Ego-tourism?

[Jones]

Maybe it's just me, but recently I've watched quite a few wildlife boat trips speed across the water offering punters a thrilling ride. Surely the noise of large engines disrupts the wildlife, especially that in the sea below. How much fuel do they use? I've watched them "go to see" (chasing?) wildlife in the sea rather than waiting for the it to come to them (which it would probably choose not to do).

Is this really "eco-tourism"? More like "ego-tourism" to me - but I'd welcome other opinions.

[Minimum]

ok Jones - I'll bite seeing as no-one else will.

I guess I may agree with you on the big engines, fuel consumption and noise front however surely its the "punters" (as you put it) that need to educated about wildlife so that they will understand why it needs to be respected and protected. Hopefully helping them to see a small part of it will benefit the whole.

If they need to be offered thrills then so be it. I suppose it's unfortunate that only those who can afford such trips get to see such wonderful sights.

[spiderman]

Having gone on this ride quite a few times with visitors, I must say that overall the balance is pro-environment. OK there are big engines etc, but the focus throughout is on the wildlife and the geology and the history and ecology. The boats approach close to a lot of wildlife, either going slow (the boat I mean!) or stationary, and none of the animals seems perturbed. It's a very positive experience and one that goes out of its way to promote the Slate Islands. It's typical, Jones, that, as I have in the past, you have chosen to target a local business, and one that's something of a success story. There are pluses and minuses to this thing, of course, but overall it's a local asset. Hence, I think, why noone replied to your original posting until Mini saved your embarrassment.........

[Pentlandpirate]

I can see what you mean Jones. After all what wildlife you can see on these trips, you could probably see if you sat quietly on a rock somewhere. You might get a bit closer on the boat and you might be given a fairly educational talk. The trips are an experience and the high speed motion of the boat is a large part of that. But importantly the trips are not exploitative of the wildlife, and the education given is more likely to foster a better informed and caring society. We all have a right to make a living, and I think these operators not only benefit the area, but also complement it. If the tourists dry up and they start doing shark fishing instead, that will be another matter.