Ecotourism: Another way to see the world 131 · 10
EXERCISEMaking a caseUsing the information in the reading text, make a case for or against
the Royal Flush project proposed below. Do you think it should proceed or not, and why?
Would you suggest any changes to the proposal?
Royal Flush Developments has proposed construction of a casino-hotel-marina resort on a
small island in the Paciic Northwest. The company plans to locate the development near Coral
Beach, in an environmentally sensitive area that is home to a rare bird species.
In the past, island residents have made their living mostly from agriculture and ishing, but
in the last few years, many young people have left the island to ind work elsewhere. There are
a couple of restaurants and bed-and-breakfast inns for the few tourists who come during the
summer to enjoy the island’s beautiful beaches and peaceful laid-back atmosphere.
While some residents welcome the idea of the resort, most of the people who have moved
to the island to retire fear that Royal Flush’s proposal will negatively impact their lifestyle.
In addition, a group of residents has formed an environmental group to oppose the project.
There are a lot of mixed feelings toward the development, and it has caused a major
controversy among the island’s 4,000 residents.Bibliography
Lindsay, Heather E., “Ecotourism: the Promise and Perils of Environmentally-Oriented Travel”
(ProQuest, February 2003), http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/ecotour/overview.php.
Mastny, Lisa, “Traveling Light: New Paths for International Tourism” (Worldwatch Paper 159,
December 2001), http://www.worldwatch.org/system/iles/WP159.pdf.
Merg, Mike, “What is Ecotourism?” (Untamed Path, January 2005), http://www.untamedpath
.com/Ecotourism/what_is_ecotourism.html#eco-links.
Neale, Greg, he Green Travel Guide, ed. 2 (London: Routledge, 1999).