Ecotourism

Ecotourism (also known as ecological tourism) is a widely used, yet ill-defined term in today's tourism industry. In very broad terms, most observers would probably agree that ecotourism describes “the practice of low-impact, educational, ecologically and culturally sensitive travel that benefits local communities and host countries.” In contrast to traditional tourism, ecotourism often involves travel to smaller and less developed destinations, fosters respect and educates participants, claims to economically benefit communities visited, and purports to protect the environment, natural habitats, and precious cultures. Other terms widely used are sustainable tourism, green tourism, responsible tourism, and nature-based tourism.

By emphasizing the value of preserving nature, environmentalists and tour organizers are able to bring money to places that need it, such as this slice of the Amazonian rainforest in Ecuador's Cuyabeno National Park

Source: iStockphoto

While there is obviously no central authority providing a set definition for any of these terms, all forms of environmental tourism appeal to a growing environmentally aware segment of the population that wants to learn and experience different cultures, peoples, and places, without, at a minimum, causing harm to such cultures, peoples, and places. With reported growth rates of up to 15 percent annually, ecotourism by now represents a major source of income not only for the tourism industry, but also for the national economies of favorite destinations such as Costa Rica, Antarctica, or New Zealand. Unlike traditional tourism that takes a top-down, consumptive approach to visiting people, places, and things, ecotourism appeals to travelers who are interested in the beauty of nature, including pristine and rarely visited locations, and who generally try to stay away from the hustle and bustle of traditional tourist sites. Ecotourist destinations tend to be those regarded as more authentic and natural, such as trips to the Amazon River, mountain climbing in the Himalayas, or rafting in Costa Rica. Ideally, the image is of traveler and natives engaging in mutually beneficial exchanges of time, resources, and experiences in ways that contribute to maintenance of both ecological and cultural diversity. Ecotourist destinations are generally areas rich in natural attractions (flora, fauna, [Page 179]and cultural heritage). Key to alternative forms of tourism are mutually beneficial exchanges, opportunities for local peoples to participate in and benefit directly from tourist visits, and not overwhelming communities by the presence of visitors.

Because of the large potential economic benefits of ecotourism for both providers and destinations, definitions of what ecotourism does, or should, encompass vary widely between environmentalists, industry standards, and governments. A progressive New York couple taking a one-week rafting trip to Costa Rica, paying what they consider fair wages for local rafting guides, and reading up on the history and culture of Costa Rica before departing, for instance, would undoubtedly be considered ecotourism by the tourism industry, and probably also by the Costa Rican government. From the perspective of an environmentalist, however, the roughly 4,400 mile roundtrip flight alone, generating approximately 40–50 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per passenger each traveled mile, fails to meet the standard of “low impact” travel, as do hotel stays, cab rides, and various other amenities likely fail to meet the standard of ecologically and culturally sensitive travel that benefits local communities and host countries.

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