Rethinking our relationship to the natural environment through legally compliant sustainable tourism.

Abstract

Irrational exploitation has devastated the resources of ecotourism; therefore, forming a legal system of ecotourism as soon as possible and having laws to abide by it can ensure the sustainable development in South Africa. The goal is to bring to the surface a course of action taken by local agents about socio-environmental aspects. What is effective is the transformation of reality to open channels towards the participation of civil society in the decision-making process. In this paper we attempt to explore the idea of sustainability within our relationship with the natural environment. Sustainability assumes that natural and human technological resources can be utilised while maintaining the environment. Sustainability must also be understood within the context of ecological, cultural, social, economical and ethical realms. In putting this in perspective, the idea of sustainability becomes more concrete. Amongst a range of environmental constraints that are of necessity playing an increasing role in social development planning, climate change represents the most urgent and far-reaching challenge of our time. This paper is theoretical in orientation, with a keen eye on the practical implications of ideas concerning sustainable tourism that enhances our natural environment.

Keywords

• climate change
• environment
• human rights
• sustainability
• tourism