Applying the ecological footprint to ecotourism scenarios
This paper examines the ecological footprint (EF) of ecotourism, focusing on the impact of air travel and resource use at destinations. Using a rapid calculation method with secondary data, the study estimates the potential net EF for various ecotourism scenarios. Results show that most ecotourism holidays involving air travel generate a significant demand on global renewable resources, with the transit component, particularly long-haul flights, being a major factor. The paper discusses the implications for ecotourism's sustainability and the need for further research using primary data.
(Generated with the help of GPT-4)
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Report location: | source |
| Language: | English |
| Publisher: |
University Of Aberdeen |
| Authors: | Jon Shaw, Colin Hunter |
| Geographic focus: | Global |
Methods
The research method involved creating hypothetical ecotourism scenarios pairing source countries with diverse host countries. The method for calculating the potential annual equivalent net per capita (tourist) EF included estimating air travel energy use, carbon dioxide sequestration requirements, and adjusting for radiative forcing and productivity differences. The destination area EF was estimated using host country per capita EFs, and the net EF was calculated by subtracting the EF that would have been generated at home during the holiday period.
(Generated with the help of GPT-4)
Key Insights
The research adopts ecological footprint (EF) analysis to estimate the potential net EF of international ecotourism scenarios involving air travel. A calculation procedure using secondary data sources was applied to various source/host country scenarios to establish a range of EF values. The study considered the influence of resource demand at the destination and different lengths of stay. Results from 252 estimates showed that most 14-day holiday scenarios produced EF estimates greater than the annual average per capita EF in low-income countries. The transit component, especially long-haul flights, significantly impacted overall net EF estimates. The findings suggest that ecotourism's global impact is likely less than that of mass tourism but still poses concerns regarding the environmental impact of air travel.
(Generated with the help of GPT-4)
Additional Viewpoints
Categories: English publication language | Global geographic scope | air travel | ecological footprint | ecotourism | environmental impact | global renewable resources | indicator | length of stay | mass tourism | net ef estimates | resource demand | sustainable development | sustainable tourism | tourism | transit component