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Pro-poor tourism (PPT) is defined as tourism that generates net benefits for the poor. Benefits may be economic, but they may also be social, environmental or cultural. Pro-poor tourism is not a specific product or sector of tourism, but an approach to the industry.

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Agrotourism is a tourism concept that is involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch.

Among the Agrotourism activities that are well received are visits to orchards and animal farms, research centres and homestays.

The main agency responsible for developing Agrotourism is the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, while the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia assists in terms of promotion.

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A type of tourism where local communities invite tourists into their communities, giving them insight into their culture and daily lives. It is a form of sustainable tourism that allows travellers to connect closely to the local community they visit.

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DEFINITION:
Ecotourism is currently described as "responsible travel to natural regions that preserves the environment, supports local people's well-being, and includes interpretation and education" (TIES, 2015). Both workers and visitors are expected to participate in education.

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Pro-Poor Tourism (PPT) is an approach to reduce poverty in developing nations. Areas across the globe, including regions like Africa, Asia, South America and India, have successfully adopted PPT. In addition, PPT’s principal goal is to generate net benefits for poor communities. The strategy of Pro-Poor Tourism aims to increase economic stability and mitigate the negative effects of local cultures and environments. In order to do so, developing countries must apply several strategies.

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1. Minimize physical, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts.
2. Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
3. Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.

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IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM

Community based tourism put emphasis on active participation of local community in tourism planning, management and empowerment of local people in the tourism opportunity.
Need of Community Based Tourism
The need to Community based tourism is as following:
• To minimize the negative impacts of tourism activity at the local destination.
• To educate and aware about the sustainability.
• To encourage the interest in Sustainable development.
• To provide employment opportunities to the local residents

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-Environmentally friendly tourism, or nature-oriented tourism, naturally demands more from its participants, based on the fact that it is observing plants and animals that are alive and even carry the hope for the survival of the species. Participants need to remember to always put the species in question and the environment on which it depends first. Participants in nature-friendly tourism are outsiders to the places they visit and to the species they want to see. We appreciate the beauty of the species, the beauty of nature, and we hope that later travellers, and our children and grandchildren, will be able to appreciate, be moved by and be impressed by this beauty. Therefore, the species in question and the environment on which it depends should undoubtedly take precedence over our ability to see a particular species or behaviour.

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Guilin's landscape is known as a representative of Chinese landscapes.Guilin is full of beautiful scenery, and the Li River is a great example of this. The scenery of the Li River is particularly beautiful in Yangshuo, Guilin. "The mountains and waters of Guilin are the most beautiful in the world, while those of Yangshuo are the most beautiful in Guilin; the peaks reflect the mountains and float the water, and there are no mountains or waters that are not fascinating", which highly summarises the beauty of Yangshuo's natural scenery.

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Ecotourism is not only important to protect the nature of the world, but it is also vital for a country to increase their income level, which would eventually lead to better quality of life for the citizens. - Shahiela

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Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science, Queensland

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Ecotourism encompasses nature-based activities that increase visitor appreciation and understanding of natural and cultural values. They are experiences that are managed to ensure they are ecologically, economically and socially sustainable, contributing to the wellbeing and conservation of the natural areas and local communities where they operate.

The World Tourism Organisation defines ecotourism as:

all nature-based forms of tourism in which the main motivation of the tourists is the observation and appreciation of nature as well as the traditional cultures prevailing in natural areas

an experience/activity that contains educational and interpretation features

an experience/activity that is generally, but not exclusively, organised by specialised tour operators for small groups. Service provider partners at the destinations tend to be small, locally owned businesses.

an experience/activity that minimises negative impacts on the natural and socio-cultural environment

an experience/activity that supports the maintenance of natural areas which are used as ecotourism attractions by:

generating economic benefits for host communities, organisations and authorities managing natural areas with conservation purposes;

providing alternative employment and income opportunities for local communities; and

increasing awareness towards the conservation of natural and cultural assets, both among locals and tourists.

Why is ecotourism important?

Tourism is a $23 billion industry for Queensland (Tourism and Events Queensland, May 2022), generating $46.5 million a day in overnight visitor expenditure across the state, directly and indirectly employing 207,000 Queenslanders.

