# data[].attributes.headline
Responsible Tourism Awards 2008 telegraph.doc - Google Docs

# data[].attributes.subject
Responsible Tourism Awards 2008 telegraph.doc - Google Docs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

# data[].attributes.headline
November 17 newspapaer.doc - Google Docs

# data[].attributes.subject
November 17 newspapaer.doc - Google Docs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

# data[].attributes.headline
Ecotourism: niche or the future of the industry? | The WritePass Journal

# data[].attributes.subject
Ecotourism: niche or the future of the industry? | The WritePass Journal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
WritePass - Essay Writing - Dissertation Topics [TOC]

To say ecotourism is nothing more than a niche project with little applicability to the wider tourism industry is to fail to consider the complexity of the problem: tourism is an expanding industry, and without a plan to create sustainable development, the carrying capacity will be exceeded (Simón, Narangajavana and Marqués, 2004). According to Wall and Mathieson, once this happens, the overload of tourists has the potential to destroy the very resources that attracted them (2006). In turn, this will limit and possibly even slow down the industry considerably.

In order to argue how the principles guiding the business of ecotourism can be transformed into principles for sustainable development of the wider tourism industry, especially mass tourism, these guiding ideas must first be understood. For the purpose of this discussion Wearing and Neil's (2009) perimeters for defining ecotourism and its principles will be used along with the principles of 'Low Impact Tourism' (LIT). These can briefly be explained as follows:

Not "mainstream": It is a form of alternative tourism that is not in opposition to but rather separate to mass tourism. Ecotourism does not actively go against the principles of mass tourism, but, being dependent on a set of value laden judgements, rather provides a seemingly polar alternative.

Nature-focussed: It has a particular philosophical orientation towards nature.

Motivation-driven clients: Tourists are characterised by particular motivations - in the case of ecotourism an urge to be a 'do-gooder' and contribute to efforts in conservation and development.

Emphasis on experience: The service provider adheres to touristic practices and provides a quality tourism experience.

Politically involved: The projects constitute an approach to local, regional, national, and international politics.

Culture-focus: There is active valuation of culture and a dependency on natural and cultural resources.

Sustainability: The projects tourists participate in must be part of a strategy for sustainable development and integrate conservation efforts. (Weaver and Neil, 2009)

Ecotourism 'is a form of tourism that fosters learning experiences and appreciation of the natural environment' (Weaver, 2001, p. 15) and 'conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people' (The International Ecotourism Society, 1990). In this sense, the concept is extremely limited and non-transferable: it is a form of educational tourism that caters to a very specific set of ideas, mainly that the holiday or travel undertaken will contribute to the improvement of the environment or the minimisation of the impact of humans thereon at the very least. The broader principled as set out above, however, are highly adaptable and transferable to the wider tourism industry and could help to develop a more sustainable market.

Ecotourism is undoubtedly a niche, but it is an exclusive one. The fact that the amount of people who can participate at any time must be limited so as not to impact the environment - especially in conservation efforts - mean that participation itself becomes an exclusive commodity. It has the potential to be the natural equivalent of the Berkin bag - knowingly regulated in production so there is a constant waiting list creating an air of exclusivity. In this way, ecotourism effectively commodifies nature (Castree, 2003 and Demeritt, 2000)

Furthermore, the importance of striking the correct balance between allowing tourists access and preserving the environment makes it more bearable for customers to be waitlisted: to insist on an increase in group size is to directly go against the ideals that are the foundation of eco-tourists. In other words, the ideology creates the exclusivity, which, in turn, increases the commodity's value.

It is not easy to apply this logic to mass tourism as there are few instances of this that is currently dependent on ideology, but the model can be incorporated into other niche markets. The thrill-seeker on an adventure trip will hunt for experiences few others of his ilk have had.

The niche market can increase value by limiting access thus increasing revenue generated per person, decreasing impact on the environment due to less over-crowding and make the experience more enjoyable for the tourist. In order to do this, the experience must be something worth waiting for - a problem addressed through the development of the experience in relation to a set of values.

Exclusivity and a covetable product can also contribute to creating a better experience for the tourist, especially in relation to mass tourism problems like over-crowded beaches or giant resorts giving little or no interaction with the local environment.

Imagine for example, instead an offer that would combine 3S tourism with ecotourism and contribute to alleviate the pressure of overcrowding on popular beaches. There are plenty of beaches around the world that require work adjacent to them in the form or wildlife, marine or nature conservation. If trips to some of these could be offered at an affordable price in exchange for some volunteer time from tourists who would not otherwise go on ecotourism holidays it could solve several problems: it could solve some issues of over-crowding in popular tourist spots nearby; it could help conservation efforts worldwide; given some time it could provide sustainable development of work and living space in less conventional places helping to address problems of over-populated areas through tourism.

