Environmental Factors Of Ecotourism

Chapter 1: Introduction

According to Zhang and Lei (2012), there are a lot of factors considered as a prerequisite to environmental concern. An individual planned behavior is important for making a decision regarding environmental context therefore it is important to promote favorable behavior towards multiple environmental problems. Aipanjiguly, Jacobson and Flamm, (2003) stated that the purpose of protecting the environment leads to people's behavior towards conserving the environment. In essence, people's behavior ecotourism positively change according to their environmental knowledge. Even though many researchers have been done between planned behavior and their intention towards ecotourism, no research has been done in Brunei among the

It offers several benefits as it helps to enhance conservation and also development in these areas. As stated by Rose and Wall (1999), ecotourism act as a driver to support conservation and further promotes sustainable local development. Steele (1993), for instance, defined it as ‘an economic process where rare and beautiful eco-systems are marketed internationally to attract tourists’ (Lowman. And Cater, 1994). The term ecotourism has been variously defined. However, the phrase was first introduced by Ceballos-Lascuran (1993), whom emphasized the importance of natural areas as ‘travelling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with specific objective of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals as well as any existing cultural manifestations’ (Fennel, 1999). Thus, ecotourism is a complex phenomenon with a combination of various actors and multiple functions (Ceballos-Lascuran, 1993).

Ecotourism lies on several principles in relation to a sustainable industry. In short, ecotourism should be managed in an environmentally manner as to produce long-term benefits to the resource, local community and industry. It should also provide enlightening experiences with involvement of education of all parties and the importance of their recognition towards the resources, support the

With the awareness of the environmental protection, promoting positive attitude towards environmental issues and environmental knowledge are the essential factors. Increasing knowledge of ecotourism amongst the youth may promote positive attitudes towards ecotourism (Zhang and Lei, 2012).

One of the main factors contributing to ecotourism development is when the elders are passing on their knowledge to youth through ecotourism planning in which they assist the elders on guided tours (Butler, Hinch, 2007). From this familiarity, the youth are able to scrutinize, listen and soon practice this knowledge with the visitors themselves. This is called experiential style of learning in which it is a culturally appropriate method of transferring knowledge (Harris and Wearing, 1999).

According to Hayombe et al (2011), “…. Youth empowerment was rated as the third significant sustainability factor for ecotourism transformation. Youth employment was rated as the fourth significant sustainability factor for ecotourism