ISSUES OF USING INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION FOR ECOTOURISM MANAGEMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL: A CASE STUDY OF HONG KONG

Abstract

Asking an ecotourism organisation to have its ecotourism package certified seems a sound solution for promoting and regulating the ecotourism industry. However, the researcher doubts whether international ecotourism certification could adapt to local conditions given the difficulties they may have to surmount, e.g., overcoming language barriers and regulating field practices. This research aims to examine the problem of implementing international ecotourism certification at the local level. The researcher attempts to address the issue by identifying the key players in the ecotourism industry and the relevant regulating bodies in Hong Kong, and asks them to express their views on international ecotourism certification through a series of interviews. Taking into account the stakeholders' opinions and a case study of Hong Kong, the researcher identified some of the problems that may be encountered when implementing this form of certification at the local level. Based on this information, it is recommended that the international certification body should (1) impose a strict code of conduct on the usage of its logo; (2) inform the certificate holders how to use its logo properly; (3) establish a public-accessible database of certificate holders and certified products; and, (4) give each individual certificate a reference number for inquiry purposes. Alternatively, when contemplating adopting an international certification system, developing a local ecotourism certification as an alternative might prove more cost effective in terms of gaining local recognition.