Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 2007. Sectio Scientarium Economicarum et Socialium. (Acta Academiae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 34)

Chambliss Karen-Slotkin Michael H.-Vámosi Alexander R.: A 'javító' fenntarthatóság a'steady-state' fenntarthatóság és a strukturált ökoturizmus

22 Chambliss Karen -Slotkin Michael H.-V

ámosi Alexander R. ecotourism expenditures, to the extent they exist, are presented with significant ranges. For example, Brown and Shogren (1998) cite Filion et al. (1994) for a 1988 estimate of $90-200 billion. In a survey on T&T published by the British weekly The Economist, Roberts (1998) states that "the fastest-growing theme in tourism today is the environment."

6 The extent of the market, however, is unstated, and the competing interests within the industry, from environmentalists to opportunistic greenwashers, provide ample evidence to the reality that ecotourism means different things to different people. A few stylized facts have emerged from the literature. Large sample studies [Wight (1996a); Diamantis (1999)] suggest ecotourists are older, wealthier and better educated than the general population; moreover, gender differences exist when specific activities are taken into account [Wight (1996a)]. To illustrate, specific micro studies of birding festivals in the state of Florida reveal clear female majorities [Chambliss et al. (2003, 2006)] while birding in the U.K. is disproportionately male dominated [The Economist (2005)]. Another generally accepted notion, based on empirical typology research, is the existence of an ecotourism continuum. Weaver and Lawton (2002, hereafter WL), citing existing works [e.g., Palacio and McCool (1997); Diamantis (1999)], identify an ecotourism spectrum (see Figure 1) bounded by soft and hard ideal types which they empirically validate with a study of ecolodge patrons at an Australian National Park. Compared to soft ecotourists, hard ecotourists take longer, more specialized trips; are physically active; require few if any services; emphasize personal experience; and have a strong environmental commitment. Moreover, they are enhancive sustainers. Figure 1: Characteristics of Hard and Soft Ecotourism as Ideal Types HARD (Active, Deep) < THE Strong environmental commitment Enhancive sustainability Specialized trips Long trips Small groups Physically active Physical challenge* Few if any services expected Emphasis on personal experience Make own travel arrangements* SOFT (Passive, Shallow) SPECTRU

M > Moderate environmental commitment Steady state sustainability Multi-purpose trips Short trips Larger groups Physically passive Physical comfort* Services expected Emphasis on interpretation Rely on travel agents & tour operators* Source: Weaver and Lawton (2002), Journal of Travel Research 6 Almost a decade later, the greening of T&T is so pronounced that eco-vacation primers such as Audubon's Green Travel issue are ubiquitous.