UNIT 9

ECOTOURISM

 

Pre-reading

 1. Read and translate the following international words:

 

segment	concept	system
phenomenon	interpretation	wharf
focus	element	destructive
ecologist	compromise	stability
ecotourism	future	definition
student	generation	specifically
adventure	visitor	reef
leader	natural	lpcal
potential	area	actual
confusion	conserve	coral

 

2. Read and translate the following groups of words derived from a common root:

 

1)  ecology — ecological — ecologist — ecotouristti — ecotourist;

2)  industry — industrial — industrialize — industrialized — industri­alist — industrious;

3) develop — developer — developed — development — developmental —developmentally;

4) lead — leader — leading — leadership;

5)  live — alive — living — liver — liverish — livestock— life — lifestyle;

6)  conserve — conservator — conservatory — conservatoire — con­servation;

7) travel — traveler — traveling — travelogue — ‘Travelodge’ (a fchain of economy or budget hotels in the US);

8) import — importer —- important — importance — unimportant;

9)  develop — developer — developed     development — develop! mental — devtelopmentally;

10)  prosper — prosperous — prosperity;

11)  contra — controversy — controversial — con (the pros and consj — contraband — contraceptive;

12)  distinct — distinctly — indistinct— indistinctly — distinction -| distinctive — distinctively;

13)  provide — provider — provided (that) — providing (that) — provision — provisional — provisionally — proviso.

 

Reading

 

3. Read the text and translate it. While reading the text try and find answers to these questions:

 

1. How long has the term ecotourism been in existence?

2. What kind of tourism is a potentially prosperous business for this industry?

3. What is the focus, of ecotourism?

4. What kind of tourism has proven to be destructive?

 

ECOTOURISM

 

Within the past few years, the tourism industry has witnessed a phenomenon that continues to take tourists and industry leaders alike by storm. Ecotourism, often dubbed 'adventure tourism, 'responsible tourism', or 'sustainable tourism', has become the fastest growing segment within the world's largest industry. For tourists,.it is the latest trend. For ecologists, scientists, and students, it is a life-long dream. And for the tourism-industry leaders, it is a potentially prosperous business. But amidst the awe of what ecotourism can provide, there has been much confusion and controversy as to what ecotourism actually is and whether it actually works.

Although the term may be new — it has only been in existence for about a decade — the concept has been alive for much longer. There is no true definition of what ecotourism really is, perhaps because it is difficult to describe and becatise there have been many distinct inteipretations of the concept. Whether it is called ecotourism, adventure tourism, or nature travel, the definitions contain elements and concepts that are as­sociated with what is known as sustainable development. It is believed that tourism — ecotourism in particular — is a key tool in achieving sus­tainable development, which is 'to meet the needs of the present without, compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs'. One of the most widely accepted descriptions is that of The Ecot­ourism Society, an organization based in the United States, in which ecotourism is described as 'responsible travel to natural areas that con­serves the environment and sustains the well-being of the local people'.

In the early 1970s, people in several remote areas of the world saw that tourism could be important, however they did not want to destroy the exotic environment that surrounded them. One such place was Can-cun, Mexico. At the time, CanCun was а prime beach location, but the number of tourists was not very high. Unlike today, there were more na­tives than visitors. Developers recognized the potential Cancun had and 'drew up a master plan that placed priority on environmental protection'. Unfortunately, Mexico began to experience political and economic insta­bility. The recession caused the government and business leaders to scramble to find a ivay to bring money into the economy — specifically, US dollars. Tourism in Mexico was, then, one of the few industries in the country that showed signs of growth. Instead of having environmentally friendly attractions, however, as Cancun was meant to have, it was sacrificed in order to make room for large-scale development.

As a result, the natives were moved off their homeland and pushed into the side of a mountain. They live in what 1ооks like cardboard shacks and do not have running water or a sewage system. The area beaches are becoming cluttered with travelers and garbage and the reef that is found off of the coastline has been damaged by ships coming into the wharf. Water treatment is insufficient and it is practically impossible to meet the growing capacity requirements. Mass tourism has proven to be destructive.

