Tourism has contributed to improvement in economic growth in many countries, in some it has become the highest economic earner and hence many strategies to tap the growing potential have been developed. An integrated tourism system that provides for a holistic approach is more desirable and many countries aim at it. The holistic approach must involve all sectors to provide for a coexisting plan that’s benefits all without unnecessary damages.
Nature conservation has become a major concern especially in the era of global warming and climatic changes. Eco tourism has been developed to counter the harmful effects of tourism on the environment. This is because environment and tourism must co-exist in view of the fact that many tourists visit place due to climate, biodiversity, wildlife, and other environmental related reasons (Petropoullos, 2008). Any construction of tourism features that may harm the environment are completely banned in eco tourism such as construction Villas in natural habitats e.g. coastal beaches found to support animal life. There has been also efforts encourage traditional less harmful means of tourism which will reduce more constructions such as traditional accommodations. Building of aquariums, open zoos, and objects that mimic nature will not only help attract tourists but conserve nature and contribute to eco tourism.
These mimic of nature conserve the environment and they are an effective energy source that has least wastes and harmful effects to the environment is encouraged so that less pollution is caused. They make use of efficient reduce, reuse, and recycle system for mush of the waste in the tourism sector is encouraged while the players in the tourism sector are educated on the benefits that accompany eco tourism (Petropoullos, 2008). This will bring the notion that tourism is good but eco tourism is best.
Gender and tourism can be viewed in two different perspectives; gender is incorporated in tourism especially in the dream to achieve the Millennium Development Goals which seek to enhance gender equality and empower women. Everyone is useful to the process of promoting tourism though no specific roles can be said to be played by any gender (Çatagay, et al. 1995). The most common link is the issue of sex tourism where women have been degraded to sex objects through sexual exploitations. Such ideas can only complicate and slow the development of tourism in any area and thus gender should be a critical part when deciding tourism issues.
Women have not only been linked to low income, part time, or seasonal earning activities in tourism, but also to lower promotion and marketing strategies which affect development. The two ways that gender can be dealt with include; implicit and explicit policies. In implicit policies the policy is “gender blind” in that it assumes that women will pick up household chores no matter the circumstances. It also assumes the division of labor among gender where the woman is taken as the weaker sex.