It is crucial to all tour providers that their experience is enjoyable to the client (Fennel and Smale, 1992), and thus this principle should not only apply to ecotourism, but to all tourism. The experience of ecotourism crucially lies in the motivation and to transfer this into mass tourism could have interesting and fruitful results.

That ecotourism will supplant other forms of tourism such as 3S or adventure tourism is not very likely. There is still a vast group of tourists who enjoy their comforts and have little interest in the great outdoors. However, what ecotourism does have is a value-based development of their product (Zografos, and Allcroft, 2007). Operators sell the concept that to be an ecological traveller is to be a champion of nature - especially in the case of packages involving conservation. Due to the popularity of ecotourism, this is not always the case as fragile ecosystems with much less carrying capacity than more traditional tourism venues will be oversubscribed and the conservation effort can damage the system beyond repair.

Weaver, crucially writes that '[ecotourism] has the appearance [...] of being environmentally and socio-culturally sustainable' (2001, p.15). He does not claim that it actually is, only that it appears to be better than mass tourism from a sustainability perspective. The dissonance between ideal and actuality is of little consequence; ultimately ecotourism feeds the individual's ego (Wheeller, 1993). The travellers can believe they are helping to save the world, one tree or community at the time, but still not know the full extent of the help or harm of their visit. What they are participating in can be as much an idea as it is a reality.

In the same way as a luxurious honeymoon, ecotourism is also partly about feeding a fantasy: it is perhaps a more idealistic and philosophical fantasy, but it is a fantasy nonetheless. Ecotourism is ultimately about taking a journey to what or who you want to be. It is a different kind of escapism - one that means running to something rather than from it, but is still about doing something out of the ordinary.

To use people's ideology and create an appropriate tourism option to satisfy this could greatly benefit the wider tourism industry (Blamey, 2001). To travel is appealing in itself, be it domestic or international travel, but the emotional gratification of contributing to a charitable cause makes things like Spartan accommodation and hard work seem more appealing. If 'you derive personal pleasure and joy from helping others' and thus 'your charity is selfish because you want to feel good' (Keng, 2012) the motivations driving ecotourism need not be so limiting as they first appear - in fact, the rest of the principles can be used to achieve this.

'The original emphasis of ecotourism was on low key, unobtrusive tourism which has minimal impacts on natural ecosystems' writes Wearing and Neil (2009, p.1) and this idea of unobtrusive tourism can be extended to include intrusion into other areas than nature.

The limitation of such intrusions can be advertised as part of the appeal of the tourist experience in the same way corporations and other service providers often sell their products based on ideas such as 'responsibly sourced' 'locally grown' or 'we don't use child labour'. The customer buys the organisation's merchandise rather than their competitors' because they perceive the product to be morally better. A good example of this is the Fairtrade movement.

According to Tao and Wall, 'it is useful to explore how tourism is and might be incorporated into the existing mix of livelihood strategies so that it enriches rather than replaces the means by which people may be sustained' (2009, p.91). Thus, tourism can help to develop sustainable strategies for work generation and cultural preservation in tourist destinations. Tour operators can, for example, only employ locals and use this as a corporate responsibility selling point that can generate more business from the semi-conscientious traveller. Weaver argues that there has been a paradigm shift in the way we think about our consumption of both goods and services in a more ethical perspective that accounts for much of the motivation behind ecotourism (2001). This should also inform the wider tourist industry in their approach to creating an appealing experience.

Some problems in other tourism could also be solved by the inclusion of principles from ecotourism, especially in the sectors of nature and adventure tourism. An example of such issues can be found in Hwange National Park: Zimbabwe's most visited, most accessible and most densely game-stocked national park (Potts, Goodwin and Walpole, 2002). A major issue for the park is underfunding from the Department of National Parks and Wild Life Management and as an indirect result, 'the development of [Hwange National Park] for photographic tourism has led to severe problems for park management, not least visitor overcrowding and environmental degradation' (Potts, Goodwin and Walpole, 2002, p.200).

The degradation of such a major attraction could be detrimental to Zimbabwe's national tourist industry. Introducing ecotourism helps to develop sustainable strategies (Lane, 1994). The national park wants to keep costs for tourists down, but they could charge their current nominal fee but also stipulate some volunteer effort as payment for access to the park over extended time. In this way, some needed work could go ahead without the need for extensive additional funding and the increased conservation effort would generate more nature tourism as the degradation stagnates which in turn could fund more conservation work.

