Protecting Paradise by Martha Honey and Abigail Rome. Published by the Ecotourism and Sustainable Development Project, Institute for Policy Studies, 733 15th St. N.W., Suite 1020. Washington, D.C. 20005, U.S.A.
Reviewed by Desmond Crofton

One of the great modern buzzwords in conservation today is "ecotourism". It is a word which conveys the impression that the tourism product conforms to a recognised standard which is in sympathy with the conservation of nature. However, what it really means very often depends on who is using the term as a label. To the commercial tourist operator, it very often means a marketing label which is designed to add a conservation value to the operator's product thereby providing an edge over competitors. To the consumer, it is often taken to mean that the tour operator has given serious consideration to the conservation issues which arise in relation to his product and has designed his product to conform to an internationally recognised standard which guarantees that the operator's tourism package does not in any way conflict with conservation issues. These two views are not necessarily the same or even similar.

Protecting Paradise is a detailed analysis of certification systems which operate internationally for ecotourism and how the myriad of systems which exist overlap in many instances. For me, the most important focus of the analysis is on the methodology and in particular the difference between process v performance. As the authors say: "…understanding the process versus performance distinction is vital to any analysis of the integrity of certification programmes within tourism and travel…" Both methodologies are compared and Honey and Rome argue logically in favour of ecotourism certification programmes which are largely performance based, which essentially means that certification should be awarded to companies when a performance based system is implemented rather than when they set up an environmental management system which in practice, may never be implemented. As this issue is dealt with early in the book (part 1), it leaves the reader with a better understanding of the various topics that are discussed later on. These include the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), types of certification programmes including mass-tourism, sustainable tourism and ecotourism, the common components of certification programmes (assessment and auditing, vexing issues and areas for more work including north-south divide, consumer confusion/consumer demand etc.).

Part 2 of the book deals with certification systems for sustainable tourism and ecotourism and specific international programmes are examined in some detail in this section. Here, the operation of certification systems in 9 countries are examined in quite some detail. Typical headings under which they are examined include scope of programme; geographic scope; sectors covered; date of initiation; institutions; funding source; criteria; auditing; awarding of certification; fees; certified companies/products; marketing and promotion etc. Again, what this analysis highlights is the degree to which certification systems tend to overlap, notwithstanding that some allowances are made for local conditions.

For me, there are two outstanding features to this book. Firstly, a list of acronyms is recorded at the very start of the book (page 3) and these are 45 in number. This is a very useful arrangement for any reader in that there is no constant flicking to an appendix at the back of the book every time a new acronym is met as the reader progresses. It simply makes the book, which is for the most part addressing a subject which is quite technical in nature, easier to read and easier to retain recognition of the multiple agencies, programmes and systems which are discussed throughout the book. Secondly, specific certification programmes and experiences are recorded in a panel format throughout the book and these text panels are set in the middle of a section dealing with that particular subject. For example, in the middle of the chapter dealing with ISO14001 we find a panel dealing with ISO14001 in Sri Lanka, and so on. This is a very useful format as it helps the reader to understand issues and implications of the subject matter being discussed in the book as it has been applied in a particular situation and set of circumstances.

Protecting Paradise is a book which I recommend to anyone involved, or with an interest in ecotourism, as the numerous certification systems which already exist are for the first time drawn together and analysed in an easily understood way. Martha Honey and Abigail Rome have delivered a quality document on what is a difficult, often confusing and most certainly technical subject and I congratulate both on a superb work.

Desmond Crofton is the Director of the National Association of Regional Game Councils, Ireland, and is a member of the Europe SUSG.

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