Book Review: Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise?
Island Press’ new edition of Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? by Martha Honey is an interesting read for anyone interested in the burgeoning ecotourism industry. This book attempts to answer the question of whether or not ecotourism fulfills its mission of reducing a traveler’s impact to the places he or she visits, in terms of not only ecological impact, but also in terms of benefit to local communities.
Honey writes,
Although ‘green’ travel is being aggressively marketed as a win-win solution for the Third World, the environment, the tourist, and the travel industry, close examination shows a much more complex reality.
This book is organized into two parts. The first part provides background information and defines ecotourism. The second part is a collection of case studies and analysis from around the world, including: Costa Rica, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya, South Africa, and the United States.
Ecotourism examines the cultural context of ecotourism and the fact that many communities have to compromise some of their values in order to appease and attract tourists. Though she mentions that some resorts and hotels make a special effort to educate travelers regarding local customs and traditions, she also discusses the example of Zanzibar, where she notes on page 185,
Nowhere is the clash between Western culture and conservative Muslim culture more apparent than in the streets of the Stone Town. Each evening, sun-worshiping, scantily clad tourists crowd into the many bars for sundowners while Zanzibari men head to mosque for prayer.
Ecotourism is well-researched, boasting 81 pages of footnotes. However, the academic presentation should not deter the casual reader. This book is an excellent resource for students, industry professionals, or travelers interested in analyzing tourist impacts on local communities.
November 17th, 2008 at 10:12 am
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March 24th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
I want to read more, so interesting topic because I am a lover of nature, our paradise.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Dear Sir,
SOLICITATION FOR BOOKS & STUDY MATERIALS
I hereby write to seek your kind Donation of Books and other study materials from your Department and members of your Faculty . As the Dean of my School at the Royal College Of Science & Technology, I feel challenged by what I call acute shortage of reading Materials (Books) for both our students and Faculty Staff. Our College is a Co-Educated Model University sponsored by State Government The College for sometime now has been experiencing neglet,lack of care and sponsorship by by the Government and all the Authorities concerned and I feel the only way we can keep going is by soliciting for Donation of Textbooks in various fields of Studies such as in Arts, Social sciences, Sciences, Engineering, medicine,Technical and vocational studies,Dictionaries,Encyclopeadia,Tapes and FAIRLY used Laptop computers,Table Top Computers, Projectors, VCR Recorders, Audio visual aid and other learning materials such as SAT, GRE, GMAT,TOEFL and other Professional Examination Pack for our ever increasing Students which has grown to an astronomical heights and population in the School .These Books and materials would be used by the entire Students and the Faculty Staff of our College.Please we NEED Books that are less than ten or twenty (10 or 20) years old.We will be very grateful if our request would granted by you .While we remain,
we look forward to favourable reply by you.
Thanks.
Sincerely.
Dr M.C. Chibuzor, Dean,
Royal College of Science & Technology
College Park , PO Box 74961
Victoria Island , 101007-74961Lagos ,
NIGERIA
Tel;+ 234 805 898 5899
Fax; + 2341 791 2869
E-mail;royalcollegestng@yahoo.com
E-mail:royalcollegest01@hotmail.com
Please we would appreciate your Organizing a Book drive for our College libraries.
June 10th, 2011 at 11:55 pm
Currently it appears like Expression Engine is the preferred blogging platform out there right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?