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Owing to this changing consumer trend in the tourism industry most travel providers and hoteliers around the world are evolving their business model to accommodate and highlight their sustainability efforts.

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- 96% of Condé Nast Traveler readers think hotels and resorts should be responsible for protecting the environment they operate in.

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Ecotourism is an alternative form of tourism and one of the most important hospitality trends that can benefit the environment as well as the profitability of hotels. The basic intention of this type of tourism is to raise awareness amongst travellers about the natural setting or place that they visit, respect the culture of local communities and at the same time minimize any negative effects on the environment by the tourist activity.

The idea of Ecotourism was raised and evolved during the 80s where the necessity for environmental care became more imperative, in order to protect the natural habitat from human intervention for the future generations. The characteristics of Ecotourism, concern mainly destinations where the cultural and environmental heritage are in abundance, in certain parts of our planet. The increasing demand for alternative types of tourism, such as Ecotourism, Agrotourism (or Agritourism) and Responsible Tourism, make countries like Greece, more popular as destinations.

Below you may find some very interesting data and facts about Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism globally:

According to GlobalData's Q4-2016 consumer survey, 35% globally are interested to book eco-tourism holidays. This rate grows to 57%, when talking about Americans with a household income that exceeds $150.000 per annum. So, the household income is directly proportional with the interest of eco-tourism holidays.

96% of Condé Nast Traveler readers think hotels and resorts should be responsible for protecting the environment they operate in. Also, the most travellers are willing to pay more money for an eco-friendly accommodation.

According to Responsible Travel, there's a constantly rising need from consumers for Ecotourism. 74.5% says that a hotel's environmental policies can influence their decision to stay there, as nowadays the tourists are more likely to support businesses that respect the environment.

46% of the German's think 'it is an added value to stay in an environmentally friendly accommodation.

80% of the Dutch want information on ethical issues in their travel information.

Another trend that is evolving in hospitality is " Luxury Ecotourism" or "Luxury Eco Accommodation", referring to eco-certified hotels offering 5-star accommodation. Eagles Palace in Halkidiki, Costa Navarino in Messinia and Melian Hotel in Milos are great examples of this trend.

Based on the indisputable figures above, a third-party observer can realize that travelers believe that within the hotel's responsibility should be considered the active protection of the environment, the cultural sensitivity and the support of local communities. It is essential for the hospitality industry to embrace this rapidly growing type of tourism, and incorporate within its philosophy all the vital concepts of ecotourism. By embracing the core elements of Ecotourism, then the hotels (that are integral part of the hospitality industry), will see a significant growth on their profits. The hotels by implementing the 3 basic core components (of Ecotourism), conservation, communities and education will manage to become the pole of attraction the environmental-friendly (and sensitive) travelers. One of the most important trends that the hotel industry should realize, is the fact that Ecotourism is not addressing only to small businesses but also to larger businesses which can commercially offer this product (by respecting and conserving at the same time the natural habitat). The hospitality industry should combine the not only theoretically but also practically the concept of ecotourism with sustainable tourism. According to Zoe Chafe (2005), " sustainable tourism is the form of tourism that meets the needs of present tourist and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for future''.

The key points in which the hospitality industry must focus on, are the below:

Protection of cultural heritage; in this way the natural heritage adds value to the cultural heritage. This mix of products creates the ideal framework for the hotels in order to become the pole of attraction for travelers.

Promotion of local culture and tradition by providing guests with useful information, tips and trips.

Provision of incentives for the reconstruction of cultural heritage monuments and the preservation of the natural environment, since the concept of volunteering and offer to the community is quite developed amongst travelers.

Promotion of authentic souvenirs; the hospitality industry could promote local, authentic souvenirs made by locals.

Co-operation with the public sector in order to ensure that the hotels keep the high standards that they have set for their travelers.

