A Teia de Alcance Mundial, como é conhecida a www da população que já tem acesso à internet, tem se tornado no Brasil rapidamente expressiva em tempos de mercados globais e, dentro deste contexto, a atividade do ecoturismo é analisada enquanto oferta e mensagem online. Realiza-se um estudo qualitativo exploratório no intuito de discutir a presente oferta ecoturística online e a mensagem propagada via rede. O termo ecoturismo é questionado, assim como as iniciativas que se apropriam da palavra para uso indiscriminado, seja via mensagem ou em práticas de viagens duvidosas. Pesquisa com a seção Aventura, do suplemento Viagem O Estado de S.Paulo é retomada para verificar versão online desta mídia. Também se discute como o ecoturismo pode ser virtual mas, efetivamente, uma atividade que demonstre sustentabilidade. Inspirado nos sites de clicar-doar, descobre-se a homepage Ecosolidariedade, que serve de analogia para uma proposta de um novo site de donativo em ecoturismo, com um modelo diferente de parceria entre empresas doadoras e Organizações Não Governamentais. Acredita-se que, com a participação de internautas que encontrem feedback em um endereço na rede para suas questões de viagens ecoturísticas, há razoáveis chances de Meanders, como batiza-se a idéia, vingar. O trabalho conclui que a rede é subaproveitada pelo ecoturismo diante do potencial atual. Raros são os exemplos de iniciativas com posturas e práticas sócio-ambientais louváveis. Neste sentido, pouco mudou desde uma década atrás. Portanto, há muito o que fazer para que, pela internet e com o ecoturismo, sejam possíveis ações que façam uma diferença e garantam um futuro melhor. / The World Wide Web popularization has evoked an unavoidable link between ecotourism and internet, fact further analyzed in this study. Qualitative approach is performed to discuss which are the ecotourism services currently online available. In addiction, the investigation is complemented with a critical view to distinguish between uses and misuses of the term ecotourism by media, travel agencies and tour operators basically. In this way, it is used as a present example the section Aventura from the weekly travel supplement Viagem, belonging to the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo. A discussion on how the ecotourism can be a virtual (and real) way of sustainability is also done. Some free will donate homepages were sorted out and by chance put one of them, Ecosolidariedade, as a model for a specific analysis, mainly due to its original idea of partnership among companies and NGOs to make possible a fund raising process. In a similar way, it is proposed a new concept of homepage employing the action of the internaut in a real context of sustainability in ecotourism. This is further explained by the project named Meanders. It is concluded that the cyberspace is far from an appropriate manner of being useful for ecotourism actions and there are seldom examples aiming the principles of environmental consciousness and practices. Little has been changed since the last decade in how goes Brazilian ecotourism conception and promotion. There is a long path that should be more fostered through internet to stimulate the ecotourism as a way of dissemination on effective social and environmental benefits. São Paulo. 2001.

M.Sc. / OBJECTIVES Tourism in the Kruger National Park is closely linked to nature conservation. Tourism being the revenue earner and conservation the resource provider; this results in a mutually beneficial symbiosis. This finely tuned interdependence between tourism and conservation should be properly managed to ensure that tourism does not become a self-destructive process, destroying the very resources on which it is based. Mounting pressure from central government is forcing the National Parks Board to become financially independent of State grants. Tourism provides the most viable solution towards achieving financial independence. All the national parks in South Africa will therefore have to make a concerted effort to accommodate and attract more tourists. The Kruger National Park, being the largest national park (1 948 528 hectares), will have to make a major contribution towards financial independence. In order to achieve this goal, tourism in this Park will have to be planned and managed more effectively. It is within this context that this study was initiated. In order to facilitate future tourism planning and management, the study will investigate the number of tourists visiting the Kruger National Park as well as the occupation of accommodation by tourists. These results will in turn be used to investigate the tourist carrying capacity of the Park and to make suggestions regarding the Park's tourism management policies. RESEARCH METHOD As a result of the primarily descriptive nature of the investigation relating to the number of tourists visiting the Park as well as the occupation of accommodation by tourists, the research will include diagrammatic and cartographic representations of the data. In order to explain the temporal and spatial variations of the tourists in the Kruger National Park, a correlation and regression analysis was used in conjunction with non-tourist variables (which include both socio-economic and physical variables). The results obtained in the above investigation were used to study the physical and perceptual tourist carrying capacity. Physical tourist carrying capacity was researched by indicating the percentage occupation of available accommodation and available day visitor quota. As a result of the its subjective nature, the balance between the costs and benefits associated with gaining a holiday experience was used in conjunction with the number of visitors to the Park in order to determine the perceptual tourist carrying capacity. RESULTS The number of visitors to the Park as well as the occupation of accommodation by tourists both indicated that large temporal and spatial variations exist. The temporal variations in tourist data were best explained by school holidays. An obvious relationship exists between school holidays and the number of visitors to the Park. The spatial variation was best explained by distance from the PWV and rainfall. The distance from the PWV (now Gauteng Province) indicates the strong influence of this region as a source area for tourists to the Park. Rainfall in the Park influences the type of vegetation, which in turn influences the distribution and population densities of animals which are sought after by tourists. With regard to the tourist carrying capacity, the results showed that the physical tourist carrying capacity is utilised below the optimum levels. More tourists can therefore be accommodated, particularly during non-school holiday periods. With reference to the perceptual tourist carrying capacity, it was found that it has been reached. The most important reason for this is the higher tariffs that are being charged.

