The increase in population has a significant impact on the employment opportunities for local residents, as well as on the preservation of the natural environment. From my perspective, this trend is not only beneficial for local communities but also for their surroundings.
One of the main advantages of ecotourism is that it creates high-paying jobs, such as tour guides and hotel managers. Bagan, located in Myanmar, is a popular tourist destination due to its abundance of historical buildings and pagoda tours. For instance, local residents in these areas earn income by selling handicrafts like lacquerware and wood carvings, as well as traditional foods like pone yae gyi, tamarind toffees, jaggeries, and ginger plum flakes. When regional communities engage with visitors, they can become tour guides, allowing them to earn significantly more than from low-paying jobs typically offered by vendors and farmers.
Ecotourism plays a crucial role in conserving the natural environment. Bagan is home to many pagodas, historical buildings, and cultural heritage sites. Visitors contribute to the conservation of this natural heritage by sharing knowledge and education as much as possible. Even children in these regions are learning to speak English thanks to their daily interactions with foreigners. Furthermore, scientists are increasingly interested in Bagan for research due to its rich collection of pagodas, museums, and historical sites. Ecotourists advise local people to avoid littering and single-use plastics to reduce air pollution and grow trees.
The more ecotourism comes to it, the more the local people will get the job and protect the environment.