Ecotourism sites and the communities relying on them must be supported through an economic stimulus to help them prepare for the anticipated resurgence of nature travels in the post-Covid-19 pandemic period, the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) said.
ACB Executive Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim pointed out that losses from tourism revenues of ecotourism sites and their communities are a major concern as efforts to conserve and protect ecosystems and their rich biodiversity may be directly affected due to financial constraints.
“One immediate solution is the provision of economic stimulus for communities whose livelihoods are dependent on ecotourism and have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Lim said in an episode of the “Ecotourism Opportunities” webinar series on July 31.
The webinar series is an initiative of the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) Philippines in partnership with Global Ecotourism Network and Asian Ecotourism Network and Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines.
“Including ecotourism in the economic stimulus programs as immediate and appropriate support for the communities may relieve mounting pressures on the ecosystems, such as poaching, overfishing, illegal logging,” Lim said in an ACB news release.
Tourism is one of the industries worst hit by Covid-19, as mandatory restrictions in movements halted local and international leisure travels.
Citing the International Labour Organization (ILO) data, 15.6 million jobs and livelihood in the tourism sector in the Asia Pacific are affected by the pandemic.
Lim, however, underlined the reasons why the ecotourism sector should maintain nature attractions and prepare for the post-Covid 19 scenarios.
“What the sector is experiencing now is temporary. Once lockdowns and travel restrictions are lifted, people will want to be closer to nature,” she said.
Citing the global report of Campaign for Nature, which was released in July 2020, Lim said as the global tourism grows at 4 percent to 6 percent annually on average, the financial and economic benefits of nature conservation outweigh the costs.
“Based on these scientific studies, ecotourism, which coexists harmoniously with biodiversity conservation, has a significant economic contribution, especially in the post-pandemic scenario,” Lim said.
Joining Lim in the webinar was Albert Teo Chin Kion, founder of Borneo Eco Tours and Sukau Rainforest Lodge in Sabah.
Kion talked about the highs and lows of running an ecotourism company and how ecotourism benefited communities and contributed to the conservation of Sabah’s natural resources.
Dr. Mina Gabor, president and founder of ISST Philippines, said that “biodiversity will have to be part of the ecotourism planning” and that greater focus must be given on the livelihood component of ecotourism, especially during a pandemic, the news release said.