of this conference was also played by lecturer Jo House.
PII:
References 1. Plog, S. C., Leisure Travel. Making it a Growth Market ... Again] John Wiley, New York, 1991. 2. Mowforth, M. and Munt, I., Tourism
and Sustainability: New Tourism in the Third World. Routledge, London, 1997. 3. Hall, C. M. and Johnston, M. E., Polar Tourisrn: Tourism in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions. Wiley, Chichester, 1995.
4. British Airways Annual Environmental Report, British Airways, London, 1997. 5. Wilson, E., Ladies Home Journal, January 1961, cited by Wheeler.
Graham D. Busby Department qf Land Use & Rural Management University of Plymouth Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 6NQ UK
50261-5177(98)00048-X
Global ecotourism: a report on 'World Ecotour '97', the First World Congress and Exhibition on Ecotourism, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15-18 December 1997 World Ecotour '97, the First World Congress and Exhibition on Ecotourism, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 15 to 18 December 1997. It was organised by the Brazilian Society for the Environment (BIOSFERA). The conference was attended by approximately 2000 people from throughout the world. They shared ecotourism theories, policies, plans, developments and management models. The key outcome of the conference was the realisation that ecotourism is not a passing fad but has well and truly arrived, bearing the promise of environmental conservation, community well-being and economic benefits. The attendant exhibition proved to be a major strength of the conference. With 90 exhibitors" the venture was large, colourful, practical and exciting. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. World Ecotour '97, the First World Congress and Exhibition on Ecotourism, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 15 to 18 December 1997. It was organised by the Brazilian Society for the Environment (BIOSFERA), together with the Brazilian Association for Ecotourism (ECOBRASIL) and the Latin American Association of Environmental Planning and Management (ALAPAM).
The congress took place at Riocentro, site of the World Environment Conference (Agenda 21) held in 1992. The ecotourism congress attracted almost 2000 participants from over 35 countries, while the attendant exhibition had over 90 exhibitors. While in recent times there have been other ecotourism conferences at both the national (for example, ecotourism conferences in Australia) 'e and regional (for example, ecotourism
conferences in Asia) '4 levels, this was one of the first at the truly international level. The opening session comprised a number of contributors, most of whom were from Brazil. The conference was opened by Professor Dorival Bruni, President of BIOSFERA and Conference Coordinator. He spoke of the need for developed countries to help underdeveloped ones in relation to information and resource sharing. Caio Luiz de Carvalho, President of the Brazilian Tourism Authority (Embratur) stated that he views ecotourism as the industry that processes natural resources for tourism without destroying them. In addition he stressed the need for the planning of ecotourism to precede its development as well as the incorporation of an educative component to ecotourism. A keynote address was given by Mr Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General, The World Tourism Organisafion (WTO). He said that it was significant that the conference was being held in the same building as the World Environment Conference and stated that the WTO has applied the principles of Agenda 21 to global tourism development. However, he stated that while tourism can play an integral part in a country's economic development, there is still a lot of work to be done to minimize tourism's adverse impacts on the environment. He then presented the startling statistic that of the 600 million international tourists in 1997, the WTO estimated that 20% are involved in ecotourism. He also suggested that Brazil should adopt sustainable tourism policies in its overall tourism development. Mr Gustavo Krause, Brazilian Minister of the Environment, gave a rousing talk on the tourism-environment relationship. He stressed that ecotourism can only progress in an environment of peace and democracy. He emphasized the need to protect the environment and used the analogy that a living fish is worth more that a contaminated fish. Following the presentation by Mr Krause were a number of Brazilian videos on ecotourism. 481