Tourism and Development

In the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, another great example of using tourism instead of other industries to promote development can be seen.  In some small Mayan communities, the NGO Kanche Asociacion Civil is working to promote sustainable development.  These communities struggle to meet their basic physiological needs on a day to day basis.  Often the first solution that is offered is to promote agriculture, forestry and resource extraction as a means for economic growth.  Kanche and the communities it is involved in has realized that this is not an option for this area.  Traditional activities such as agriculture and fishing are no longer beneficial or sustainable for the community.  This is being seen in rural areas all around the world.  Small scale operations are dieing off because of overpowering corporate industries that are able to extract many more resources for much less.  

Kanache has realized that in order for these communities to grow, they need a sustainable and alternative option.  This is the perfect opportunity for tourism to develop.  Tourism can bring people and money into the economy.  Sustainable tourism practices must be put into place in the early stages of its development to preserve the ecologic and cultural diversity in the area.  

This situation is not the first of its kind.  ATG has been offering tours to areas like this for quite some time.  The lessons that they have learned can act as a guiding hand in the development of new small and sustainable tourist destinations.

It is important to keep in mind the carrying capacity of the area.  Just as a forest can only support a certain number of trees or wildlife, a tourism destination can only support a certain number of tourists.  The type of tourism is also very important in maintaining the destination.  Making sure that tourism is regulated, that tourists are educated and sustainability is practiced is crucial to ensure that the destination keeps its identity.  

http://www.theperspectivemagazine.com/mags/sustainable-development-through-alternative-tourism/

Lessons to be learned from all across the globe

Canada is a vast nation full of natural resources, beautiful landscapes and great reserves of untouched bio diverse land.  When considering development we often take advantage of the fact that there is always another mountain, another forest or another breath taking view just around the corner.  Losing just one of these to development really doesn't seem like too big of a threat.  This allows industry to quietly develop and desecrate our wild lands while we take post card images only kilometers away.  Because our resources are so plentiful we often miss out on valuable lessons to be learned from all across the globe.

In Cameroon, West Africa, the government has realized the threat of development and human sprawl.  Mount Cameroon hosts one of the most bio diverse and biologically rich ecosystems in the world.  This ecosystem, like so many others, is being threatened by human development.  Cities and agriculture are coming closer and closer to taking over the rich landscapes that have always sustained them.  The government of Cameroon has realized the importance of keeping this area wild and is planning to protect it through the designation of a National Park.  The government understands that without this valuable wild land they would not be able to sustain life and growth in the area.  The forests are there main source of existence.  The watershed alone supports more than 300,000 inhabitants.  Keeping this forest flourishing will allow the harmonious existence of the surrounding communities.  It is a tough balance, but in the long run should turn out to be beneficial for both the forest and the people.

The government of Cameroon has stressed transparency and input from stakeholders to ensure that they are working towards the greater good of all parties involved.  This is an important lesson that we can learn and use in our own National Park system.  Cameroon also hopes that the creation of this park will create jobs and awareness through tourism.  This is a great example of how a country has found tourism to be a sustainable and viable alternative to agricultural and urban development.  

http://allafrica.com/stories/201002011029.html