As similar stories become known to the world, ecologists, together with tourism leaders, realize how important it is to preserve the environ­ment so that generations to come can continue to enjoy earth's natural beauty. Because of this, most ecotourism destinations can be found in areas with vast natural surroundings and plentiful flora and fauna. Places like deserts, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, and ice glaciers are prime locations. Also important in ecotourism is the presence of a culture that is unique to the visitor. The focus of ecotourism is to provide tourist with new knowledge about a certain natural area and the culture that ij found within, along with a little bit of adventure. As for the natives; ecotourism is to help improve the local economy and conservation efforts. All parties are to gain a new appreciation for nature and people.

 

Vocabulary notes

 

to witness (smth.)		спостерігати, бути свідком
to take (smb.) by storm		мати успіх (у когось)
alike		так само
to dub (smth.)		називати (щось) з гумором; дати прізьвисько
ecotourism		екотуризм
adventure tourism		туризм з авантюрними розвагами (сафарі/альпінізм)
sustainable tourism		туризм із бережливим ставленням до природи;
(= responsible tourism)		«відповідальний» туризм
life-long dream		мрія всього життя
prosperous		процвітаючий
amidst		посеред
awe		благоговіння
confusion		сум’яття
controversy		протиріччя
decade		десятиліття
to describe		описувати
to meet tbe needs		відповідати потребам
to compromise		піддавати ризику
to conserve		зберігати
in the early 1970s		на початку 70-х рр. XX ст.
environment		навколишнє середовище
to sustain		берегти
master plan		генеральний план
to place priority		надавати пріоритет
environmental protection		захист (охорана) навколишнього середовища
recession		економічний спад
to sacrifice		жертвувати
to show signs		проявляти ознаки
environmentally friendly		той, що не шкодить довкіллю
cardboard		картон
native		корінний, місцевий житель
shack		хатина
running water		водопровід
sewage system		каналізація
garbage		мусор, відходи
wharf		пристань
water treatment		водопостачання
to prove		виявлятись
destructive		руйнівний
earth's natural beauty		природна краса землі
rainforest		тропічний ліс; джунглі
coral reef		кораловий риф
	ice glacier	льодовик
	appreciation	розуміння

 

Vocabulary focus

 

4. Match the equivalents:

 

I) trend	a)	благополуччя
2) ship	b)	пригода
3) adventure	c)	великомасштабний
4) concept	d)	фактично, насправді
5) phenomenon	e)	судно, пароход
6) well-being	f)	тенденція
7) actually	g)	ідея, поняття
8) large-scale	h)	явище
9) coastline	i)	берегова лінія
10) enjoy	J)	мрія
11) dream	k)	насолоджуватися

 

5. Match the synonyms:

 

1)	native	a)	animals
2)	fauna	b)	shore
3)	poor	c)	traveler
4)	flora	d)	insufficient
5)	important	e)	plants
6)	tourist	0	local
7)	remote	g)	far-off
8)	beach	b)	vital
9)	room	i)	place

 

6. Match the antonyms:

 

1)	unique	a)	scarce
2)	plentiful	b)	failure
3)	long	c)	insufficient
4)	visitor	d)	common
5)	close	e)	improve
6) worsen		f)	find
7) sufficient		g)	palace
8) shack		h)	short
9) prosperity		i)	native
10) lose		J)	remote

 

7. Match the words with the their definitions:

 

1)	generation	a)  a type of organized holiday in which people do new and exciting things, for example, a trek, or a safari
2)	nature	b) a very high hill
3)	trend	c)  all people of about the same age
4)	leader	d) a person who guides or directs a group, team, or organization
5)	money	e)   a general tendency or change in direction in the way a situation is developing
6)	adventure	f)   everything that exists in the world which is not
tourism		made or controlled by people, such as the weather,
		plants, and animals
7)	mountain	g)  coins or paper notes with their value printed on them, which you use when you buy and sell things
8)	desert	h) a large area of land covered with sand, where there is very little rain and very few plants

