Positive Impact Tourism

October-November 1999

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Al Bakker

We need to remind ourselves that the world is a small place and changing rapidly, and that when we travel somewhere, we have an impact.

The impact of commercial ecotourism companies is often less than that of private individuals, largely because there are few controls imposed on private trips, compared to the numerous regulations for commercially operated tours. But much of the focus of governmental standards, certification and guidelines, is resource management, environment and safety. Equally important is the issue of introducing change to sensitive cultures.

It is important for all tour operators— and private adventurers—to be aware of the influence we have on culture. While change is inevitable, the level, rate and quality of that change will be influenced by our actions.

In Fiji the indigenous people of the small remote island villages we visit on our commercial tours live at a subsistence level. We have tried to introduce positive change by implementing human waste disposal and education programs over the past decade.

Groups of tourists produce a lot of human waste so we encouraged and built composting toilets in these areas of low rainfall and taught the locals how to build them. Because education is extremely expensive in Fiji and government funding is often inadequate, we developed an education fund that assists with payment of school fees for primary through secondary schooling, and is managed by the locals. Channeling donations in this way allows us to give something back to the people who have shared their lives with us.

When you are planning your next private adventure or choosing a commercial operator, read up on the areas you want to visit and try to temper your expectations with a travel style appropriate to the fragility of remote lands and cultures. Keeping our impact positive and low will ensure that the next generation of sea kayakers will be welcome in these beautiful places.

Al Bakker is Manager of Southern Sea Ventures Toll Free: 1 888 283 0954 Email: cventure@pacbell.net Web:www.southernseaventures.com
Ph: (510) 665 5742 Fax: (510) 848 2565 PMB 75 1442A Walnut St., Berkeley, CA 94709 USA