Tourism in Madagascar Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Tourism in Madagascar - Term Paper Example People are not seeing Madagascar as a sustainable tourism spot. There lies the confusion. Ecotourism is defined as the travel to the destinations of the world where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are existent. They are the primary attractions for the tourists. They aim at minimizing the negative effects that are mostly caused due to traditional tourism on the natural environment (Butler, 2005). Sustainable tourism on the other hand focuses on bringing benefits to the local people, the environment and the economy. The concept of sustainable tourism has been slower in Madagascar, mainly due to the fact that people tour with an aim of seeing a natural environment (eco tourism). Madagascar's main originating market has been France. It is still unable to furnish products which are for sustainable tourism market, rather then just for ecotourism (Butler, 2005). Madagascar is located on the south-east coast of the African continent. Madagascar is the fourth largest island. It is larger than the States of California and Oregon. The island extends 100 miles in length and 360 miles in width. This democratic country lies in the Indian Ocean and is among the world's poorest countries. Madagascar, as being among the poorest countries, is mostly engaged in agriculture at a subsistence level. Citizens do not have options of choosing their desire career path. They have to dwell in whatever they have. They have to spend their life in whatever limited resources they can find. This poverty is causing crucial harm not only to the people living in Madagascar, but also to the endemic biodiversity of Madagascar. At present, the Madagascar's biodiversity need the presence of good tourist, tourist who will respect, care, and play a responsible role in saving the Madagascar's treasure of biodiversity. (Butler, 2005) If an individual is enthusiastic and looking for the unexpected, if one wants to meet an extraordinary people, then he or she must go and discover this fascinating island. That individual will certainly agree with the characterization made by world-explorer Dervla Murphy: "Apart from the Tibetans, I have never traveled among a people as endearing as the Malagasy." You will become attached to the country, verifying once more the Malagasy proverb: "They who drink the water from the Manangareza River always come back to Madagascar" (Mittermeier, 1988). Economy Madagascar is dominated by the agricultural sector. However with the establishment of a duty free export processing zone in 1990, there has been an increase in light manufacturing, particularly textile manufacturing and agricultural products processing (cf. Gossling and Jiddawi 2004). Despite the existence of natural tourist spots, biodiversities and cultural heritage, Madagascar is still among the poorest countries. The reasons