The dichotomy of conservation vs. sustainable development has generated numerous debates since the introduction of the latter in the late 1980s. When UNESCO introduced the Biosphere Reserve concept in the early ‘70s, it drew even more attention to the matter. In the recent past, many initiatives to address the issue gained ground not only across Europe, but worldwide. This is the case of ecotourism, a responsible (and sustainable) form of tourism that takes place in natural areas, sustains local communities, and involves a learning experience. Even though it might look like the perfect tool to strengthen the link between conservation and sustainable development, especially in a Biosphere Reserve context, ecotourism faces many challenges. Through a case study of an Italian Biosphere Reserve that was recently awarded with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism, Monviso Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, this research aimed at understanding local stakeholders’ stand onthe matter. A series of interviews were conducted and subsequently phenomenologically analysed to explore the possibility for ecotourism to act as a learning tool for sustainable development. Results show that ecotourism had some positive effects in the area, such as the creation of a network for collaboration between various stakeholders, among others. However, negative perception of ecotourism still play an inhibiting role, as it is not perceived asa sufficient source of income. It is discussed that this might be a consequence of two main factors: a lack of proper environmental education and the economic crisis the country is currently facing. Adjustments in the language and methods used in the educational system and a change of course at higher governmental levels might foster ecotourism to become a catalyst by being a learning tool.