Experiencing nature is a primary motivator for both domestic and international visitors in Australia. Queensland has a natural competitive advantage in providing visitors with high-quality ecotourism experiences because of our world-class national parks and marine parks, five World Heritage areas, and a huge diversity of unique and unrivalled landscapes and iconic wildlife.

Queensland's national parks play a substantial role for ecotourism. Our commercial tour operators have a long history of accessing national parks and providing visitors with a wide array of ecotourism experiences.

What is happening to support ecotourism?

Sustainable ecotourism experiences are able to showcase Queensland's special natural and cultural values while offering visitors and locals unique and memorable experiences in some of the state's most spectacular areas.

The Queensland Government is committed to progressing new best-practice iconic ecotourism experiences to attract further growth in the domestic and international visitor market.

Ecotourism opportunities may include:

commercial tourism operators that access Queensland's protected area estate through Commercial Activity Permits and Commercial Activity Agreements

the design, construction, ongoing operation and maintenance of low-impact eco-accommodation and other appropriate infrastructure within and adjacent to the protected area estate

immersive experiences that support citizen science and voluntourism programs.

These Queensland Government initiatives will be fundamental to making Queensland the number one ecotourism destination in Australia, delivering world-class ecotourism attractions and experiences in Queensland's national parks.

Why is certification required?

Importance of certification

Positioning Queensland as a world leader in ecotourism requires excellence in product delivery, operations and services. Industry has indicated over many years that best-practice standards are essential in achieving this ambition.

Many ecotourism operators working within national parks and other protected areas are already certified and demonstrate a commitment to best-practice business operations and minimal impact on the natural environment. The requirement for all tourism operators authorised under long-term commercial activity agreements (agreements) to be certified by an endorsed organisation demonstrates the importance of these ambitions. It sends a strong message to the market that tourism operators in national parks are of high quality, employing best-practice, providing a competitive positioning for Queensland as a leading ecotourism destination.

Certification requirements for tour operators

All long-term agreement holders and ecotourism operators conducting their ecotourism experiences within the protected area estate must have commenced their certification process within 12 months of entering into an agreement and must finalise certification within 18 months of entering into an agreement. Certification must be maintained for the life of the agreement.

Information on the type of certification operators will need to achieve is provided below.

Endorsement of certification schemes

The department partners with independent certification providers who can demonstrate their scheme(s) possess the following features:

1. A set of best practices that effectively covers the nominated key areas (below).

2. A requirement that tourism operators agree to adopt, comply with, and publicise the best practices.

3. A process for monitoring and auditing compliance with the best practices and other requirements.

4. A system to issue a certificate to demonstrate compliance with the best practices.

5. A mechanism to investigate alleged non-compliance with the best practices and, if necessary, to withdraw certification.

6. An appeals process for tourism operators.

7. A process and timeframe for reviewing the set of best practices.

8. A process to identify and address conflicts and potential conflicts of interest.

9. The potential for long-term viability.

Key areas of best practice

Protection:

Habitat protection

Species conservation and interaction

Waste minimisation and management

Cultural heritage protection

Good neighbour behaviour

Environmental contingency arrangements

Presentation:

Visitor information about natural and cultural values and world heritage status

Delivery of visitor information

Truth in marketing

Client services and infrastructure

Partnership:

Reporting suspected infringements, incidents and pollution

Monitoring the protected areas and their use

Supporting local and indigenous communities

Training staff.

Department endorsed certification schemes

The department has endorsed the following certification providers:

Ecotourism Australia

Phone: (07) 3252 1530

Web: https://www.ecotourism.org.au/

The department has endorsed the 'Ecotourism' and 'Advanced Ecotourism' certification levels of Ecotourism Australia's ECO Certification Program. Operators must achieve a minimum of 'Ecotourism' level ecotourism certification under this scheme.

Ecotourism Australia has developed a brochure outlining the key features of the ECO and Respecting Our Culture Certification essentials for tour operators. Additional information for tour operators on the features of the ECO Certification Program and how to apply is available on Ecotourism Australia's website.

Earthcheck

Phone: (07) 3238 1900

Web: https://earthcheck.org

The department has endorsed the EarthCheck Evaluate and Certified ecotourism certification schemes.

EarthCheck is the world's leading scientific benchmarking certification and advisory group for the travel and tourism industry. These programs help tourism operators to measure and manage their environmental footprint, and to provide clear, auditable evidence of sustainable practices, and are being further developed with criteria and auditing requirements specific to operations within Queensland's national parks.

