Updated: 23 Jul 2021
What does Eco Tourism mean and why do I intend to follow the principles?
As an environmental and wildlife conservationist, I am fully aware of the impact of modern-day tourism and the effects that it has on particular destinations. As such, my photography expeditions and workshops will encompass, where possible, the principles of Eco Tourism.
Having researched the subject in great detail, I found that eco-tourism is all about active tourism. It’s a small-scale and low impact form of travel that seeks out ways to preserve the natural world by ensuring that biodiversity, ecosystems and local communities remain protected and unspoiled.
It’s a rewarding and educational experience that improves our cultural awareness and understanding of nature.
Ecotourism destinations tend to be fragile, untouched and fairly preserved. Think islands, densely biodiverse reserves and significant cultural landmarks.
This form of travel was first introduced in the 1970s but it only started to take off towards the end of the 1980s. Thanks to the growing trend in people prioritising greener choices, ecotourism is getting more and more popular every year.
Ecotourism helps preserve and foster respect for some of the most beautiful environments on Earth. It encourages travellers to help protect the environment and contribute to local communities on a much deeper level than the tourists just passing through.
This hands-on approach plays a vital part in educating travellers about some of the hardships these environments face, which can only be a good thing!
The more knowledge we have about the world, the better we can protect it – both from ourselves and climate change.
Over tourism is a huge problem for a number of reasons. It can put a strain on a destination’s resources and inhabitants and it can prevent them from safeguarding their most fragile assets effectively.
“Under threat”
Popular places are beginning to limit the number of tourists for fear of long term and irreversible damage to these precious sites.
Ecotourism is an antidote to unsustainable tourism. It’s also an ally of conservation.
No one wants to visit a beach that’s covered in plastic. Ecotourism-focused attractions put the welfare of the environment first to ensure that they can provide an excellent service long term.
The growing trend in ecotourism has made it easier than ever to find bucket list-worthy eco-adventures.
You can now do ecotourism activities that focus on working with and protecting the environment. These can involve attractions and locally-run small group tours that take their environmental and social impact into consideration.
They are committed to ensuring that every tour they run has a positive impact on the community and the environment. They have some pretty epic adventures too from wellness tours to National Geographic Journeys and everything in between!
Ecotourism can also be about where you stay on your travels. Eco-resorts and Eco lodges are now popular places to stay among travellers. You can easily book them on regular accommodation sites.
The term ‘Eco lodge’ is usually associated with “roughing it” but it’s actually no longer the case. Eco lodges might not have all the amenities of a standard hotel but they have become the definition of eco-luxury – beautifully designed, comfortable and unique.
Endangered – The beautiful Snow Leopard
THE BENEFITS OF ECOTOURISM
We’ve talked about the importance of ecotourism and how it minimises negative impacts. Now, let’s dive into the actual benefits.
EDUCATES PEOPLE
We’ve already mentioned how ecotourism raises awareness of the threats to the environment, but it goes much deeper than that. It can also help inspire real change.
All it takes is for someone to spread the word about ecotourism and conservation efforts for more people to get informed, make changes from home and encourage policymakers to make a real difference.
Knowledge is power.
MAKES THE WORLD A MORE BEAUTIFUL PLACE
Earth is already beautiful but some of its corners are far from pristine.
Ecotourism ensures that the world stays beautiful long term. It protects and preserves some of the most fragile ecosystems on the planet so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.
By choosing to support ecotourism, you can use your travels to save some of the world’s most precious natural gems.
SUPPORTS LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS
Ecotourism puts money into the hands of small enterprises and local communities rather than large corporations that cut corners to save money.
By supporting ecotourism holidays, you financially give back to the places you visit and help sustain the livelihoods of the local communities.
IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF TRAVEL
Travel should be about enriching experiences and ecotourism does just that. You get a much deeper cultural understanding of a destination and the chance to really appreciate its natural beauty.
That’s what travel should be.
Ecotourism is not just good for the environment. Our own personal development and mental health reap the rewards of it too. It allows us to connect with nature in an interactive and respectful way which brings a multitude of benefits to our well-being.
Studies have also shown that exposure to natural environments is crucial to our psychological health. In other words, ecotourism makes us feel good.
IF IT’S ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, SHOULDN’T WE JUST STAY AT HOME?
The answer is yes and no. It’s true that tourism accounts for roughly 8% of greenhouse gases but it doesn’t mean we should give up travelling altogether. It’s about finding a balance which is exactly what ecotourism does.
By choosing ecotourism, you’re avoiding mass tourism in favour of an experience that really matters and gives back to the planet. It’s conscious travel.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ECOTOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL?
‘Ecotourism,’ ‘sustainable travel,’ ‘responsible travel,’ ‘ethical travel.’ There is a lot of jargon surrounding green travel and it all starts to get a bit confusing. Ecotourism and sustainable travel are often thought to be interchangeable, but do they really mean the same thing?
