Galapagos Islands, Geography; Case Study.

Eco-tourism is environmentally friendly tourism, where the people who are involved

seek to protect the surrounding the environment (in this case, Galapagos.) and

allow for a certain level of education as well.

In many cases of Eco-tourism, some of the profits made go back to the

environment and the tourism is small scale, tourists can only visit on small ships,

most of which are owned by local people, of around 10 - 16 visitors. The tourists

can only visit a limited number of places on the Islands, thus protecting the rest of

the Islands. A very limited amount of visitors per trip. Visitors also have to pay a

£25 fee to promote the conservation work on the Islands.

The overuse of some sites (honey pot), oil spills from boats and pollution to the

Islands water supply and this supply is put under pressure from the tourists use of

it. Animals are stressed by large numbers of visitors and abandon 

their eggs or their young. Tourists require services such as hotels, restaurants,

tourist information centres, guides, transport etc.. which has created a lot of

building so the land use has changed from forest to small urban areas

Traffic congestion and a high density of people at tourist attractions causes conflict

with local people

Local people can make a valuable living from tourism and there are few other

employment opportunities available due to the remoteness of each Island. Tourists

also generate businesses in the local economy;  guides, restraints, hotels, boat

owners and cleaners, these are all valued in order to make the Eco/sustainable

tourism plan work and for the Islands to benefit from it; also, the jobs available don't

need much education (being a guide would require local knowledge and

experience) so are obtainable by all the inhabitants.

 Farming and industry is restricted because the environment is so fragile, but

people still need to work to earn a living. Eco-tourism will allow local people to

work, but also protect the environment, by taking part in community tourism.