 

Comprehension

 

8. Answer the questions on the text:

 

1.   What phenomenon has the tourism industry witnessed within the past few years?

2.    Is there a true definition of what ecotourism really is?

3.      Why has 'adventure tourism' become the fastest growing segment within the world's tourism?

4.      Why is 'responsible tourism' or 'sustainable tourism' a life-long dream for ecologists, scientists, and students?

5.      Why is 'responsible tourism' a potentially prosperous business for the tourism industry?

6.    What knowledge are ecotourists provided with?

7.      Why is ecotourism considered a key tool in achieving sustainable development?

8.      Where is a beach location of Cancun situated?

9.      What kind of attractions was Cancun meant to have?

10.  Why were Cancun natives moved off their homeland?

11.  Do you think that generations to come can continue to enjoy earth's natural beauty like we do? Why? or Why not?

12. Why does mass tourism sometimes prove to be destructive?

13. How can ecotourism help improve the local economy and conservation efforts?

 

9. Complete the sentences using proper words and phrases in the box.

 

 

1.   4Adventure tourism' is a potentially _______ business.

2.   Ecotourism is a responsible travel to _____ that conserves the environment.

3.   It is difficult to describe_____ because there are a lot of interpjfetatidns of this concept.          

4.      Any coastline can be damaged _____ coming into the wharf.

5.      Travel agencies try_____ of all their customers.

6.      'Responsible tourism' is the latest trend and a life-long dream _____.

 

10. Say whether the following statements are true or false. Comment on the true statements and correct the false ones.

 

1.   The term ecotourism is rather difficult to describe.

2.   'Sustainable tourism' is a potentially prosperous business for the tourism industry leaders.

3.   'Adventure tourism' has proven to be very destructive.

4.       The focus of ecotourism is to provide tourists with new knowledge about a certain natural area.

5.       Ecotourists often destroy the exotic environment that surrounds them.

6.      Today there are more natives than visitors at Cancun.

7.      Cancun is one of the famous Mexican cities.

8.      Drawing up their plans, ecologies place priority on environ­mental protection.

9.      Cancun natives live in modern houses with running water and a sewage system.

10.  There exists a true definition of what ecotourism really is.

 

Discussion

 

11.  Try to evaluate a travel agency's specialization using the following words and phrases:

 

•        travel agency;

•        based in the United States;

•        fastest growing segment;

•        niche;

•        the world's largest industry;

•        a potentially prosperous business;

•        sustainable development;

•        not to destroy the exotic environment;

•        to surround;

•        economic instability;

•        well-being of the local people;

•        potentially profitable.

 

After having done the task describe this travel agency in detail.

 

12. Work in pairs:

 

a) Look at the following words and phrases and think of a story that might combine them all. You may reorder them in any way you like using any form of the verb:

 

•        a new travel agency;

•        to open;

•        adventure tourism;

•        one such place was the island of Phuket in Thailand;

•         the Indian Ocean;

•         tsunami;

•         Thailand and Indonesia;

•         national emergency;

•         on December 26, 2004;

•         in the Pearl Hotel;

•         destroyed the exotic environment that surrounded them;

•         coral reefs;

•         were saved by chance;

•         direct flight back to Moscow;

•         safe and sound;

•         although the money was not returned;

•         happy relatives.

 

b) When you have decided upon the story, tell it to your partner. Then listen to that of your partner. Ask each other as many questions as you can to learn further details or clarify some points.

 

 

13. Entitle the paragraphs beginning with the words:

 

Although the term may be new...

In the early 1970s...

 

14.  Divide the text into other logical parts and entitle each of them

 

15.  Give a summary of the text.