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Ecotourism is: "

 
  


  


   
  


     " (TIES, 1990)

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Ecotourism is about  

   


 
 î This means that
those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following
ecotourism principles:

ë inimize impactî
ë Guild environmental and cultural awareness and respectî
ë ½rovide positive experiences for both visitors and hostsî
ë ½rovide direct financial benefits for conservationî
ë ½rovide financial benefits and empowerment for local peopleî
ë aise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climateî

 
 ½erhaps the most over-used and mis-used word in the travel industryî Gut what
does it mean? The Ecotourism Society defines it as "responsible travel to natural areas which
conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people"î A walk through the
rainforest is not eco-tourism unless that particular walk somehow benefits that environment and
the people who live thereî A rafting trip is only eco-tourism if it raises awareness and funds to
help protect the watershedî A loose interpretation of this definition allows many companies to
promote themselves as something that they are notî If true eco-tourism is important to you, ask
plenty of questions to determine if your trip will help "conserve and improve" the places you
visitî




 Another term which is heavily used by marketing departmentsî While
travel to another country is often adventurous it is not necessarily "Adventure Travel"î ost
dictionaries define adventure similarly: "an unusual experience including some level of risk and
uncertainty"î "Adventure Travel" includes this idea of risk and oftentimes some unconventional
means of transportî A dugout canoe journey deep into the Amazon basin with it's attendant
difficulties meets this definitionî While a city tour of ½aris might have some level of uncertainty
it is not by definition "Adventure Travel"î If you love true adventure you probably already know
this and can see through the hype to find the real thing for yourselfî

There is sometimes a distinction made between "Soft" and "Hard" adventuresî Soft adventures
have a lower level of risk, greater comfort in accommodations and are less physically rigorousî
Hard adventures often have very basic facilities, higher risk factor and greater physical challenge
(ie: mountain climbing, backpacking or river expeditions)î

3 


 Any form of tourism that does not reduce the availability of resources
and does not inhibit future travelers from enjoying the same experienceî If the presence of large
numbers of tourists disturbs an animal's mating patterns so that there are fewer of that species in
the future then that visit was not sustainableî Kayaking school on a
free flowing river is an example of sustainable tourismî Gig game
hunting in Alaska is notî


 Tourism which operates in such a way as
to minimize negative impacts on the environmentî A wilderness
camping trip using "Leave No Trace" ethics would be considered
responsible tourism while dune buggy tours would notî



 

 A more generic term for any activity or
travel experience with a focus on natureî Large jungle lodges fall
into this category as do cruise ships to view penguins in
Antarcticaî These types of trips may or may not be
environmentally sustainable or responsibleî -



 Often used inter-changeably with eco-tourism and sustainable tourism but
more accurately described as "any activity or facility operating in an environmentally friendly
fashion"î A lodge with composting toilets, gray water system, and solar powered lighting is
probably "green"î There are varying degrees of "greenness"; an awareness of where resources
are coming from and where wastes are going is at the heart of the ideaî

the goals of ecotourism are to help the environment, preserve natural resources as well as help
the local communities and economiesî

Ecotourism is an industry that stands to make a lot of money from tourists that are seeking
environmentally friendly vacations or ecologically friendly activitiesî The money from
ecotourism could be used to preserve nature, wildlife, species and earth's natural resources as
well as help local people with access to civilization and educationî

For example, if a country is prime for ecotourism, the money could be used to preserve the
environment in that country so that the natural resources would last longerî Local residents could
also benefit from the growth in their economy and no longer have to live poorlyî This, however,
usually does not happen in reality because the locals rarely benefit from the growth of their
economyî The investors and foreign corporations doî And the environment and natural resources
rarely get preserved because they are worth more in a theme park attracting ecotouristsî

Ecotourism is increasing in popularity across the world, but has significant practical value in
developing countries where the needs of impoverished communities may conflict directly with
the need to capitalise on the growing tourism industryî In many cases developers move in and
designate certain areas as tourism hotspots without giving much thought to the impact that this
will have on local communitiesî These communities may depend on the area for food and shelter,
but their concerns are buried beneath the potential for financial revenueî

Ecotourism is a move to counter thisî It aims to create viable and sustainable tourism
opportunities, and limit the impact that all related activities will have on the environment, while
improving the lives of the local people living in the areaî According to Ecotourismîorg, the
concept consists of a number of core principles, including:

o inimising industrial impact on the environment

o Guilding environmental and cultural awareness

o Empowering local communities

o aising awareness of the political, environmental and social issues of the country concerned,
and

o Ensuring that the experience is positive for all parties, including visitors and hosts

The aim is to achieve sustainable and responsible tourism practices to the benefit of all and the
detriment of noneî One of the most important factors in the success of any ecotourism venture is
knowledgeî Those proposing the project must gain intimate knowledge of the area, the fauna, the
flora and the communities living thereî They must understand how they impact on each other and
how a change in one will affect the restî They must understand the culture governing the people's
relationship with the environment, and how they view concepts such as territory, hunting,
farming and gathering materials for personal useî

It's vital to include the local communities in the project, not merely as grateful beneficiaries of
charity, but as empowered and informed team membersî Their input is to be valued, as chances
are that they understand the area and complex ecosystems better than anyone else involved in the
projectî

The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable resource that protects both the people and the nature
involvedî Over 20 years ago, in 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development
stated that sustained development implied, "meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needsî" This sentiment is just as
applicable now as it was thenî
Equally important is that within in all this concern for sustainability and empowerment, we don't
forget the tourism aspect of ecotourismî In 2002, the Cape Town Declaration on esponsible
Tourism stated that responsible tourism should provide a more enjoyable experience for tourists
through meaningful interaction with local people, and a greater understanding of cultural, social
and environmental issuesî It is the tourist-dollar (or ½ound) that we are after, and to get it we
have to ensure that what we offer is worthwhileî What's important is that with a little planning
and a little compassion, all of this can be achievedî