O patrimônio natural é um bem ambiental tutelado pelo Direito. A paisagem cênica, uma das formas em que se apresenta esse patrimônio, oferece inúmeros serviços ambientais, como ecológicos, estéticos e culturais, e é considerada um direito difuso. Entretanto, para que possa oferecer serviços imprescindíveis, se faz necessária a proteção de sua integralidade. Nos destinos turísticos, a paisagem desempenha uma função elementar, pois, além de manter a composição da imagem que o visitante tem e espera do local, também garante a sustentabilidade econômica da atividade turística. Historicamente, o Estado tem incentivado a exploração insustentável dos recursos naturais. Cabe salientar que a própria legislação brasileira criou alguns passivos ambientais no decorrer do tempo. O ordenamento jurídico brasileiro respalda a paisagem como bem jurídico integrante do conceito de meio ambiente, e a previsão legal de proteção jurídica se encontra em convenções internacionais, revelando-se em leis federais, estaduais e legislações esparsas brasileiras. Apesar de a paisagem natural ser tutelada pelo arcabouço jurídico brasileiro e ser imprescindível para o desenvolvimento sustentável, principalmente dos destinos turísticos, dada a íntima identificação do local com a paisagem, esta entra em conflito com os interesses econômicos dos proprietários de áreas, que proporcionam esse serviço ambiental, mas não recebem qualquer incentivo para fazê-lo. O PSA representa um mecanismo econômico que visa a operacionalizar a arrecadação de fundos, com os beneficiários da preservação dos serviços ambientais, bem como à alocação de recursos com os provedores de tais serviços, no caso, a conservação do patrimônio paisagístico. Uma vez percebida a importância dos serviços ambientais proporcionados pela paisagem, resta traçar estratégias para a preservação dos mesmos, capazes de orientar novos modelos de desenvolvimento. Os pagamentos por serviços ambientais têm como principal objetivo transferir recursos, monetários ou não, àqueles que voluntariamente ajudam a preservar, conservar ou a produzir tais serviços. / The natural patrimony is an environmental good which is protected by the law. The landscape, one of the ways in which this patrimony is presented, offers innumerable environmental services, such as ecological, aesthetic and cultural, and it is considered a diffuse right. However, in order to provide essential services, it is necessary to protect its integrity. In tourist destinations, the landscape performs an elementary function, and beyond keeping the composition of the image that the visitor has and expects from the place, it also guarantees the economic support of the tourism. Historically, the state has encouraged the unsustainable exploration of natural resources. It should be point out that Brazilian legislation itself has created some environmental liabilities in the course of time. The Brazilian legal system supports the landscape as a legally integrant to the concept of environment, and the provision of legal protection is under international conventions, revealing itself in federal, state, and sparse laws. Although the natural landscape be protected by Brazilians laws and be essential for the sustainable development, especially in tourist destinations, due to the close identification with the local landscape, it conflicts with the economic interests of the owners of the areas, who provide this environmental service, even though receive no incentive to do so. The PSA represents an economic mechanism that aims to collect funds with the beneficiaries of the conservation of the environmental services, as well as the allocation of resources with the suppliers of such services, in this case, the conservation of the natural patrimony. Once detected the importance of the environmental services provided by the landscape, it remains to devise strategies for their preservation that can be able to guide new development models. Payments for environmental services have as main objective to transfer resources, monetary or not, to those who voluntarily help to preserve, conserve or produce such services.

Tourism represents 10.3% of the global GDP. Moving abroad for holidays has never been simpler and cheaper. Destinations answer tourist's demands, they build more hotel complex, create new fun activities, provide more resources. This way of life seems paradisiac for visitors; however it does not look that good for local communities. Often left aside by capitalist corporations, their resources and environment are depleting, crowds of visitors invade their space and unsustainability is deeply rooted. The result is the installation of more inequalities and gap between social classes. An alternative to this Pandora's box was created about 50 years ago, although it only started to develop recently, claiming it is the solution to most of our environmental tourism issues: ecotourism. If you look for this type of holidays, you will find the Azores. Eight award winner as a green destination. It was decided this research would focus on its biggest island: Sao Miguel. One will investigate what is the reality behind the green curtain. To do so, the learning of local stakeholders towards ecotourism and how it affects their current actions and their sight for the future of the island's tourism will be explored.

The major focus of this essay is the case study of the Voortrekker Monument Heritage Site in Pretoria, the introduction of a new management team in 1994 and the suggested manner in which the management could be improved. To place this particular case study in perspective, it was necessary in the first place, to look at the meaning of cultural resource- or heritage management and other related terms. It soon became apparent that no single term for this new discipline has been determined and that countries around the world differ greatly on this issue. South Africa uses the term Heritage Resource Management. An overview of cultural resources management (CRM) in other countries such as the U.S.A., Great Britain and some members of the Commonwealth, was also presented. Cultural resource management is a relatively new discipline in South Africa, and an historical overview, in which most of the relevant legislation was referred to, was undertaken. In comparison to other countries in the world, much less publications have been produced in South Africa. Most of these had been completed as dissertations or as papers for conferences. A detailed summary of all the relevant (directly or indirectly) legislation was compiled. In the last chapter, a case study of the Voortrekker Monument was undertaken. An attempt was made to provide adequate answers to the questions why?, how?, and who? should manage a heritage site. Answers to the question as to why a site should be managed, include the establishing of a cultural identity, the site's educational value, for research purposes and finally for its important role in the tourism industry. In the section on how to manage a site, aspects such as the identification and cultural significance of a site were discussed. The importance of a mission and a vision and key strategies, as well as policies were stressed. Resource management on the site includes conservation techniques, sustainable use and visitor management as well as heritage impact assessment. The site's financial management and the site's marketing were addressed in the last section. A heritage site must be managed by 'someone' and in the last section the 'who' (human resources) behind the management of the site, is discussed. Finally the hope is expressed that this dissertation will serve as a basis for a conservation management plan for the VTMHS and serve as a manual for other, similar heritage sites. / Dissertation (MA (Heritage and Museum Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2002. / Historical and Heritage Studies / unrestricted

