Image via Wikipedia

Ecotourism. What is it?

Green travel. Ecotravel. Sustainable travel. Global tourism.

All these terms refer to the same thing: travel that is respectful of the environment, culture, customs, and earth. I think referring to it as “respectful travel” makes a whole lot of sense too. This type of “green” travel has become buzz worthy along with all of those “green” cleaning products at your supermarket and the general over-use of the word “green” or “eco-friendly”. So is it a scam or what?

Ecotourism is real. It’s not a fad. It’s important. It’s timeless. The official definition of the word ecotourism comes from TIES:

Ecotourism is: “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” (TIES, 1990)

A new market has been opening up for ecotourism businesses, such as travel agencies and tourist itineraries that respect the local land. This is a great new way to travel! You connect with your surroundings and come back with more than just memories, you have honored the Earth and all the people you share it with.

Why Ecotourism?

If you’ve ever taken a trip and felt like you missed out on something it’s probably because you’d been isolated in a kind of “resort land” or tourist vacuum. This happened to me on what was probably a very typical Florida vacation… we went to Disney World. I can honestly tell you, I have NO idea what Florida is like. Aside from a few palm trees and the sweltering heat, I didn’t notice much about the place I was visiting. I’m not knocking Disney, I had a fun time, they create a fun experience…

but am I a better person for having been there?

Checkout the UNEP Green Passport!

No. It’s just something I can say I did, which doesn’t mean much of anything to me in the long run.

Ecotourism is for those who want MORE out of their travel experience. Sometimes it includes volunteer or working opportunities to really give back to the environment. Othertimes, it’s simply understanding the environmental practices of your favorite spa.

I highly recommend reading the FAQ page on the TIES website to understand this concept more.

Also check out the Green Passport (pdf) by the United Nations Environment Programme for tips to make every trip a more respectful and eco-friendly one.