ABSTRACT

Buckley and Pannell (1990) write that environmental impacts might be minimised through the use of a combination of factors including planning and regulation, incentives to encourage or discourage particular activities, hardening of sites receiving high levels of use, and through the use of education both on-and offsite. Such policy-related actions are increasingly required, according to Goodwin (1995), to ensure that tourism development is consistent with the needs of both local people and the environment. Tourism and ecotourism policy encompasses a broad spectrum of concerns related to the implementation of tourism programmes around the world, including social, ecological and economic relationships; it also considers how tourism affects or is affected by tourists, local people, operators, government, and so on. In addition, much discussion has surrounded the notion of regulation as a means by which to provide a stronger element of control in how ecotourism products are shaped and implemented. Regulation, therefore, is also an integral part of this chapter. The final part of the chapter deals with certification and accreditation in the ecotourism industry, as well as guides and interpretation. It is suggested that the industry is committing itself further to these programmes as a means by which to offer a higher standard of quality and professionalism in the field.