Ecotourism: an alternative form of green industry in China

This paper argues that ecotourism with effective management and planning strategies can contribute to the Greening of industry in China. A case study of Hong Kong Wetland Park demonstrates the way in which ecological modernisation is utilised to minimise environmental impacts. One facet of this is environmental education, which is adopted as an effective tool to convert tourist experiences into 'transformative values', which encourage changes in tourists' behaviour and lifestyles and the adoption of more environmentally friendly practices. In order to achieve a sustainable development strategy, it is argued that it is necessary to 'Green' both external environments and the tourists' mind. The case study of Hong Kong Wetland Park may serve as a model for other tourist sites in China which are increasingly looking to ecotourism as a Green development strategy.