Ecotourism and Conservation in time of COVID-19 Pandemicand Beyond

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has attracted attention to environmental and financial risks related to nature-oriented tourism. The opinion well-established in the modern economic literature that ecotourism is the best alternative to non-sustainable use of natural resources and an important (sometimes the only one) source of financing conservation has been put under revision.Recovery of ecosystems observed after travel restrictions were implemented in order to mitigate the expansion of the coronavirus has attracted attention to large-scale damaging impact of ecotourism on ecosystems located on popular tourist routes. The urgent need for a tight control over the recreational burden and building infrastructure adapted to the needs of protected areas has been confirmed. At the same time, a sudden drop in the tourist flow in the regions where nature-oriented tourism was the main source of financing nature-preserving activities has caused a decline in the number of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, a considerable rise in the number of cases of illegal use of natural resources, and a steep decline in the living standards of the local population.After analyzing the current situation, the authors conclude that financing of nature-preserving activities should not be done only on the basis of ecotourism revenues but should alsobe supported by governments and international organizations. Public-private partnership could provide for efficient development of ecotourism in protected areas subject to the fulfilment of all ecological requirements, promote social support to development of specially protected natural areas network, attract additional money to finance nature-preserving activities.