Ecotourism Benefits Connectivity and the Environment

Zhang Hongrui

As China-ASEAN tourism booms， protecting pristine local environments is now a pressing issue.

Travel is becoming an increasingly vital part of the lives of ordinary Chinese people. Spending on both domestic and outbound tourism has shot up in recent years， marking a significant shift in the dynamics of the global tourism industry.

A recent survey has indicated that Chinese tourists are most likely to choose nearby countries as their preferred travel destinations. Tuniu.com， a leading Chinese travel agency， found that five of the top 10 most popular destinations for outbound Chinese tourists are ASEAN member states.

Mr. Liu， who works with the China International Travel Service Company， said that Chinese tourists prefer to choose neighboring countries because of proximity and cultural interconnectivity. As China has increasingly focused on efforts to improve environmental protection in recent years， ecotourism has become a hit among Chinese international travelers.

Benefits of Ecotourism

The term “ecotourism” was first coined in 1983， and now destinations for ecotourists can be found all over the world. Thanks to its popularity and sustainability， China and ASEAN countries have benefited from the ecotourism boom. In addition to bringing economic benefits， ecotourism reduces pollution thanks to its smaller carbon footprint.

Mr. Zhao， a frequent traveler who visited Indonesia during the recent New Year holiday， said that high numbers of tourists during holiday periods put increased strain on the local environments of many Southeast Asian nations. As the year 2017 marked the China-ASEAN Year of Tourism ， both China and ASEAN placed extra emphasis on ecotourism due to its benefits in environmental protection.

Zheng Tingying， a research fellow at the CITIC Foundation for Reform and Development Studies， said that ecotourism is more environmentally friendly because it not only refers to the protection of the natural environment but also includes the protection of local culture. Tourists， while appreciating picturesque scenery and enjoying exposure to a culture different from their own， do their part to protect the environment.

The China-ASEAN Luo Yue Watertown Eco-tourism Zone in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region serves as a window for tourists to understand Luo Yue culture （an indigenous Guangxi local culture）， which is not only a cultural brand of Nanning （the capital city of Guangxi） but also acts as an important link to establish cultural connections between Guangxi and ASEAN member states. Therefore， developing ecotourism in Guangxi can not only protect the natural environment in the region， but will also allow more tourists to understand Luo Yue culture.

Meanwhile， with strong development momentum， ecotourism has also attracted a large number of tourists and tourism industry workers because it is not only conducive to the protection of the environment and local culture， but also helps improve economic development in the region. Some thematic tourism projects such as Discovery of the Mekong River， Legacy of the Mekong River and The Ancient Tea-Horse Road Along the Mekong River， all jointly developed by China and ASEAN countries， have contributed to the development of local economies.

Seeking Common Development

Because tourist numbers are growing rapidly， many scenic spots in Southeast Asia and China are now being overexploited. This can lead to degradation of the local environment. Additionally， due to insufficient recognition and exploitation of local natural landscapes as well as floral and faunal resources， some scenic areas lack features that allow tourists to fully enjoy nature and culture while also bringing benefits to local residents.

In light of such issues in regional tourism， ASEAN-China Center Secretary General Yang Xiuping suggested that in an effort to promote connectivity， improving transport infrastructure and related services is vital. This is where the Belt and Road Initiative can play a crucial role.

Yang also suggested that tourism industry professionals from both China and ASEAN countries work to improve cultural and people-to-people exchanges. China and several ASEAN countries have signed documents on strengthening cooperation in the tourism market， which has brought some positive changes. However， work remains to be done in terms of improving cooperation in tourism across the region.

The developers of tourism infrastructure and locations play an important role in maintaining environmental protection at tourist sites， just as tourists themselves do. Governments can play a role too， in forming agreements on the development of ecotourism in China and ASEAN countries. Improvement of cooperation mechanisms can facilitate such agreements.

On Nov. 23， 2017， the ASEAN-China Ecotourism Development Seminar kicked off in Manila， the capital of the Philippines. Representatives from China and ASEAN countries actively shared the wisdom of experience from different perspectives for further deepening cooperation and the sustainable development of ecotourism.

In recent years， China and ASEAN countries have jointly constructed infrastructure projects in order to rationally develop natural and cultural resources. In October 2011， China collaborated with Vietnam to build a “China-Vietnam International Tourism Cooperation Zone” in Guangxi. With a prime location close to a number of Chinas Southeast Asian neighbors， the tourism cooperation zone was intended to facilitate the development of cross-border ecotourism. In addition， the China National Tourism Administration has set up an education and training center for tourism industry professionals from ASEAN countries in Yunnan in southwest China. The center runs multiple training programs.