Additional information for tour operators is available on the EarthCheck website.

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Ecotourism encompasses nature-based activities that increase visitor appreciation and understanding of natural and cultural values. They are experiences that are managed to ensure they are ecologically, economically and socially sustainable, contributing to the wellbeing and conservation of the natural areas and local communities where they operate.

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Zixing City is located in the southeast of Hunan Province, at the intersection of Xiang, Guangdong and Gan provinces, and enjoys the geographical advantages of the National Yangtze River Economic Belt, Hunan Province's "One Belt and One Belt" and Hunan Industrial Transfer Demonstration Zone. In recent years, Zixing has taken the construction of ecological civilization as the starting point, actively promoted the transformation of resource-exhausted cities, promoted the transformation of "black economy" into "green economy", and successfully included it into the national advanced demonstration area for sustainable development and the national key ecological function area.Focusing on the concept of "green water and green mountains are gold and silver mountains", Zixing has embarked on a new path of turning water into gold and benefiting the people ecology. With the high-quality and abundant water resources of Dongjiang Lake as the cooling source of server cooling, it has built the most environmentally friendly and energy-saving big data center in China, which can carry 200,000 racks, 5 million servers and more than 1,000 Internet enterprises, and can save 5 billion hours of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 5.52 million tons per year
LIU YUQI

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The two key points of eco-tourism are: first, the objects of eco-tourism are natural scenery; second, the objects of eco-tourism should not be damaged. In response to the deteriorating living environment, the tourism industry starts from one of the key points of ecotourism, and defines ecotourism as "returning to nature tourism" and "green tourism"; in view of various environmental problems in the development of tourism, the tourism industry Starting from the second key point of ecotourism, ecotourism is defined as "protection tourism" and "sustainable development tourism". At the same time, countries around the world carry out eco-tourism according to their respective national conditions, and form eco-tourism with their own characteristics.

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Hangzhou City west Lake

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PPT does not only improve the quality of life for the community involved, the training and the skills learned throughout the process would also help people on a long-term basis. The skills learned from the program will benefit them in order to get job opportunities, even outside of their community. - Shahiela

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Pro-poor tourism is regular tourism - except it consciously benefits the poor and helps reduce their poverty.

Tourism is a US$ 2 trillion a year industry, so it's hugely profitable. And it is usually welcomed because it provides millions of jobs to local people. They may be jobs of the most menial and lowest paid kind, but jobs nonetheless.

However, tourism money 'leaks' - it tends to benefit the huge conglomerates that own tourist facilities, fly people in and out, or provide the food and materials imported for the resort. These are usually located outside the destination country so the bulk of the money - more than half, according to the World Bank - doesn't make its way into local economies.

In fact, in some cases, people are even worse off because of tourism development. It's fine if they have a job, but those who don't often find food and lodging prices skyrocket. People are also relocated to make way for new tourism developments so they may lose their ancestral homes, often for little or no compensation. Protected areas are destroyed, decimating communities' natural heritage and undermining the potential for ecotourism.

Pro-poor tourism seeks to turn this equation around, at least financially.

HOW DOES PRO-POOR TOURISM HELP?

Simply put, it directs profits back into the community by employing local people, leasing local land, using local food and other resources, or operating local businesses.

Anyone can engage in tourism that helps the poor, even multinationals. They just have to make sure that much of the profits stay home to benefit local people.

Here are a few examples of what pro-poor tourism projects can include:

Hotels that train local people for future jobs

Local handicraft sales

Wages and health services for local staff

Health services for local staff

Respect for local land ownership and boundaries

Consultation with local groups before development

Hundreds of these projects are already underway worldwide, covering all of the above, and more.

Still, confused about pro-poor tourism? Each of these projects qualifies:

the Mekong Tourism Development Project in Laos, which trains local people in the hospitality trade and helps them build a tourism infrastructure

visitors headed to see the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda will often be eating vegetables and honey provided by the Bwindi Advanced Market Gardeners' Association (AMAGARA - 'life' in Rukiga, the local language)

the EU's INTEGRITAS project in Cambodia helps keep some of the money spent visiting Angkor Wat in the town of Siem Reap, the launching point for visits - 85% of Cambodia's tourism is here

So when you travel, make sure you ask the right questions. How many local people are employed? In what kind of jobs? Who provides most of the supplies? How much money stays in the local community? How are local people involved in tourism development?

