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

Ecotourism as a sustainable way to protect nature
The tourists do not have a direct effect on the ecosystem. Studies prove
that there are only minor impacts on soils and geological features at very
restricted locations and on certain trails. Birds breeding colonies have shown no
detectable impact on the reproductive success (MacFarland, 2001). However
tourisms have an indirect impact on the ecosystem. They are the cause of
growing population, increased consumption of resources and partly responsible
for the introduction of alien species.
Concerning the growing population, the government have made some
improvements concerned the influx of new immigrants, with no long-term
commitments to the island, who are seeking for quick money. The government
also promotes environmental education of new immigrants, and they have
prohibited further immigration.
The Galapagos Islands have a close and positive cooperation between tour
operators and the national park service and research station, but the increased
tourism means among other things a decline in the guide quality and a more
careless attitude to the environment, (for instance dumping of garbage and
sewage). The growth in tourism has also meant a decline in environmental
“education” of visitors, because of the increasing demand for guides. The result
is education of locals, who lacks the needed qualifications. On the other hand it
has given job opportunities for the locals.
There is also a tendency that tourism takes a small twist to conventional
tourism. If the national park service does not control the planning and the
control of activities in the national park area, the tourist industry will go ahead
of the management authorities, with new modalities and activities, as jet skiing,
sport harpooning, helicopter over-flights and sports fishing. Management
capacity must be in place before tourism growth is allowed (including new
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