THE NEW FACE

OF TOURISM
1.09

The twenty-first century has seen significant may not always serve local food. Large tour
growth in mass tourism. This growth brings an companies do not always hire local experts and
A
increased risk of endangering the sites that make guides, even though these people might have
a place unique and worth visiting. However, a the most insight into the area’s history and
new kind of tourism approach—geotourism— culture. Much of the money made from this
may offer a solution. type of tourism does not, therefore, benefit the
Jonathan Tourtellot is founding director of the local economy. In addition, with mass tourism,
Destination Stewardship Center. Its mission is to visitors do not usually have much contact with
protect and maintain the world’s distinctive places the local people. This limits their understanding
through wisely managed tourism. Tourtellot is of the nature and culture of the places they visit.
an advocate of the geotourism approach, a term In contrast, geotourism is like a partnership
he came up with to describe the core strategy between travelers and locals. For example,
for achieving this goal. He believes that as mass geotravelers stay in hotels owned by local
B tourism continues to grow and move into places residents who care about protecting the area
that saw few visitors in the past, geotourism will and the environment. Geotravelers eat in
be a good long-term plan. “The challenge of restaurants that serve regional dishes. They
managing tourism in a way that protects places buy from local merchants and craftspeople and
instead of overrunning1 them,” says Tourtellot, “is hire local travel guides. They also try to see
simply going to become larger.” traditional music, dance, and theater. As a result,
Geotourism is an alternative to mass D these travelers gain a broader understanding
tourism, which can have harmful effects on of the area’s history and culture. Moreover, the
local people and on the environment. Many of money they spend stays in the local community.
the systems that support mass tourism—large This helps local people earn a living; it is also
C
hotels, chain restaurants,2 tour companies— necessary in order to protect the area for future
are often owned and run by companies based travelers. In this way, geotourism benefits both
outside the tourist areas. Chain restaurants sides of the partnership—the travelers and the
locals.

If a place is overrun, it is fully occupied.

1 

Chain restaurants are owned by the same company and have

2 

standardized products and services.

T HE T RAVEL B U S I N ESS  103

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 Geotourism Pioneer:
An Interview with
Jonathan Tourtellot

Q: How would you differentiate among

ecotourism, sustainable tourism, and geotourism?
Tourtellot: Ecotourism focuses specifically
on natural areas. I’m convinced that there are
elephants roaming Africa and trees growing
in Costa Rica that would not be there without
ecotourism. Sustainable tourism … seems
to say, “Keep everything the way it is.” We
E needed a term that would bring the ecotourism
principle out of its niche3 and cover everything
that makes travel interesting. Geotourism is
defined as tourism that sustains or enhances
the geographical character of a place—the
environment, heritage, aesthetics,4 culture, and
well-being of local people.
Q: What happens when tourism is badly managed?
very easy to bend down, pick up a little bit
Tourtellot: It can destroy a place. Coasts,
of petrified wood, and pocket it. People think
for example, are extremely vulnerable. Coasts
it’s only one pebble6 in such a vast area, so
are important for biodiversity because much of
it makes no difference if they take it. But
marine life has its nurseries5 in coastline areas.
since millions of visitors over the years have
F So development there is a highly sensitive issue.
thought the same thing, all of the pebbles
Same thing goes for attractive mountainsides
have disappeared—meaning there’s been an
like the Rockies of the West. That’s why
enormous loss of what makes the Petrified
when development occurs on a large scale, it’s
Forest so special. So, when you’re talking
important that it be … well planned.
about an entire location like a town, a stretch
Q: What happens to a destination after years of coastline, a wild area, or a national park, it’s
of heavy traffic? important to listen to park rangers when they
Tourtellot: Here’s an example—at the tell you where to go and not go, what to do
G
Petrified Forest [in northeast Arizona], it’s and not do.

A niche is a special area of demand for a product or a service.

3 
A pebble is a small, round stone.
6 

Aesthetics relates to the appreciation and study of beauty.

4 

Marine-life nurseries are places where young sea creatures can begin
5 

growing into adults.