Most hotels seek titles to promote their eco-friendly character and become ''eco-labelled''. Other ways for a hotel to promote its eco consciousness are the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders, the Blue Flag and the Green Key. Check out the current trends in sustainable tourism that hoteliers should adopt in order to make their hotels environmentally friendly and get badged by these organizations:

Say no to chemical cleaning products

Start buying recycled toilet paper, LED lights and local made furniture

Use only solar power electricity and photocell faucets to minimize the energy and water waste

Provide bicycles to your customers and promote the green transportation

Recycle!

These actions underline some of the main principles of ecotourism and are a very good starting point to open your perspectives to responsible hospitality and consequently to responsible tourism and put you on the map of the proposed eco-friendly destinations of Greece. By taking into consideration the aforementioned figures, facts and emerging trends in Ecotourism and sustainable tourism, the Hospitality Industry can achieve maximum profits and occupancy.

Ecotourism and Sustainable Development have become a significant contributor to tourism revenues attracting the interest of both travellers and other segments associated with the travel industry.

At Mozaik Hospitality we draw upon our deep knowledge and expertise to consult and promote eco-friendly hotels while ensuring their sustainability.

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Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism: Trends | Mozaik Hospitality Blog

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Ecotourism is an alternative form of tourism and one of the most important hospitality trends that can benefit the environment as well as the profitability of hotels. The basic intention of this type of tourism is to raise awareness amongst travellers about the natural setting or place that they visit, respect the culture of local communities and at the same time minimize any negative effects on the environment by the tourist activity.

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The popularity of ecotourism may be soaring as people look for ways to get really close to exotic wildlife while keeping a clear conscience. But while their dollars help pay for conservation, these "invasive" trips often do more harm than good because they "domesticate" local animals, putting them at greater risk of being eaten, research says.

By posing for snaps, swimming with dolphins and generally winning the trust of the animals they encounter, the tourists inadvertently put wild creatures in danger by encouraging them to relax with other humans - and, in turn, natural predators - who may not be so friendly, the study finds.

Gorillas, jackass penguins and wild Barbary macaques are among the species most susceptible to ecotourism because they have a strong tendency to "habituate", or relax, in the presence of humans.

"When animals interact in 'benign' ways with humans, they may let down their guard," said Professor Daniel Blumstein, of the University of California in Los Angeles.

"As they get used to feeling comfortable with humans, they may become bolder. If this boldness transfers to real predators, then they will suffer higher mortality." Professor Blumstein says that ecotourism is similar to domesticating or urbanising the animals - in all three cases, regular interactions with people may lead to a kind of taming.

Evidence has shown that domesticated silver foxes become more docile and less fearful, in part due to regular interactions with people.

Meanwhile, domesticated fish are less responsive to simulated predatory attacks and fox squirrels and birds that live in cities are bolder and take more time to flee from danger, he says.

With 8 billion ecotourism trips now taking place around the world each year, a phenomenon that aims to act sustainably by helping support the economies and wildlife they encounter can be added to the list of "drivers of human-induced rapid environmental change", Professor Blumstein said.

Other examples include climate change, the destruction of habitat and intensive farming. But apart from raising money for conservation and local communities, ecotourism does have another benefit, says the report, which is based on an analysis of more than 100 studies into its effect on wildlife.

The presence of humans can discourage natural predators, creating a kind of safe haven for smaller animals.

When humans are around, vervet monkeys have fewer run-ins with predatory leopards. And in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, elk and pronghorn in areas with more tourists spend less time at alert and more time feeding, the report notes.

But to what extend do these more relaxed and bolder behaviours around humans transfer to other situations, leaving the animals at risk in the presence of their natural predators - and of poachers?

"We know that humans are able to drive rapid phenotypic (personality trait) change in other species," says the report published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution.

"If animals selectively habituate to humans - particularly tourists - and if invasive tourism practices enhance this habituation, we might be selecting for or creating traits or syndromes that have unintended consequences, such as increased predation risk," they added.

The scientists said more research is needed.

Pollution plastic peril for turtles

Some of the world's leading marine scientists are calling for urgent research into the effect of plastic pollution on turtles, warning that it poses a huge danger about which woefully little is known.

