The Eco-Tourism Model
Burnett Thorne believes that Eco-Tourism has been practiced for many years, without having actually being recognized as a distinguished segment in the overall family of tourism types. The pursuit of a sustainable visitation program, has actually enjoyed a vibrant following since the late 19th century when trekkers from the U.K. – Germany and other western countries set off with their “rucksacks”, oiled hiking boots and large-scale ordnance survey maps - to tramp across trails in Europe, the Americas and Africa. These trekkers moved across sensitive trails, with a firm respect for the terrain as well as its inhabitants and always observed the principles of “the soft footprint” while on the trail.

“It may be those who do most, dream most”

Stephen Leacock

Burnett Thorne recognizes many of the principles, which we have been more recently formalized and adopted by the United Nations as well as other jurisdictions.

So how do we define Eco-Tourism and what are
its adopted principles?

We need look no further than the Quebec declaration, which embraces the principles of sustainable tourism and goes further - by articulating the following elements, which distinguish it from the wider concepts of sustainable tourism:

• Eco-Tourism contributes actively to the conservation and natural cultural heritage
• It includes local and indigenous communities in its planning development and operation, contributing to their well-being
• It interprets the natural and cultural heritage of the destination to the visitor
• It lends itself better to independent travellers, as well as to organized tours of modest sized groups

• Eco-Tourism ensures the prior participation and consent of all the stakeholders
• It ensure equal, effective and active participation of all stakeholders
• It acknowledges indigenous peoples communities’ rights to say “no” to tourism development – and to be fully informed, effective and active participants in the development of tourism activities within their communities, lands and territories
• It recognizes the right of indigenous peoples to maintain control over their resources.

In a developmental sense Burnett Thorne summarizes our Eco-Tourism model as follows

• Minimize impact
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
• Provide enriching experiences for visitors and stakeholders
• Channel direct economic benefit to conservators
• Empower and involve local communities
• Respect human rights and be sensitive to their application