E VALUATING E COTOURISM IN N EW H AMPSHIRE By: Kelly McCusker
and Jennifer Aldrich
http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/whitemountains/huts/huts-lonesome.cfm
http://www.dogslednh.com/gallery/dogsled
http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/whitemountains/huts/huts-lakes.cfm
http://nhnature.org/who_we_are.htm By: Jennifer Aldrich and Kelly
McCusker
Slide 2
B ACKGROUND A number of businesses in New Hampshire are using
the term ecotourism incorrectly; therefore, there is a need for a
tool kit for businesses to evaluate themselves on an ecotourism
scale The tool kit should contain guidelines to evaluate and
improve the qualities of the accommodation or attraction that would
make them true ecotourism businesses. The tool kit will contain
elements to educate the public about quality ecotourism
establishments in New Hampshire.
Slide 3
P URPOSE The purpose of this project is to evaluate ecotourism
in New Hampshire: Design a tool kit to evaluate tourism businesses
on an ecotourism scale. Apply this tool kit to ecotourism
attractions and accommodations in New Hampshire.
Slide 4
M ETHODOLOGY Steps: 1) Researched ecotourism to form a strong
definition of what it is. 2) Researched New Hampshire attractions
and accommodations to find businesses that claim to take part in
ecotourism. 3) Created an evaluation form for businesses to launch,
improve, or evaluate themselves as an ecotourism establishment. 4)
Used the evaluation form to determine if businesses found in step 2
are truly ecotourism. 5) Created a list of quality ecotourism
attractions and accommodations in New Hampshire. 6) Provided an
example of a quality ecotourism attraction and lodging facility in
New Hampshire, and showed how they qualify on the evaluation scale.
7) Created a tool kit, compiling the research gathered from steps
1-6, to educate businesses and the public about ecotourism in New
Hampshire.
Slide 5
T ABLE O F C ONTENTS 1) What is ecotourism? Refer to Definition
slide 2)How can my business become an ecotourism establishment?
3)How can I improve my ecotourism level? 4)Are there guidelines I
can use to evaluate whether I am an ecotourism business? Refer to
Evaluation slides 5)Are there ecotourism attractions and
accommodations in New Hampshire? Refer to New Hampshire Ecotourism
Lodging and Attraction slides 6)Are there examples of quality
ecotourism attractions and accommodations in New Hampshire ? Refer
to Quality Ecotourism Lodging and Attraction slides
Slide 6
D EFINING E COTOURISM Ecotourism (def.) is responsible travel
to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the
well-being of local people. Ecotourism unites conservation,
communities and sustainable travel. Businesses that take part in
ecotourism should adhere to the following principles: Minimize the
negative environmental impacts on host communities Build
environmental and cultural awareness and respect Provide positive
experiences for both visitors and hosts Provide direct financial
benefits for conservation Provide financial benefits and
empowerment for local people
Slide 7
E VALUATION We have developed an evaluation form for businesses
to: Become ecotourism establishments Improve their ecotourism level
View steps and guidelines to evaluate whether they are ecotourism
businesses
Slide 8
E VALUATING YOUR BUSINESS ON THE E COTOURISM S CALE An
Evaluation of Ecotourism Businesses in New Hampshire Directions:
Read each lettered category and check all boxes that apply to your
business. Your business must have at least one check under each
lettered category to qualify as an ecotourism business. The more
checks under each category, the higher quality ecotourism business
you will have.
Slide 9
M Y B USINESS : A) Minimizes the negative environmental impacts
on host communities Is one or more of your activities low impact?
Do you make efforts to conserve the land for your business and host
community? Do you make efforts to develop and implement a
carrying-capacity for your site?
Slide 10
M Y B USINESS : B) Builds environmental and cultural awareness
and respect Do you provide written information for your guests to
inform them on the environmental and cultural issues in your host
community, providing them with examples of how they can benefit the
environment and community? Do you have face-to-face discussions
with your guests about awareness and respect for the environment
and cultural practices? Do you host classes to educate guests on
environmental and cultural issues in your host community and how
they (the guest) can make a difference?
Slide 11
M Y B USINESS : C) Provides positive experiences for both
visitors and hosts Do you provide opportunities for hosts and
guests to interact in a positive way? Do you give out surveys to
the local population asking their opinions on the visitors you
attract to the area and their suggestions for change or
improvements? Are you gathering visitor feedback on the quality of
their experience?
