ETHICAL ASPECTS OF ECOTOURISM: BALANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND MORAL RESPONSIBILITY

Gulbakhor Sattarovna Abdullakhanova

GREEN ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT, 2026, vol. 4, issue 2

Abstract: In recent decades, ecotourism has been gaining increasing popularity as a form of sustainable tourism aimed atminimizing negative environmental impacts and involving local communities in the regional economy. It is positioned asan alternative to mass tourism, capable of contributing to nature conservation and the preservation of cultural heritage.However, despite its positive image, practical implementation of ecotourism often reveals certain ethical contradictionsthat require in-depth analysis and resolution.This article examines key ethical aspects of ecotourism, including interference in the internal affairs of local and especiallyIndigenous communities, unequal distribution of tourism profits, manipulative marketing practices (particularly the spreadof so-called "greenwashing"), and excessive pressure on vulnerable ecosystems. Special attention is paid to the questionof whether tourism that claims to be "eco-friendly" actually aligns with the stated principles of sustainable developmentand social responsibility.Based on existing theoretical and normative frameworks, the article presents various ethical models for evaluatingecotourism — from the utilitarian approach to concepts of environmental and deontological ethics. The article alsohighlights successful examples of ethical ecotourism that maintain a critical balance between environmental concerns,the needs of local populations, and economic goals.In conclusion, the author offers a set of practical recommendations for implementing ethical standards in ecotourismactivities, emphasizing the importance of accountability, local community participation in decision-making, and businesstransparency. Thus, the article contributes to the development of a more conscious and ethically responsible model ofecotourism.

Keywords: ecotourism; ethical aspect of ecotourism; sustainable tourism; moral responsibility; greenwashing; utilitarianism; concepts of environmental and deontological ethics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:teu:ged000:v:4:y:2026:i:2:id:9330

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18761141

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