In the week that England introduced a 5p charge on carrier bags to help cut down waste plastic, a review by Exeter University finds that all seven species of marine turtle can ingest or become entangled in the discarded debris that litters the oceans.

"I was shocked at how little is known about the impacts of plastic on marine turtles... this study shows that more research is urgently needed," said Sarah Nelms, of the University of Exeter.

Professor Brendan Godley, at the same university, added: "Turtles can suffer intestinal blockage that can lead to malnutrition, poor health, reduced growth, lower reproductive output, even death."

The research, published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science, also involved Plymouth Marine Laboratory, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, North Carolina State University, Duke University, and James Cook University.

Tom Bawden

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north carolina wildlife resources commission

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Ecotourism harms wildlife because it 'domesticates the animals'

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The popularity of ecotourism may be soaring as people look for ways to get really close to exotic wildlife while keeping a clear conscience. But while their dollars help pay for conservation, these "invasive" trips often do more harm than good because they "domesticate" local animals, putting them at greater risk of being eaten, research says.

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Ecotourism has been on the rise since the 1980s, but only now is it beginning to grab the headlines. For those of you who're wondering, ecotourism is "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of the local people in the area," according to the International Ecotourism Society. Basically, your impact should be minimal while providing a positive experience for you, as well as, for your hosts.

In the year 2010, it was assessed that travel and tourism accounted for approximately 9.2% of the world's GDP, which is why it's not surprising that currently the tourism industry is responsible for almost 5% of global carbon emissions. The World Economic Forum and Booz & Company did some research and estimates show that emission will double by 2035 if nothing is done to improve the situation. On the flip side, sustainable tourism has shown exponential growth as climate change and its adverse effects have come into the limelight.

A recent study by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) shows that ecotourism is, by far, the fastest growing sector of the tourism industry expanding by 20% to 34% every year. A survey conducted by Conde Nast Traveler of its readers showed that 93% of them thought that travel companies should take on the responsibility of protecting the environment and 58% even went as far that while choosing their hotel they give preference to hotels that support the local community. Another survey done by TravelZoo of US travelers showed that over 90% of them would be willing to choose a 'green' and environmentally conscious hotel provided that the price and amenities provided were at par with their counterparts.

It's extremely clear that the demand for ecotourism is on the rise according to a survey done among TripAdvisormembers. 71% of them stated that they would be making more environmentally friendly choices while traveling during the next 12 months. There are even statistics to show that "eco-conscious" consumers tend to travel more often as compared to the average consumer. The CMIGreen Traveler Report 2010 shows that 75.9% took at least two vacations away from home while 22% took as many as five to eight vacations during that same time.

For more news about the importance of ecotourism, keep visiting us.

By G+ Author: Elizabeth Steinfeldt.

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Ecotourism has been on the rise since the 1980s, but only now is it beginning to grab the headlines. For those of you who're wondering, ecotourism is "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of the local people in the area," according to the International Ecotourism Society.

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- In 2012, the number of international tourist arrivals surpassed, for the first time, 1 billion, and is forecast to reach 1.8 billion in 2030, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

- With continuing growth in travel, there is increasing recognition among both travel professionals and consumers of the importance of responsible travel—travel that minimizes negative impacts, brings economic benefits to host communities, and preserves the cultural and natural resources of the destinations. Fortunately for travel businesses and destinations, there is strong evidence that responsible travel is also good for the economic bottom line.

-More than 90% of U.S. travelers surveyed by the online travel publisher TravelZoo in 2010 said that they would choose a ‘green,’ environmentally conscious hotel if the price and amenities were comparable to those at a non-sustainable, non-green hotel.

- By 2010, half of the world population was living in cities, for the first time in human history. In response, urban workers are seeking to spend their leisure time in areas where they can “reconnect with nature.”