Sustainable travel and ecotourism are very similar. They both come from the idea that travel should have a positive impact on the community and the environment. For both terms, it comes down to making conscious decisions about travelling in a more eco-friendly, impactful and ethical way.
Endangered – Koala Bear
Still, despite their similarities, sustainable travel and ecotourism do differ slightly. Let’s break it down:
The UN World Tourism Organisation defines sustainable tourism as:
‘Referring to the environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development. A suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long term sustainability.’
Sustainable travel is a broader term than ecotourism because it refers to a set of guidelines rather than a form of travel. These guidelines are aimed more towards businesses and travel providers rather than the consumer. It essentially brings the overall principles of sustainability into the travel industry.
In a nutshell, these principles are known as the three pillars of sustainability: economic impact, socio-cultural impact and environmental impact.
The focus of these principles is to make sure that the consumer has the opportunity to make environmentally sustainable choices in all aspects of their travel, including where they stay and what they do.
The principles of ecotourism refer to a specific type of travel that focuses on conservation and the preservation of communities and ecologies. It’s about taking action to ensure that the natural world remains preserved and unspoiled.
As you can see it’s a very blurred line between the two. You couldn’t have ecotourism without sustainable travel and there are aspects of each other in both of them.
HOW TO BE AN ECOTOURIST
CHOOSE A DESTINATION WHICH IS KNOWN FOR ITS ECOTOURISM
The easiest way to be an Eco tourist is to visit a destination that is known for its ecotourism initiatives. I’ve included a list of some of the top ecotourism places below to give you a few ideas.
Ecotourism is usually associated with somewhere particularly biodiverse and tropical but you can actually find evidence of it all over the world.
MAKE SURE THE ECOTOURISM PROJECT OR ORGANISATION IS TRANSPARENT
Ecotourism has seen a rise in popularity but so has greenwashing. The term describes organisations that market their products as ethical and eco-friendly to appeal to consumers who want to make a positive impact on the planet.
What’s worse, greenwashing organisations are far from the environmentally-conscious businesses they depict themselves to be?
To avoid falling victim to greenwashing, make sure that the organisation is transparent about their operations. They should have detailed information about their environmental efforts and they’re sometimes endorsed by a green label.
If you’re in any doubt, read the reviews or contact them directly.
AVOID EXPLOITATIVE VOLUNTOURISM
Volunteering abroad is a popular trend among travellers wanting to make a real difference in the world. Despite appearances, volunteer tourism, otherwise known as voluntourism, is an unregulated industry. Some volunteer programmes can actually do more harm than good.
If you’re keen to volunteer, look carefully into how the programme operates. Think about how your skills can benefit the programme rather than turning up as an unskilled volunteer. Avoid working in orphanages and be wary of animal ‘sanctuaries.’
MAKE USE OF LOCAL GUIDES
Book activities with small-scale businesses that employ local staff as guides. You’ll be rewarded with a more in-depth experience from someone who has an insider’s perspective on the local area.
These travel companies employ local staff and work on projects that give back to the community. They’re a prime example of what to look for in ethical tourism businesses.
LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS
The “leave no trace” principles of responsible hiking, camping and backpacking also apply to being an Eco tourist – particularly when you’re out in nature!
Wherever you go it’s important to stick to the designated pathways, dispose of your rubbish responsibly, leave everything as you find it and take only photos.
You should also be respectful of wildlife, observe them at a safe distance and don’t try to feed them.
STAY IN ECOLODGES WHICH SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE COMMUNITY
The best Eco lodges and eco-resorts go above and beyond to make sure that their accommodation is cohesive with the natural environment and local communities.
They work together with the local NGOs to protect the surrounding environment and employ staff from local towns and villages. These eco-stays also offer amazing cultural experiences so you can get a fully immersive understanding of the area.
TOP ECOTOURISM DESTINATIONS
What you see below is by no means the extensive list of all ecotourism destinations. There are projects and organisations all over the world. For example, you can stay in luxury Eco lodges in Vietnam, plant trees in Scotland and participate in cultural activities in Jordan.
Here are some of the best destinations you can visit if you want to be an Eco tourist:
Costa Rica, The Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, Bhutan, Iceland, Borneo, New Zealand, Panama, Finland, Kenya and Botswana
Red Panda
USEFUL RESOURCES ON ECOTOURISM
When it boils down to it, ecotourism is about using tourism to actively protect the environment and local communities. It helps preserve otherwise fragile ecosystems, supports community development and gives travellers an enriching and immersive travel experience.
Is eco-tourism the way forward. In my opinion – a definite yes. Lets make changes together!
What’s not to love?
Thanks for reading,
Mark
Credits for this article include exerts from littlelosttravel.com and unsplash.com