Framework for sustainable development of eco-tourism

Bangladesh is a beautiful gift of nature. The unique natural, archaeological, historical, cultural and folkloric resources as well as marvellous scenic beauty of the country have created a lot of opportunities and prospects for tourism sector. Bangladesh has a host of tourist treasures to offer to tourists - beaches, lakes, rivers, hills, forests, wildlife, tribal life, archaeological remains, including historical monuments, folklore, religious and cultural heritage, handicrafts and much more. The direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP of Bangladesh in 2014 was BDT 296.6 billion (1.9% of GDP). This is forecast to rise by 5.9% to BDT 314.1 billion in 2015 (World Travel and Tourism Council, 2015). We know nothing is everlasting in the world. We should ensure the protection and preservation of the resources and scenic beauty for our future generation. If misuse, overuse and lack of proper caring of the resources and cultural values go on as usual, ultimately that will lead to the edge of extermination.
Who doesn't want to see his future generation to be pleased? Everyone wants to see his next generation to be happy. Really have we been protecting the natural resources, cultural and historical values as well as scenic beauty for our future generation? Have we thought about the environment, natural resources and climate? What will be the value of the artificial resources that we have been creating for our dear ones if nature, environment and climate do not go on right way? Obviously the answer is worthless! Surely we all wish a better future for our next generation. So it's time to think about our future generation. It's our social responsibility to ensure a habitable world for our next generation. Actually that's sustainability. In 1987, Brundtland defined sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs.
If we can convert Bangladesh into a sustainable eco-tourism country that will be a beautiful gift for our future generation. The development of tourism sector depends on the optimum utilization and protection of natural, archaeological, cultural, historical and folkloric resources. The tourism development can be a powerful tool for successful economic development on a local and national scale. To protect, preserve and develop the tourism sector sustainably, necessity of sustainable ecotourism is inevitable.
Ecotourism has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism industry. According to World Conservation Union "Ecotourism is environmentally responsible travel and visitation to natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features, both past and present) that promote conservation, have a low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local peoples".

Ecotourism can be an imperative instrument used for contribution to preservation of the natural landscape, archaeological, historical, cultural and folkloric resources. Ecotourism may offer a solution to the poverty problem commonplace in underdeveloped regions like Bangladesh. Four crucial factors (nature and ecology, community, culture and social issues and finally governments' role) should be considered in order to be successful at and ensure sustainable development of ecotourism in Bangladesh.
Firstly, let's consider nature and ecology. It should be recognized that the nature is a central element to the tourist experience. Natural environment, natural resources and natural beauty are the core of tourism destination. Protection of natural resources, wildlife, plants, flora and fauna and use of renewable resources are a precondition for sustainable ecotourism.

Secondly, local community is the major stakeholder of tourism. People both from home and abroad (tourists) have responsibilities to protect natural resources and environment. Community awareness can be increased by arranging education programs, workshops and media. Community involvement and active participation can be implemented by hiring local people and buying supplies locally, where possible. Local community should be empowered. Community empowerment may be implemented by sharing the environment, festivals, production of aesthetic goods and local community's way of life with visitors, while increasing local income and building local economies. Negative attitudes of local community to tourists should be avoided.
Thirdly, it is necessary to give priority for the protection of socio-cultural issues, historical (mosque and monastery), archaeological (castle, cave, bridge and museums) and folkloric values of the community. Protection of local and conventional culture (wood and stone architecture), social security and peace has to be ensured. Respects to local culture, customs, beliefs, norms and privacy can eliminate the conflict in tourism. Gastronomy of any locality has to be sustained.
Finally, governments' role in adopting some administrative and regulatory measures (codifying laws and regulations, enforcing global standards of accreditation, arranging training programs and setting qualitative standards for services are inevitable in developing ecotourism). By ensuring fast information system on the internet, electronic banking system, electronic visa eco-technological development can be achieved. Implementation of Global Positioning System (GPS) and intelligent guidance system will help to ensure sustainable development of ecotourism.
Eco-infrastructural development can be ensured through avoiding the construction of high-rise buildings, ensuring environment-friendly transportation system and building public health and network system that ultimately ensure sustainable ecotourism.  
Green politics can ensure sustainable development of ecotourism. Simply green politics means environment-friendly politics. That means political decisions will not go against the environment, nature and interest of people of the country. For instance, we may recall the proposed Rampal Power Plant in Bangladesh which is situated 14 kilometres north of the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans, that may hamper our nature, environment and habitats. Is it green politics? No, it's not green politics.
Sustainable ecotourism ensures the protection of natural resources, minimizes the impact, conserves the biological and cultural diversity, builds environmental awareness, creates jobs and entrepreneurialism for the workforce and benefits for the local community that ultimately leads to the development of tourism sector and ensures economic prosperity of a country.
Hopefully by ensuring sustainable development of ecotourism in Bangladesh we will be capable enough to present a beautiful gift to our future generation.

The writer is Lecturer, Department of Business Administration, Daffodil International University. Email: [email protected]