<p>Dolina Lima i Polimlje predstavljaju složenu prostornu celinu u kojoj se prepliću različiti prirodni i antropogeni procesi. Analiza elemenata prirodne i sociokulturne sredine, njihovo turističko-ekolo&scaron;ko vrednovanje i objedinjavanje treba da pokažu svrsishodnost ulaganja u turizam i ekologiju Polimlja. Tema doktorske disertacije postavljena je tako da se kroz trinaest komplementarnih poglavlja dođe do projektovanog cilja o mogućnostima razvoja pojedinih vrsta ekoturizma. Prikaz objedinjenih sadržaja u određenom obimu doprinosi boljem poznavanju Polimlja i omogućava lak&scaron;i pristup operativnom delu turističkog planiranja u uslovima ekolo&scaron;ke i turističke održivosti. Takva konstatacija proističe iz utvrđenih vrednosti dobijenih analizom parametara kvaliteta životne sredine i sociokulturne ba&scaron;tine. Na osnovu dobijenih vrednosti izveden je zaključak da turizam u ekolo&scaron;kom ambijentu Polimlja s obzirom na kvalitet prirodnih elemenata može postati dominantna delatnost i pored negativih iskustava u oblasti životne sredine iz druge polovine dvadesetog veka.</p> / <p>The valley of the river Lim and Polimlje represent a complex regional entity in which different natural and antropogenic processes interact. Analysis of elements of the natural and socio-cultural environment, their tourist-ecological valorization and combination should show the appropriateness of investing in the tourism and ecology of Polimlje. The theme of this Ph.D. thesis is defined in such a way that through thirteen complementary chapters it arrives at the projected target about the possibillities of the development of some types of eco tourism. Presentation of the combined content to a certain degree contributes to a better knowledge of Polimlje and enables easier access to the operative part of tourist planning in conditions of ecological and tourist maintenance. Such a conclusion is the result of established values obtained by analysis of the quality of the environment and the socio-cultural heritage. Based on the values obtained it may be concluded that tourism in the ecological environment of Polimlje, having in mind the quality of natural elements, could become a dominant activity regardless of negative experiences in the environmental field in the second half of the twentieth century.</p>

No description available.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of sustainability storytelling in ecotourism organizations in Cambodia and Trinidad and Tobago. These two countries were specifically selected for a cross-case analysis due to their shared characteristics as developing economies. Ecotourism becomes a significant natural resource in driving the economic growth for both countries. A total of ten ecotourism organizations were chosen to participate in this study. The research analyzes three emerging themes. These themes include storytelling for sustainability, contextual factors in sustainability storytelling (media and setting), and perceived impact of sustainability storytelling in each representing country. Furthermore, the research conducts a comparative analysis of these three emerging themes in these both countries. The findings show that ecotourism leaders in both Cambodia and Trinidad and Tobago employ storytelling techniques as a tool to communicate their sustainability narratives, organizations’ missions, and ecotourism initiatives. Stories developed by these leaders are deeply rooted in personal experiences as founders and co-founders of the participating ecotourism organizations. However, a notable difference is the integration of aspirational elements in the storytelling approach. In Trinidad and Tobago, ecotourism leaders utilize various aspirational elements in the stories such as superhero characters, live-action drama, mascot characters, slogans and taglines, comic books, and graphic novels. On the other hand, Cambodian ecotourism leaders have not incorporated such elements due to challenges such as a lack of understanding in storytelling among internal employees, limited human and financial resources, and a lower level of awareness among community-based ecotourism members. In addition, the findings illustrate that storytelling has raised awareness, empowered the communities, and advocated for sustainable responsible tourism. Although positive impact resulting from storytelling is observed, these ecotourism organizations currently do not have appropriate measurement systems to assess actual impact and changes.

No description available.