- “One thing is for sure — travel companies and services are all beefing up their eco credentials in order to attract the rising number of customers seeking a ‘green’ experience.” —Jason Halal, Manager of Sierra Club Outings

-Nearly a third of travelers (30%) would choose a destination for a trip because it is considered eco-friendly. Costa Rica is the most popular destination in the world for travelers interested in an eco-friendly trip, according to a 2012 TripAdvisor survey

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- In 2012, the number of international tourist arrivals surpassed, for the first time, 1 billion, and is forecast to reach 1.8 billion in 2030, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

- With continuing growth in travel, there is increasing recognition among both travel professionals and consumers of the importance of responsible travel—travel that minimizes negative impacts, brings economic benefits to host communities, and preserves the cultural and natural resources of the destinations. Fortunately for travel businesses and destinations, there is strong evidence that responsible travel is also good for the economic bottom line.

-More than 90% of U.S. travelers surveyed by the online travel publisher TravelZoo in 2010 said that they would choose a ‘green,’ environmentally conscious hotel if the price and amenities were comparable to those at a non-sustainable, non-green hotel.

- By 2010, half of the world population was living in cities, for the first time in human history. In response, urban workers are seeking to spend their leisure time in areas where they can “reconnect with nature.”

- “One thing is for sure — travel companies and services are all beefing up their eco credentials in order to attract the rising number of customers seeking a ‘green’ experience.” —Jason Halal, Manager of Sierra Club Outings

-Nearly a third of travelers (30%) would choose a destination for a trip because it is considered eco-friendly. Costa Rica is the most popular destination in the world for travelers interested in an eco-friendly trip, according to a 2012 TripAdvisor survey

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- It has taken 20 years to take this phenomenon mainstream!

- This huge industry now generates over 10 percent of the world’s gross domestic product. And for 83 percent of countries in the world, tourism is one of the top five sources of foreign exchange.

- Vulnerabilities to the economy of tourism are always there. Security risks can cause drastic downturns, armed conflicts destroy tourism markets, and rising oil prices hit fast and hard. All of these factors will affect ecotourism in the next 20 years.

- Local people are increasingly recognizing that they need to protect their resources. What local people do to preserve their destinations must be a high priority for the future of ecotourism.

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By Megan Epler Wood,
founder of The International Ecotourism Society and former Co-Executive Director of the Planeterra Foundation
Twenty years ago travelers were just beginning to think about the environmental impacts of their tours. Ecotourism became a catch-all term in the 1990s for making travel environmentally beneficial, and it was frequently cited as the fastest growing phenomenon in travel. Journalists tended to run with any reasonable stats they were given on this growing market, but the fact was that truly responsible travelers were a rare breed. It has taken 20 years to take this phenomenon mainstream!

Ecotourism was defined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990 as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people. As the founder of TIES, I found this basic definition a vital tool to manage perceptions of what tourism's impacts are, how we might manage it differently in the future, and how to ask the industry to put a higher value on conserving the landscapes, wildlife, parks, people, monuments, and cultures that make their businesses possible.

Once I saw travel not as just a personal experience, but a way to touch the global community and help promote positive measures for conservation and sustainability, it became impossible to look back. Ecotourism influences a broad global dialog on the sustainability of travel which even led to a United Nations ecotourism summit in 2002. But for me the growth of the tourism economy has been the most important fact to help the global community understand its potential for good and the need to arrest the bad. This huge industry now generates over 10 percent of the world's gross domestic product. And for 83 percent of countries in the world, tourism is one of the top five sources of foreign exchange.

Travelers are branching out around the planet, and the Internet makes it possible to book in any country, at any time. Volume continues to go up worldwide, and developing countries are seeing enormous growth. Tourists now spend over $200 billion annually in emerging market nations. No other sector spreads wealth and jobs across poor countries like tourism does, but no other sector grows with so few controls.

Vulnerabilities to the economy of tourism are always there. Security risks can cause drastic downturns, armed conflicts destroy tourism markets, and rising oil prices hit fast and hard. All of these factors will affect ecotourism in the next 20 years. I just returned from Egypt, and due to the current news cycle featuring some political unrest, tourist volume is down over 50 percent. This drastic reduction in sales is painful; huge investments are lost, and local businesses lay off workers. The harsh reality of a market-based product cannot be softened. No matter how one wants to present tourism as a positive force for sustainability, it is still a global market that cannot be controlled.