It's important to be aware of the implications of our travel and to make the right choices. I for one don't want my love for travel to contribute to someone else's poverty. On the contrary, I'd like to think my passing through may have actually helped someone - even if only a little.
- Originally published on 31 July 2011
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Pro-Poor Tourism: Helping Benefit The Poor

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Pro-poor tourism is regular tourism - except it consciously benefits the poor and helps reduce their poverty. Tourism is a US$ 2 trillion a year industry, so it's hugely profitable. And it is usually welcomed because it provides millions of jobs to local people.

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Yunnan Lijiang Lugu Lake

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One example of ecotourism in Malaysia is the Kinabalu Park, located in Sabah on the island of Borneo. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia. The park is known for its diverse range of flora and fauna, including rare orchids and the orangutan, and offers visitors the opportunity to explore its rainforests, rivers, and hot springs.Visitors can participate in a variety of ecotourism activities, such as hiking to the summit of Mount Kinabalu, exploring the Poring Hot Springs, and visiting the park's botanical gardens and butterfly farm. The park also offers guided tours and educational programs on the importance of conservation and sustainable tourism.In addition to providing visitors with an opportunity to experience the natural beauty of Malaysia, ecotourism in Kinabalu Park helps to support the local economy and promote conservation efforts. The park works closely with local communities to develop sustainable tourism practices that benefit both visitors and the environment, and to protect the unique biodiversity of the region.

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One example of ecotourism in Malaysia is the Kinabalu Park, located in Sabah on the island of Borneo. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is home to Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Southeast Asia. The park is known for its diverse range of flora and fauna, including rare orchids and the orangutan, and offers visitors the opportunity to explore its rainforests, rivers, and hot springs.Visitors can participate in a variety of ecotourism activities, such as hiking to the summit of Mount Kinabalu, exploring the Poring Hot Springs, and visiting the park's botanical gardens and butterfly farm. The park also offers guided tours and educational programs on the importance of conservation and sustainable tourism.In addition to providing visitors with an opportunity to experience the natural beauty of Malaysia, ecotourism in Kinabalu Park helps to support the local economy and promote conservation efforts. The park works closely with local communities to develop sustainable tourism practices that benefit both visitors and the environment, and to protect the unique biodiversity of the region.

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heying

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Guilin's landscape is known as a representative of Chinese landscapes.Guilin is full of beautiful scenery, and the Li River is a great example of this. The scenery of the Li River is particularly beautiful in Yangshuo, Guilin. "The mountains and waters of Guilin are the most beautiful in the world, while those of Yangshuo are the most beautiful in Guilin; the peaks reflect the mountains and float the water, and there are no mountains or waters that are not fascinating", which highly summarises the beauty of Yangshuo's natural scenery.

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Cameron Highland, Malaysia is one of the biggest agro tourism locations in Malaysia. The tourists could get a direct, hands-on experience with the farms (tea, strawberry or flowers) in the location. It has been one of the most famous tourist locations in the country. - Shahiela

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Batu Caves Cultural and Heritage Tour in Kuala Lumpur. The tour is Batu Caves Cultural and Heritage Tour in Kuala Lumpur. The tour is led by local guides from the surrounding communities, who provide visitors with insights into the history, culture, and customs of the area.During the tour, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the history and significance of the Batu Caves, as well as the Hindu religion and its customs. They can also participate in traditional Hindu rituals and ceremonies, such as the lighting of oil lamps and the offering of flowers and prayers.The tour also includes visits to local artisan workshops, where visitors can watch traditional crafts being made, such as batik fabric, pewterware, and traditional Malay kites. Visitors can also sample local food and beverages, such as coconut water, Teh Tarik (pulled tea), and traditional Malay snacks.Through this community-based tourism initiative, visitors are able to learn about and experience the local culture and traditions of the Batu Caves and surrounding communities. The tour also helps to support the local economy by providing employment opportunities for local guides and artisans.

