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Ecotourism is responsible travel that focuses on exploring natural areas while preserving the environment and benefiting local communities. In the Pacific Islands, community-based ecotourism is promoted, allowing visitors to engage with indigenous communities and explore diverse ecosystems. In Fiji, the local managed marine areas network aims to collaborate with government departments, NGOs, and communities to manage marine resources. They have seen significant growth and positive impact on Fiji's marine environment. Challenges in ecotourism include ensuring activities do not disturb communities or exploit resources, preserving biodiversity, and reducing environmental degradation. Education, regulation, and eco-friendly infrastructure can help mitigate these challenges. In the UK, ecotourism focuses on promoting conservation in natural areas and supporting local communities. The Go Lake Travel Program aims to enable sustainable travel in the Lake District through initiatives like pay-a Welcome to our first episode in exploring ecotourism, where we delve into the opportunities and challenges of sustainable travel initiatives around the globe. I'm your host, Sebastian, and today, we're comparing two distinct ecotourism destinations, Pacific Islands and the UK. Today, we have a very special guest from Fiji, one of the most touristic places in the Pacific Islands. Let's welcome Dosie Malabrigo. Hello, thank you for having me here. I'm excited to discuss ecotourism with you, especially its implications in the Pacific Islands and learn about the UK. Absolutely, it's a fascinating topic. Let's start with something basic. What is ecotourism? Ecotourism refers to a form of responsible travel that focuses on exploring natural areas while conserving the environment and improving the well-being of local communities. It involves visiting fragile, pristine, and relative untouched natural areas to minimize impact and contribute to conservation efforts. You're right. Ecotourism is crucial in promoting environmental conservation, fostering sustainable development, preserving cultural heritage, educating visitors, and mitigating climate change, making it an important tool for promoting responsible and ethical travel practices worldwide. Absolutely. Many people don't know what ecotourism holidays look like. And to be fair, it's not as different as normal holidays. My favorite part is that you're even closer to the nature and the place's culture. What are some of the unique aspects of ecotourism in your region? The Pacific Islands are a group of islands located in the Pacific Ocean. It's scattered across a vast expanse of water between Asia and the Americas. They are known for their pristine beach, rich biodiversity, and vibrant cultures. These islands offer a unique ecotourist experience. One significant opportunity lies in promoting community-based ecotourism, where locals actively guide visitors, preserve their heritage, and share traditional knowledge. This fosters a sense of ownership among communities and ensures that tourists benefit and distribute equitably. Visitors have the opportunity to explore diverse ecosystems, from lush rainforests to pristine coral reefs, while also engaging with indigenous communities and traditions. I personally work with the local community of Okonibanwa, and we manage the marine areas and the networks of the active rivers in the Fiji's traditional fishing ground. Have you heard about it? No, I haven't. What are they? Well, according to their constitution, the networks aim to encourage collaborations among government departments, NGOs, and communities to better manage Fiji's traditional fishing grounds. They are really focused on fostering cooperation between these different groups. That sounds like a comprehensive approach. What else do they do? We're a big on collective advocacy for local managed marine areas and creating joint policy briefs based on shared learnings. Plus, we emphasize using adaptive management as key to achieving best practices. That seems impressive. How do they go about achieving these objectives? Well, we recognize the autonomy of local communities in managing their marine resources. At the same time, we provide support and guidance to help these communities to their best result. The network plans and facilities are programmed by decision-making, implementation, and evaluation are handled on the ground by the individual groups. So, it's a collaborative effort between the network and local communities? Exactly. We empower local communities through ongoing capacity building activities, giving them the knowledge they need to resolve the decline on their natural resources. And we use adaptive management approach, which means they focus on participatory learning and action, ensuring that communities are actively involved in planning, decision-making, and implementation. That's great to hear. Do you know how successful they've been? Absolutely. Back in 2005, Fiji's network of local managed marine areas includes nearly 60 local managed marine areas, involving 125 communities and covering about 20% of Fiji's inshore fishery. By 2009, we have grown to over 250 local managed marine areas, covering over 10,000 square kilometers, which is amazing. The network huddles incorporate hundreds of managed tools and plans by the time. Wow, that's quite an expansion. It sounds like they're making a real difference in sustainable marine resource management. Definitely. It's impressive to see the positive impact we're having on the Fiji's marine environment. That sounds incredible. However, ecotourism isn't without its challenges. What are some potential challenges for people, animals, and the planet in ecotourism development? One challenge is ensuring that tourist activities do not disturb local communities or exploit natural resources. Additionally, we have the risk of natural habitat disturbance and wildlife harassment, which can have an impact on biodiversity. Moreover, the increased carbon footprint for transportation and infrastructure development can contribute to environmental degradation. Those are important considerations. How can these challenges be mitigated to ensure ecotourism remains sustainable? Education and awareness are key. By providing visitors with information about conservation and responsible behavior, we can minimize negative impacts on ecosystems and communities. Implementing a strict regulation and monitoring system can also help enforce sustainable practices. Furthermore, investing in eco-friendly infrastructure and supporting local conservation initiatives can mitigate environmental harm. Moving on to the UK, how does ecotourism differ in this region compared to the Pacific Islands? In