Slide 12
M Y B USINESS : D) Provides direct financial benefits for
conservation Do you offer volunteer opportunities (for guests,
locals, and employees) to help with conservation efforts? Do you
donate a percentage of your profits towards conservation efforts?
Do you invest in technology which provides conservation benefits
for energy, water or land?
Slide 13
M Y B USINESS : E) Provides financial benefits and empowerment
for local people. Do you carry and sell local products (NH Made)?
Do you provide a list of locally owned business for your guests? Do
you hire locals (within your town) to work in your business? Do you
provide discounted services to the people of your host community?
Do you participate in town meetings or the local chamber of
commerce?
Slide 14
W HAT NH HAS TO OFFER FOR E COTOURISM L ODGING AND A TTRACTIONS
These facilities were all evaluated using the evaluation form and
are considered ecotourism establishments. Ctrl (Control) Click the
links below to open the PDF List of Ecotourism Businesses: Lodging:
ECOTOURISM LODGING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.pdf ECOTOURISM LODGING IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE.pdf Attractions : ECOTOURISM ATTRACTIONS IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE.pdfECOTOURISM ATTRACTIONS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.pdf
Slide 15
W HERE ARE THESE ATTRACTIONS AND ACCOMMODATIONS LOCATED ?
Slide 16
A QUALITY E COTOURISM LODGING /A TTRACTION IN N EW H AMPSHIRE
DAcres Organic Permaculture Farm & Educational Homestead
http://www.dacres.org/images/On-FarmEducation/Miriamteachingweb.jpg
http://www.dacres.org/images/Gardens/clay%20working%20in%20lower.JPG
Slide 17
S AMPLE E VALUATION : DA CRES 1)DAcres minimizes the negative
environmental impacts on host communities by: Offering low impact
activities such as hiking, gardening and making crafts 2) They
build environmental and cultural awareness and respect by: Offering
tours of the property to visitors Traveling to communities and
presenting on horticulture design 3)They provide positive
experiences for both visitors and hosts by: Hosting events such as
open mic and potluck nights where community members are encouraged
to attend Offering a survey on the organizations website which
attempts to get feedback to improve D Acres community service 4)
They provide direct financial benefits to conservation by: Using
renewable energy, such as solar panels to heat water and a
composting toilet Making an effort to use non-fossil fuel based
sources of energy Using the food from the farm to feed the staff
and interns as much as possible which reduces their carbon
footprint 5) They provide financial benefits and empowerment for
the local people by: Offering discounts to local residents for
their workshops, these discounts can be up to 50% Making sure to
support local businesses by offering a tab on their website where
visitors can find tools such as the 2010 Pemi Baker local food
guide.
Slide 18
A Q UALITY E COTOURISM A TTRACTION IN N EW H AMPSHIRE Muddy Paw
Sled Dog Kennel http://www.dogslednh.com/gallery/dogsled
Slide 19
S AMPLE E VALUATION : M UDDY P AW 1) Muddy Paw minimizes the
negative environmental impacts on host communities by: Offering low
impact activities, such as winter dog sledding and rolling dog
sledding 2) They build environmental and cultural awareness and
respect by: Educating the mushers about staying on the groomed
trails as to not harm the natural environment Promoting mushing as
safe for the environment because it uses non motorized vehicles and
avoids noise pollution and air pollution 3)They provide positive
experiences for both visitors and hosts by: Collecting visitor
reviews of their experience with Muddy Paw and posting them on
their website 4) They provide direct financial benefits to
conservation by: Donating 10% of their proceeds to the Society for
the Protection of New Hampshire Forests Donating money to maintain
the trails Offering volunteer opportunities for employees and
locals 5) They provide financial benefits and empowerment for the
local people by: Hiring locally whenever possible Supporting local
NH businesses on their Facebook page
Slide 20
S OURCES A Dog Sledding Adventure For Everyone." Dog Sledding
with Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel in NH and VT. Web. 03 May 2011..
Appalachian Mountain Club. "White Mountain Lodges and Huts."
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Hampshire Eco-friendly B&B Guide,Ecotourism Lodging New
Hampshire,Ecotourism B&B NH,New Hampshire Eco-friendly
Listings." Green Bed and Breakfasts | Green Lodging | Eco-friendly
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Associatedcontent.com. Web. 04 Apr. 2011.
Slide 21
Spenceley, Anna. Responsible Tourism: Critical Issues for
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