104  UNIT 5
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 According to a survey
by the Destination
Stewardship Center, the
Norwegian Fjords are
one of the world’s best
examples of geotourism.

Q: What happens when tourism is managed well? Q: How else can tourism help benefit a
Tourtellot: It can save a place. When people destination?
come [to] see something special and unique to Tourtellot: Great tourism can build
an area—its nature, historic structures, great something that wasn’t there before. My favorite
cultural events, beautiful landscapes, even special example is the Monterey Bay Aquarium in
cuisine—they are enjoying and learning more California. It was built in a restored cannery8
about a destination’s geographical character … building on historic Cannery Row—which is a
[T]ravelers spend their money in a way that good example of preserving a historical building
H
helps maintain the geographical diversity and I rather than destroying it. The aquarium, which
distinctiveness of the place they’re visiting. It has about 1.8 million visitors each year, brought
can be as simple as spending your money at a people’s attention to the incredible variety of sea
little restaurant that serves a regional dish with life right off the coast of California. And it played
ingredients from local farmers, rather than at an a major role in the development of the Monterey
international franchise7 that serves the same food Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Once people
you can get back home. saw what was there, they wanted to protect it.

A franchise is allowed to sell another company’s products.

7 
A cannery is a factory where food is canned.
8 

T HE T RAVEL B U S I N ESS  105

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 UNDERSTANDING THE READING

U N D ERS TA N D I N G A Check () the three best statements to complete the definition of geotourism.
K E Y T ER M S
According to Jonathan Tourtellot, geotourism  .
1. focuses on bringing people to natural areas
2. has positive effects on local economies
3. helps preserve the environment
4. benefits international tour companies
5. is good for both travelers and locals

U N D ERS TA N D I N G B Check () four statements that summarize Tourtellot’s main ideas.
M A I N I D EAS
1. Geotourism is similar to ecotourism, but is mainly concerned with controlling
pollution caused by tourists.
2. Tourism that is not well planned can cause significant environmental damage,
particularly along coastlines.
3. When a place has a lot of visitors over a long period of time, the visitors can destroy
some of the characteristics that made the site special.
4. When tourism is well planned, people learn about the geography of an area and
help support it at the same time.
5. Tourism can help preserve places that might otherwise be lost.
6. The basic idea of geotourism is “keep everything the way it is.”

U N D ERS TA N D I N G C Match each place mentioned in the reading passage to the main reason (a–d)
P U R P O SE Tourtellot mentions it.
1. Costa Rica
2. The Rockies
3. The Petrified Forest
4. Monterey Bay Aquarium

a. an unusual landscape that has been significantly damaged by tourism

b. a region where careful development planning is important
c. an example of how geotourism can help preserve a historical site
d. a place where ecotourism has had a positive environmental impact

C R I T I C A L T H I N K I N G   Writers often make arguments by contrasting the

advantages of an idea with the disadvantages. You can evaluate their argument by
asking:
• Is there enough evidence to support each argument?
• Does the writer present both sides of the argument?
• Is the presented evidence fair and up to date?
• Does the evidence relate logically to the argument?

106  UNIT 5
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 D Complete the notes comparing geotourism and mass tourism with suitable words. I d e ntifying
A r gum e nt s

Advantages of Geotourism Disadvantages of Mass Tourism

• allows tourism growth to be managed in • does not promote local food or
the long term culture
• people support the • people spend money that doesn’t go to
by using local hotels or restaurants

• visitors gain a deeper understanding of • people gain a limited

the area’s of the places they visit
• careful development can help preserve • unmanaged tourist numbers can cause
and educate people natural areas to their
about the area original beauty

E Work with a partner. Answer the questions below. C R I T I C AL T H I N K I N G :

EVAL U AT I N G
1. What might be some disadvantages of geotourism? AR G U M E N T s

2. Consider the pros and cons of geotourism and mass tourism (refer to your answers
in 1, exercise D, and exercise A-2 in Explore the Theme). Are you convinced by the
writer’s argument that geotourism is better than mass tourism? Why or why not?

The Petrified Forest receives

around 800,000 visitors
every year.

T HE T RAVEL B U S I N ESS  107

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Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.