the UK, ecotourism often focuses on promoting conservation in natural areas such as natural parks and wildlife reserves. Visitors can participate in activities like hiking, birdwatching, and wildlife photography, or support local conservation efforts. Additionally, there's a growing trend towards eco-friendly accommodation and sustainable tourism practices in urban areas. I believe you have also told me about it. The influx of tourists can strengthen fragile ecosystems and traditional ways of life. Issues such as waste management, overfishing, and habitat destruction can arise if not managed sustainably. Moreover, there's a risk of cultural commodification, where indigenous cultures are reduced to tourist attractions, undermining their authenticity. Turning our focus to the UK, ecotourism initiatives here revolve around conservation areas, national parks, and rural communities. One notable opportunity is the promotion of responsible wildlife encounters, such as birdwatching and nature walks, which contribute to conservation efforts and local economies. Additionally, heritage sites and eco-friendly accommodation provides immersive experience for visitors, fostering a deeper connection to nature and culture. A reputable ecotourist initiative is the Go Lake Travel Program, a £6.9 million initiative funded by the Department of Transport, partnership with the Cumbria County Council and the Lake District National Park Authority. It is a program that aims to change the ways people visit and travel to the South and Central Lake District, enabling greater sustainable travel. Oh wow, that's a different initiative. Sounds promising. What are some of the objectives for this? Well Dorsey, keep in mind that these goals are still being achieved, and that the intention is to enhance the national park environment as a result of higher visitor numbers. Developing a network of pay-as-you-go vehicles and bicycle rent-a-place, enhancing public transportation services, reducing traffic to alleviate congestion, and facilitating the payments and transitions between various modes of transport through integrated ticketing and discounts for public transport users are a few of these goals. Have these objectives been successful? Are they being implemented presently? Well, success is subjective, and for this program initiative, it has its own share of success and improvements. Between the years of 2011 and 2016, it has created five bus services carrying over 20,000 passengers in the 2014 year period alone, and 7.8% reduction in carbon emissions from visiting such travels, a saving of 41,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, well above the target set at the start of the program of only 11,000 tonnes. That is impressive. A great start for this initiative. This is how people view these changes. Do they appreciate the forming of an eco-tourist destination? Well, based on the GOAT-led travel program analysis, 94% of visitors gave a positive rating to their sustainable travel experience, and 61% said they were definitely more likely to choose public transport as a mode of travel again on holiday to the Lake District. Wow. It seems that people are very happy and encouraged to support the wildlife and national park to the best of their abilities. Yet, challenges persist. Despite efforts to minimize environmental impact, transportation remains a significant contributor to carbon emissions in eco-tourism destinations. Balancing preservation with visitor access can also be tricky, especially in protected areas where increased foot traffic may destroy wildlife habitats and ecosystems. Furthermore, economic disparities can emerge, with some communities benefiting more from tourism than others. There needs to be a balance. Wow, I didn't know any of that. I bet if any country has difficulties and challenges, what are the challenges facing in the UK? Even if we are in opposite sides of the world, we have similar challenges affecting our environment and the development of a healthy eco-tourism. Corruption-related income leaks negatively impact the mindsets of the locals in places like Fiji and the Galapagos Islands as well. It does impact the attitude and behaviours of tourists visiting the Lake District's natural parks. It is difficult to expect environmentally friendly behaviour of being considerate and mindful of protecting the ecosystem and environment due to individual mindsets of convenience. There is a lack of educational programmes and awareness surrounding the importance of protecting the Lake District, and therefore, hard to prevent any negative impacts people can cause. This is supported in a study by Xiong 2021, showing that visitors' understanding of national parks' environmental conservation efforts has a major impact on their intentions to behave in an environmentally beneficial manner. The findings imply the increased programmes and facilities that raise public knowledge of environmental protection can encourage tourists to behave in an environmentally responsible manner in order to encourage visitors to voluntarily adhere to national parks' environmental conservation policies and enable the park to serve as an eco-tourism destination. It is imperative that the National Park Management Agency assumes responsibility for safeguarding the park's ecological environment through public awareness campaigns and facility expansions. In conclusion, both the Pacific Islands and the UK present unique opportunities and challenges for eco-tourism. While these destinations offer unparalleled natural beauty and cultural experiences, sustainable park management is key to ensure the long-term benefits for all stakeholders. By prioritising community engagement, conservation efforts, and responsible travel practices, eco-tourism can truly become a force for positive change in these diverse landscapes. However, challenges and issues will always be difficult to overcome on the basis that it is hard to create initiatives that benefit stakeholders, government bodies, tourists, and the local people. So, thank you, Dulce, for sharing your insights on eco-tourism in the Pacific Islands. It's been a pleasure having you on the show. Thank you for having me here, Seb. I hope our conversation inspired listeners to embrace responsible travel practices and contribute to the conservation of our planet. That's all for today's episode of Exploring Eco-tourism. Thank you for tuning in, and remember, whether you're exploring the Pacific Islands or the UK, let's travel early and leave nothing but footprints. Until next time, happy travels. Even if we are in opposite sides of the world, we have similar challenges affecting our environment and the development of our healthy eco-tourism. Can you tell me something else about the UK?