Tourism Development for Sustainability

What is Ecotourism?
Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas in such a way that it conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local inhabitants. It is typically defined as travel to destination where the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.

What is the difference between ecotourism and nature-based travel?
Ecotourism provides local benefits to the destination while nature-based travel is just travel to natural places. For example, a nature-based tourist may just go bird watching; an eco-tourist goes bird watching with a local guide, stays in a locally-operated lodge and eats at local food establishments. Ecotourism contributes to the local economy environmentally, culturally and economically.

What is Sustainable Tourism?
Sustainable tourism is an integrated and holistic approach to product development.
Sustainable tourism is sensitive to the carrying capacity of the host community.
Sustainable tourism has a sense and uniqueness of place.
Sustainable tourism is a commitment to the "greening" of the tourism industry.

How do we achieve sustainability?
1. Hire and train local people, use local supplies and use local services.
2. Promote the locale in terms of indigenous cuisine, architecture, aesthetics, ecology and heritage.
3. Minimize pollution, waste, energy consumption, water usage, landscaping chemicals and unnecessary nighttime lighting.
4. Apply limits and management techniques to prevent the "loved to death" syndrome.
5. It is important to maintain a careful balance between preservation and promotion in order to ensure the long-term health of both the eco-systems and the tourism economies.

Why would we want to encourage ecotourism?
Ecotourism requires the lowest possible consumption of non-renewable resources, yet benefits the local residents through the purchase of their goods and services. Ecotourism stresses local ownership and conservation of the environment. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.

How does ecotourism help us protect our environment?
Ecotourism promotes the local character - the aesthetics, heritage, and ecology of a place. In turn, tourism revenues increase the awareness and appreciation of those assets by the local residents. Initiatives by hospitality providers to promote recycling, energy efficiency, water re-use, and the creation of economic opportunities for local communities is an integral part of ecotourism. Around the world, ecotourism is quickly becoming one of the most popular forms of vacationing. It is the fastest growing market in the tourism industry. According to the World Tourism Organization, ecotourism is increasing 5% every year, representing 6% of the world gross domestic product and 11.4% of all consumer spending.