Ecotourism in Bolivia

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1. INTRODUCTION

Initially, and for a greater conceptual understanding will review some definitions that will help us to understand the concept of ecotourism and community, then we will show some guidelines based on effective experiences from different communities that have initiated its activities on Community tourism, and it arrived at conclusions that will trigger some relevant aspects.

Tourism in Bolivia is to know the culture and the environment of one of the most diverse in South America countries. From its mountains, valleys and vast plains to the pantanal and chaco, Amazon jungle, Bolivia offers adventure for any tourist.

1. LITERATURE REVIEW

1. BOLIVIA

The plurinational State of Bolivia is located in the mid-west of America of the South. It borders to the North and East with Brazil, to the South with Paraguay and Argentina, and to the West with Chile and the Peru. One of the two South American countries landlocked sea. The official capital and seat of judiciary power is Sucre and the seat of Government La Paz. It has an area of 1,098,581 km², and 6.743 km of borders.

Bolivia is a multicultural and multilingual country. The common official language is the Spanish but also quechua, Aymara and guarani, as well as 52 native languages and foreign and 127 minority dialects are official.

The plurinational State of Bolivia, in 2009, under a referendum approved the Constitution of the plurinational State of Bolivia, the President is elected by voting citizen. The Constitution establishes the separation of powers.

The Executive power is headed by the President of the Republic. It has a five-year term and appoints the Cabinet of Ministers.

The legislative power consists of two chambers, the Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies. Both Chambers are presided over by the Vice-President of the Government.

The Judicial power exponent is the Supreme Court.

Bolivia is a fundamentally Andean country, while most of the country have spread across the Amazon plain. We can distinguish three physiographic units: the Andes, the Amazon plain and Chaco, and the yungas and preandinos valleys.

Bolivia boasts three major watersheds, the Amazon, the Río de la Plata and from the Highlands

In Bolivia there are the 30-40% of all global biodiversity. Thanks to its relief distinguishes 4 types of biomes, 32 ecoregions and ecosystems 199. All this diversity of flora and fauna a high percentage are endemic species. The highest concentration of endemic plants are found in the Andes, more specifically in the Yungas and the inter-Andean dry valleys. Bolivia is one of the few countries that maintains large areas virtually unaltered by human action. Fauna in Bolivia is very wide and varied, has a high degree of endemism.

The Bolivian natural fauna may be classified around four different regions into three groups; Andean, sub-Andean and tropical.

1. DEFINITION OF ECO-TOURISM IN BOLIVIA

For the International Ecotourism Society is: travel responsibly toward natural areas while preserving the environment and improving the well-being of local communities as an effective mechanism to promote the assessment and biological diversity respect for generating income for communities.

Union international conservation of nature IUCN, defines eco-tourism as an environmentally responsible tourist mode consisting of travel or visit natural areas, relatively without disturbing to enjoy, appreciate and study the natural of these areas attractions, as well as any cultural manifestation (the present and the past) that may be there, through a process that promotes conservation has low impact environmental and cultural, and encourages an active and economically beneficial participation of local populations (Cevallos - Lascurain 1991)

In the Québec Declaration on ecotourism (2002); He is recognized that tourism has significant and complex social, economic and environmental implications that can involve both benefits and costs to the environment and local communities.

Stresses that ecotourism should continue to contribute to the tourism sector as a whole to be more sustainable, increasing the social and economic benefits for host communities, actively contributing to the conservation of natural resources and the cultural integrity of host communities and increasing the awareness of travellers with regard to the conservation of natural heritage and cultural (UNWTO (, 2002 World Ecotourism Summit)

The World Tourism Organization to refer to the benefits of tourism for the countries and the communities of destination mentioned that populations and local communities are associated with tourism activities and will have equal participation in the economic, social and cultural benefits that report, especially in direct and indirect job creation to give rise. (UNWTO code of ethics for tourism of Art. 5)

Due to its booming, ecotourism already became the fastest-growing segment and the most dynamic sector of the tourism market worldwide. This movement appeared at the end of the 1980's, and has already succeeded in attracting enough tourist interest globally, to the point that the UN devoted the year 2002 to eco-tourism.

1. COMMUNITY

¨The definition of community will depend on the social and institutional structures in the area concerned, but the definition implies some form of collective responsibility and acceptance of organs representativos¨ (WWF, 2001)

In different countries, regions or municipalities the meaning of “community” is aimed at local communities, indigenous communities, indigenous communities, rural communities, mining communities, neighborhood communities, it is necessary to emphasize that all types of community have a direct relationship with the activities that they developed, which can be: economic, social, etc., all recent, or in his case, cultural legacies.

However, the common factor: is that such activities in a territory delimited and defined by the community, there are collective rights to lands and resources in these; with the exception of virtual communities product of globalization.

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF ECOTOURISM

• Is developing natural and rural areas far from large urban centres. It can develop in areas protected as national parks.
• Helps develop the precarious rural economies, especially in mountain areas.
• The tourist offer is low-impact environmental, very careful with nature and the local population.
• Search discover the reality both cultural and natural.
• The tourist facilities are concentrated.
• Minimize environmental impacts
• Knowledge and respect for the culture and the environment
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
• They provide the direct financial benefits for conservation
• Provide financial benefits and empowerment of local communities
• Increased sensitivity political, environmental and social climate to local communities
• International support to human rights and working arrangements

(International society of ecotourism. 2006).

1. BENEFITS OF ECOTOURISM

• Allows the conservation of the environment
• Improves the living conditions of local populations
• Promotes economic development (sustainability)
• Creates jobs
• Preserves the traditions

1. ECO-TOURISM AND THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

The national Government, responding to the need for the promotion of eco-tourism or green tourism in Bolivia, developing a so-called national law 292 tourism General Law "Bolivia awaits" ¨ (http://www.boliviateespera.com; www.bolivia.travel). The law 292 is a relaunch of the existing standard promulgated the year 2000, which goes into effect to two days of the celebration of world tourism day on September 27. This law has 7 chapters and 30 articles plus 3 transitional provisions, 3 finishes and only 1 abrogation provision (Table 1.)