The profile of the ecotourist is changing rapidly. It was once assumed that the ecotraveler was a foreign visitor to exotic locales, dressed in khaki and ready to view wildlife by day and sit by campfires at night. Now, the ecotraveler has many profiles. Throughout the world, ecotravelers often visit rural and exotic locales in their own countries. Brazilians from Sao Paulo are a major market for parks in the beautiful mountains of Minas Gerais. Travelers from Dhaka in Bangladesh are the major market for the parks and reserves on the Bay of Bengal. Indian and Chinese travelers are a growing force in their domestic destinations. Ecotravel is no longer a reflection of a colonial past, it is a highly globalized market. It is dependent on neither backpackers nor luxury safari enthusiasts, but is a full spectrum of nationalities and demographics representing all ages and incomes.

In the last 20 years, sustainability and the environmental management of tourism have become a greater focus of the largest tourism corporations on earth. Systems to manage hotel waste, water, air quality, and energy conservation are standard procedure now among most major hotel brands. Travelers may see only that they are being asked not to waste their sheets and towels, but behind hotel walls, efficient systems for lighting, heating and air conditioning, and water conservation measures are being installed across the globe.

Ecolodges, once a rare phenomenon, have become a strong market trend worldwide. Frequently designed by inspired architects; ecolodges set the standard for environmentally sustainable lodging, using renewable energy, reducing waste, composting, growing their own organic gardens, and avoiding the destruction of native vegetation. Dozens of independent lodges now operate in the globe's beauty spots, from Caiman Ecological Refuge in the Pantanal of Brazil to the Kosrae Village Ecolodge and Dive Resort in Micronesia. Tourism and travel awards are frequently given to chains of ecologically managed hotels that take their cues from the ecolodge movement, such as Six Senses, which operates in Thailand, Vietnam, the Maldives and Jordan. This company builds lodges using local sustainable sources wherever possible and serves organic food, helping travelers to appreciate the "slow life."

There have been many global gains for ecotourism, but when it comes to aviation, we are talking about one of the most carbon intensive industries in the world, not an ecological strong point of this industry. The global aviation industry presently accounts for three percent of carbon emissions worldwide and is rising fast. With all known measures, including improved efficiency, emissions will nevertheless be up 175 percent in the next 20 years, particularly because of ever increasing numbers of long haul flights. At present, the EU is mandating carbon trading for aviation, but the global airline industry is fighting this tooth and nail. It seems few are worrying about the environmental threats of global aviation, so initiatives to manage the carbon impacts of air travel are difficult to advance.

Making ecotourism a genuine tool for conservation of the world's ecosystems is a battle which never flags, but also never receives the needed unconditional support. For example, travelers without question are ready to pay for entrances to parks, and foreign visitors are frequently prepared to pay more than they do. Yet parks and protected areas around the world have been extremely slow in adopting measures to be certain tourists pay what is really required. How many times do travelers enter parks around the world without knowing how to pay? Ecotourism in the next 20 years must be a primary source of revenue for parks, and ecotravelers will be ready to pay.

Historic monuments also suffer greatly from a lack of wise management. In the Valley of the Kings in Egypt I was lucky to visit when few other travelers were present, but I was told that there are no limits on the numbers of visitors entering the ancient tombs, which are among the greatest monuments of human civilization. When I questioned whether there might not be a system to implement limits in the future, I was told I was dreaming. If Egypt or Cambodia or any other nation with major monuments cannot control visitor volume, the future of ecotourism is compromised. Traveler overload will damage these sites and they may eventually have to be closed. However, managers of Macchu Picchu in Peru have come to terms with this problem and set out a permit system to control the number of trekkers on the Inca Trail. Through this type of volume management, we can hope that ecotourism will be a positive for the world's important monuments.

Travel suppliers are increasingly diverse. Small communities across the globe have sought to join the travel economy. We now call this community-based tourism. But often local communities do not offer the quality that travelers can embrace, and as a result do not find ready buyers. Helping these businesses has become an agenda for the ecotourism world, and investments in local community-based providers can help local people to maintain cultural roots and protect their environments.