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Batu Caves Cultural and Heritage Tour in Kuala Lumpur. The tour is Batu Caves Cultural and Heritage Tour in Kuala Lumpur. The tour is led by local guides from the surrounding communities, who provide visitors with insights into the history, culture, and customs of the area.During the tour, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the history and significance of the Batu Caves, as well as the Hindu religion and its customs. They can also participate in traditional Hindu rituals and ceremonies, such as the lighting of oil lamps and the offering of flowers and prayers.The tour also includes visits to local artisan workshops, where visitors can watch traditional crafts being made, such as batik fabric, pewterware, and traditional Malay kites. Visitors can also sample local food and beverages, such as coconut water, Teh Tarik (pulled tea), and traditional Malay snacks.Through this community-based tourism initiative, visitors are able to learn about and experience the local culture and traditions of the Batu Caves and surrounding communities. The tour also helps to support the local economy by providing employment opportunities for local guides and artisans.

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he ying

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At the China Ecotourism Industry Summit Forum, the Ecotourism Committee released the first batch of top ten ecotourism demonstration scenic spots in China.
I'd like to share one of my favorite places. The Jiuzhaigou Valley is located in China's Sichuan Province. It is a national 5A scenic spot, a national key scenic area and a national geopark. It is the first nature reserve in China whose main purpose is to protect natural scenery. The main objects of protection are rare animals such as giant pandas and golden monkeys and their natural ecological environment. "Do not look at the water after returning from Jiuzhaigou" is a true interpretation of the Jiuzhaigou scenery. The magical Jiuzhai is known as the "fairy tale world" and the "king of waterscape". In 1992, it was included in the World Natural Heritage List and the protection network of Man and the Biosphere. The integration of ethnic development and environmental protection should go hand in hand, so that the phoenix of natural heritage can continue to rise from the ashes.

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Ecotourism is important because it promotes conservation, provides economic benefits, preserves cultures, and offers educational opportunities. One example of ecotourism destination in Saudi Arabia is the Farasan Islands, a group of coral islands located in the Red Sea. The islands are home to a diverse range of marine life, including dolphins, sea turtles, and various species of fish.

Visitors can engage in a range of ecotourism activities such as snorkeling, diving, and boat tours to observe the marine life and coral reefs. Additionally, visitors can explore the islands' mangrove forests, which are home to a range of bird species and other wildlife.

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An example of agro-tourism in Saudi Arabia

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An example of agro-tourism in Saudi Arabia

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Agro-tourism is a form of tourism that focuses on agricultural activities and rural life. Agro-tourism in Saudi Arabia is an emerging trend, and there are several examples of farms and agricultural areas that offer unique experiences for visitors. For example, Taif city has a strong agricultural sector, and as such, there are numerous opportunities for agro-tourism activities. Here are some examples of agro-tourism activities that can be found in Taif:

1. Strawberry Farm: This farm is located in Al Hada and offers visitors the opportunity to learn about local agricultural practices. Visitors can participate in activities such as fruit picking, animal feeding, and horseback riding.

2. Al-Taif Rose Festival: This annual festival takes place in the spring and celebrates the blooming of the Taif roses, which are known for their sweet fragrance. Visitors can attend workshops and demonstrations on rose cultivation and distillation, as well as sample rose-based products such as perfumes, soaps, and sweets.

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An example of community-based tourism in Thailand

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An example of community-based tourism in Thailand

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Community-based tourism is a form of sustainable tourism where local communities take an active role in the development and management of tourism activities.
One example is the ecotourism project in the village of Khiriwong, Thailand. It is known as the best ozone area in Thailand. The community realized that they had a valuable resource in the form of the beautiful natural environment around them, and they wanted to use it to attract tourists and generate income.

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One example of pro-poor tourism is the Coffee Tour Experience in rural Uganda. This initiative invites tourists to learn about coffee production and engage in cultural activities, while the profits generated are shared among local farmers and the community, contributing to poverty reduction in the region.

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Fair trade tourism refers to a responsible and sustainable approach to tourism that benefits local communities, preserves cultural heritage, and protects the environment. One such example is the Soweto Bicycle Tours in Johannesburg, South Africa. The tours are led by local guides who showcase the vibrant and diverse township culture, history, and lifestyle. Visitors get to experience the township from a different perspective and interact with the locals while supporting the community through the purchase of handmade crafts and traditional meals. The tours also promote eco-friendly transportation and contribute to the local economy by providing employment opportunities for young people from the community.