What is Ecotourism?

Novembre 6, 2009 | Eco News, Eco Tourism, Environment

Visiting new areas is fun, can be eye opening, and exiting. But jumping on a jet airplane, staying at a resort in the wilds or a beautiful beach third world county with air conditioning and more comforts than at home, is not usually environmentally sound. Sure, some locals may have unemployment otherwise unavailable, but the carbon costs of getting there, building the place and keeping it up and running are enormous, not to mention your out of pocket expenses. There are more environmentally conscious options.

Ecotourism could be defined many different ways and in fact people do have different definitions, but one reasonable one is from the International Ecotourism Society which describes ecotourism as "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of the local people."

In addition, ecotourism usually visits beautiful, unpolluted, natural areas, and often attractions include the biodiversity of the area including its plants and animals. Many ecotourism trips also include a strong learning component, and may also encourage or schedule green transport options like walking, biking, and non motor watercraft locomotion.

Ecotourism can be simple or complex and cheap or inexpensive. A local camping trip might qualify as ecotourism depending on how it’s done, as well as be a lot of fun. For example my kids and I are planning on hiking into the woods behind our house and spending the night in a tent next summer. We’ll bring a birding guide, look for wildlife and edible plants, and do our best to leave no trace of our trip. A more expensive and complex example might be one of the many ecotourism trips to the rainforest in Central America.

Harry writes on home and green issues. Visit Hoover Carpet Cleaner and Carpet Cleaning Products.

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