In my work, as the head of the Planeterra Foundation ( www.planeterra.org ) we are investing in local community providers throughout Latin America. We are presently helping Mayan women in a small village on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala to build improved home-based accommodations. As travelers visit the community's art and handicraft workshops, medicinal herb gardens, and tree-planting ceremonies, tourism is making a positive contribution to the community and creating a living example of the benefits ecotourism can generate. Planeterra can ensure these small businesses get a real market, as we are the foundation for G Adventures, the largest adventure travel company in the world. Wherever Planeterra invests, we work with G Adventures to be sure their passengers enjoy these wonderful authentic experiences that genuinely benefit local people.

Ecotourism has built an influential market base which draws customers committed to a green economy. Its market potential is not limited, but the resources upon which it depends are. One of the biggest issues with providing ecologically sound tourism will be the management of landscapes and regions where tourism has taken off. Authorities rarely have the knowledge to implement smart growth strategies, and the landscape quickly becomes overcrowded with hotels, restaurants and services for travelers. As tourism fans across the land, local services are frequently not provided to local workers who live without basic sewage treatment, fresh water, health services or adequate education for their children. It is difficult to advocate a more ecological future for tourism if basic sanitation and human needs are not met.

The Planeterra Foundation has developed a system for governments to track the impacts of tourism and make better decisions on the investment required to manage tourism. This system, already tested on Ambergris Caye in Belize, is being implemented further by the Belize Tourism Board and plans are now being made to work with other governments to help local authorities develop destination management systems needed to arrest unplanned growth.

What the ecotourism experience will be like in 20 years depends on the commitment of governments to create well-planned destinations. Without local planning, ecotourism could easily be just another problem on the landscape. Local people are increasingly recognizing that they need to protect their resources. What local people do to preserve their destinations must be a high priority for the future of ecotourism.

In Egypt I traveled to the Western Sahara. After one night in the large oasis of Bahariya, four hours west of Cairo, we had a soak in the crystal oasis waters and afterwards ate lunch in a simple building, decorated with local handicrafts and rugs, served by local guides. This was one of those authentic meeting grounds, where locals and tourists enjoy the same laid back experience of being away, sharing each other's cultures, eating local foods, enjoying interesting indigenous handicrafts and honoring the beautiful place they are visiting without artifice. I found myself loving the Sahara desert, its timeless beauty, and the fun-loving nature of our local guides. I relaxed, got into the groove, and thought to myself, this is the future of ecotourism!

Article by Megan Epler Wood, who founded The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990, the oldest and largest non-profit organization in the world dedicated to making ecotourism a tool for sustainable tourism development worldwide. Since 2003, Megan's firm EplerWood International ( www.eplerwood.com ) has devoted itself to aiding some of the poorest countries in the world with sustainable tourism development. Megan is the former Co-Executive Director of the Planeterra Foundation where she is leading a global effort to scale up the community and environmental benefits from sustainable tourism.
Megan has recently been named Director of new International Sustainable Tourism Initiative at the Harvard School of Public Health's Center for Health and the Global Environment.

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By Megan Epler Wood, founder of The International Ecotourism Society and former Co-Executive Director of the Planeterra Foundation Twenty years ago travelers were just beginning to think about the environmental impacts of their tours. Ecotourism became a catch-all term in the 1990s for making travel environmentally beneficial, and it was frequently cited as the fastest growing phenomenon in travel.

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- 24% reported green is highest it has ever been in 10 years; 51% reported that interest remains constant (Travel Guard Update, April 2013).

- TAs report popular destinations: 49% Costa Rica, 12% South Africa, 8% Galapagos Islands, 7% Peru, 6% Belize (all others 5%).

- 58% said their hotel choice is influenced by the support the hotel gives to the local community

- Trip Advisor-survey 2012, 71% said they plan to make more eco-friendly choices in the next 12 months, compared to 65% that did so in the past 12 months

- Given the ageing market, demand will grow in years to come.