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In search of Ecotourism and Sustainable tourism
Belize
Belize in Central America, has experienced a large growth in tourism. Between 1984 and 1994visitor numbers increased from 88,000 to 129,000. It has become a popular destination for ecotourists. This is because it is English speaking, is politically stable, has many archaeological sites and has a rich bio-diversity. It's ecosystems include mangrove swamps, savannah, pine forest and a coral reef. It also has several reserves which were once exploited but are now preserved.
Baboon Project & Toledo Guest houses
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Successes
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Areas for development
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•· Set up by local community and the WWF to protect Black howler monkeys.
•· Animals have become tourist attractions and their numbers are now increasing.
•· Local people derive income from taking tourists around the reserve.
•· In Toledo, The Toledo Ecotourist Association and the government have helped to construct guesthouses in 6 villages.
•· Accommodation built in traditional styles and uses local materials. Each guesthouse is small and sleeps 8 people.
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•· Such schemes have created local employment there have been tensions with existing hoteliers.
•· Although the TEA project was meant to spread tourists over a large area and spread the benefits, in reality each guesthouse has been competing with each other for business.
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Ambergris Caye, (island inside the barrier reef)
The most popular destination. There are now over 30 hotels. Visitor numbers expected to rise to between 70,000 and 90,000 by 2005. ‘Explorer' tourists once stayed in smaller locally owned guesthouses. Now the area is dominated by foreign-owned hotels. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve has been created in response to tourist pressure.
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Successes
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Areas for development
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•· Tourism has created a lot of local employment, although foreign workers hold many of the responsible positions.
•· Local people work as taxi drivers, guides or in shops.
•· Better pay and conditions have tempted fisherman to work as tour guides.
•· Fish stocks are good and many fishermen sell their catches directly to the hotels.
•· Employment created in the construction industry.
•· Many people now have a higher standard of living as a result of these changes. They also have better transport and more goods in the shops.
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•· Price of land especially on the beach front has risen. Consequently locals cannot afford to live there.
•· Hotel complexes are built without consultation with local residents. These hotels tend to overshadow neighbourhoods.
•· The construction of hotel perimeter walls and sea walls has increased beach erosion.
•· Rising visitor numbers created more rubbish, leading to groundwater, air and soil pollution.
•· High demand for water in the hotels has caused groundwater levels to fall.
•· The boom has encouraged low-paid migrant workers to move from the mainland. This has led to the construction of unplanned shanty towns.
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Belize has used the ‘eco' label to promote tourism, but many of the developments have fallen short. However, small-scale sustainable projects cannot provide the economic return that a country like Belize needs.
D.Drake 2009
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