In this section, YXC has developed an imaginary interview with Hector Ceballos-Lascurain: Mexican architect, environmentalist, and ecotourism and cultural tourism expert. In 1983, he coined the term ‘ecotourism’ and its preliminary definition. His modified version of this definition was officially adopted by IUCN in 1996.
YXC thanks his virtual interlocutor for this contribution.

The term eco-tourism is nowadays considered a trend. But what exactly does it mean? Ecotourism has been defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people” [The International Ecotourism Society TIES] and as such it is “...envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems” [World Tourism Organisation]. Ecotourism can also combine travel and volunteer work on local projects.

How did you get started and why? I graduated as an architect at the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico and carried out graduate studies in the fields of regional planning, architectural design and systems building in Paris, Rotterdam, London and Mexico City. Previously I was the Protected Areas Program coordinator of IUCN, with headquarters in Gland, Switzerland (1991-92). From 1982-84 I was general director of Standards and Technology of SEDUE, the Mexican Ministry of Urban Development and Ecology. In 1981 I was founding president of PRONATURA, currently Mexico's most influential conservation NGO, and in 1984 I founded ECOTOURS, the first ecotourism operator established in Mexico. As a consultant, I have developed the National Ecotourism Strategies for Mexico, Ecuador, Malaysia, Uruguay, Dominica, and Yemen.

What is your current activity? I currently hold the position of general director of the Program of International Consultancy on Ecotourism (PICE) and am special advisor on Ecotourism to IUCN (The World Conservation Union) and the World Tourism Organization (WTO). Besides that, I continue to pursue my ecodesign advisory and architectural activities.

How do you combine your architectural background with eco-tourism? As an expert in eco-friendly architectural design, I have worked on the planning and development of sustainable tourism and ecotourism structures, park management, etc. I have carried out consultancy and research work in 70 countries, including physical planning and low-impact architectural projects for tourism facilities, collaborating with governments, NGOs and private firms in those countries as well as international institutions. My staff and I are convinced that every architectural project must provide an appropriate response to the environment (both natural and cultural) and be in total harmony with it. Architecture must respect the surrounding ecosystem, enhancing and not degrading it. All our architectural designs are based on this fundamental principle.

Why are people attracted to your activity? Ecotourism is the tourism segment with the greatest potential, but it will be viable only if we develop ecotourism projects in a truly conscious way in harmony with the environment and the local communities. Likewise, every hotel project must be sustainable, even a big city hotel or a beach mega-resort. Our tourism projects endeavour to achieve the highest levels of ecological and economic sustainability. Thinking ecologically is thinking economically.

What does your advisory service in ecological planning and ecodesign consist in? Regional and urban planning must respond to suitable criteria of ecological adaptation and respect for the environment. Ecodesign consists in providing solutions in accordance with physical and natural processes, in such a way that energy is saved and negative impacts are minimized. We provide consultation in these fields to governments, the private sector, NGOs and local communities.

Architecture is strictly linked to our ecological planning and ecodesign consultation. Ecotourism also means sustainable accommodations. Designing new hotels and lodges (the kind of accommodation preferred by ecotourists, who are seeking an intimate contact with nature), we create applications of ecotechniques and bioclimatic design criteria for architectural projects, we make ecological evaluations of sites to determine most suitable land use, and we apply national planning and strategic research for land use, zoning, human settlements and tourism development. We also deal with master planning for national parks and other protected areas.

And your last comment for us is... We are convinced that most of the present supply of professional services in the fields of architecture, tourism and planning is not aimed at solving our problems, but is further aggravating the situation in which we find ourselves. We definitely cannot continue designing and constructing pseudo-buildings, which are glass boxes (glass being the worst insulation material there is) that require extremely costly air conditioning and heating systems. We cannot continue to foster a tourism development which destroys our environment and ignores the natural and cultural heritage of our countries and our entire planet... We believe there are sounder options for developing architecture, tourism, design and planning of our environment.