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University of Aarhus ECOTOURISM AS A WAY TO PROTECT ...

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Ecotourism as a sustainable way to protect nature<br />

+ Nature tourism: "involves travel to unspoiled places to experience and<br />

enjoy, usually like hiking, biking, sailing and camping” (Honey, 1999).<br />

+ Adventure tourism: "is nature tourism with a kick" requires physical<br />

skill and endurance and involves a degree <strong>of</strong> risk taking (Honey, 1999).<br />

+ Agricultural tourism: this type <strong>of</strong> tourism is specific especially for the<br />

European cultural landscape where the farmers can <strong>of</strong>fer many opportunities for<br />

tourists to find the experiences closely connected with the agricultural practices<br />

(horseback riding, to some extent volunteers on organic farms could also be<br />

considered a kind <strong>of</strong> agro-tourism). In the Ecotourism Guide released by The<br />

Geographical in June 2000, they present many volunteering jobs as ecotourism.<br />

+ Ecotourism: all the previous definitions within the group <strong>of</strong> alternative<br />

tourism could be included in the definition <strong>of</strong> ecotourism. But in addition to the<br />

recreational activities, ecotourism is also defined by its benefits to both<br />

conservation and to people in the host country (Honey, 1999) with a strong<br />

emphasis on the sustainability <strong>of</strong> nature and people's livelihood.<br />

2.2. Ecotourism definition<br />

As mentioned above, there is still certain confusion with regards to the<br />

definition <strong>of</strong> the term "ecotourism". To consolidate the ideas and manage<br />

"ecotourism" from a global point <strong>of</strong> view The Ecotourism Society (TES) found<br />

out like a small, influential NGO organisation. TES with the co-operation <strong>of</strong> The<br />

United Nation Environmental Program (UNEP) (3) and the World Conservation<br />

Union (former IUCN) (4) are the major players in the field <strong>of</strong> ecotourism recently.<br />

3 UNEP -works to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental<br />

practices everywhere (UNEP, 2002).<br />

4 IUCN -was established to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world<br />

to conserve the integrity and diversity <strong>of</strong> nature and to ensure that any use <strong>of</strong> natural<br />

resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable (IUCN, 2002).<br />

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