According to Wall and Mathieson, 'sustainable development requires a long-term perspective that works towards equity between people, and between people and other inhabitants of the planet' (2006, 15). This means that everyone, tourists and locals alike, need to develop a strategy to preserve the environments they live in so that the human impact thereupon is minimised and the places that are amazing to see today will still be amazing for generations to come.

Page and Dowling argue that sustainable development is crucial to the survival and viability of the tourism industry (2002). If there is to be any special places left worth paying money to see the industry must develop in a sustainable way that will not subsume the local culture and environment into large resorts or streets of tourist junk shops. In developing local environments, ecotourism could serve as a model to develop sustainable tourism in places that are inaccessible to mass tourism at the moment which will open the world to more destinations and preserve the ones we have.

Blamey, R. K., 2001. Principles of ecotourism. In: The encyclopedia of ecotourism 2001 (2001): 5-22 Accessible online at: http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=HhfHmSojJ8QC&oi=fnd&pg=PA5&dq=Principles+of+eco+tourism+can+benefit+wider+tourism+industry&ots=AkYPqJfeTN&sig=qvyc4uL5Wim5f718P1BeGgh-H1c#v=onepage&q=Principles%20of%20eco%20tourism%20can%20benefit%20wider%20tourism%20industry&f=false [Accessed on October 14, 2013]

Castree, N., 2003. Commodifying What Nature? In: Progress in Human Geography 27(3):273-297.

Demeritt, D., 2000. The new social contract for science: accountability, relevance, and value in US and UK science and research policy. In: Antipode 32(3):308-329.

Fennell, D.A., and Smale, B.J.A., 1992. Ecotourism and natural resource protection: implications of an alternative form of tourism for host nations. In: Tourism Recreation Research 17(1): 21-32.

Keng, C., 2012. Charity is Selfish and It Needs to Stay That Way [blogpost]. Available on Cameron Keng's, of the Keng Institute, personal blog: http://www.cameronkeng.com/2012/01/22/charity-is-selfish-and-it-needs-to-stay-that-way/ [Accessed 09 October, 2013]

Lane, B., 1994. Sustainable rural tourism strategies: A tool for development and conservation. In: Journal of sustainable tourism 2(1-2): 102-111.

Page, S.J. and Dowling, R.K., 2002. Ecotourism. Harlow: Pearson Education.

Potts, F.C., Goodwin, H. and Walpole, M.J., 1996. People, Wildlife and Tourism in and Around Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. In: Price, M.F., ed., 1996. People and Tourism in Fragile Environments. Chichester: Wiley.

Simón, F.J.G., Narangajavana, Y., and Marqués, D.P., 2004. Carrying capacity in the tourism industry: a case study of Hengistbury Head. In: Tourism management 25(2): 275-283.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), 1990. What is Ecotourism? [webpage]. Available through TIES's website: http://www.ecotourism.org/what-is-ecotourism [Accessed on October 14, 2013]

Tao, T., and Wall, G. (2009). Tourism as a sustainable livelihood strategy. In: Tourism Management, 30: 90-98.

Wall, G. and Mathieson, A., 2006. Tourism: Change, Impacts and Opportunities. Harlow: Pearson Education.

Wearing, S. and Neil, J., 2009. Ecotourism: Impacts, Potentials and Possibilities (second edition). Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

Weaver, D., 2001. Ecotourism. Milton, Australia: Wiley.

Wheeller, B., 1993. Sustaining the ego. In: Journal of Sustainable Tourism 1(2):121-129.

Zografos, C., and Allcroft, D., 2007. The environmental values of potential ecotourists: A segmentation study. In: Journal of Sustainable Tourism 15(1): 44-66.

Tags: Custom Essay Writing, how to write a dissertation, how to write scientific essay, social science dissertation, social science dissertation examples, social science essay, undergraduate dissertation examples

Category: Essay & Dissertation Samples, Social Science

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ecotourism: niche or the future of the industry? - The WritePass Journal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
WritePass - Essay Writing - Dissertation Topics [TOC]WRITEPASS - CUSTOM ESSAY WRITING - DISSERTATION TOPIC IDEASIntroductionBibliography:Related WRITEPASS - CUSTOM ESSAY WRITING - DISSERTATION TOPIC IDEAS Introduction To say ecotourism is nothing more than a niche project with little applicability to the wider tourism industry is to fail to consider the complexity of the problem: tourism ...

# data[].attributes.headline
How Angola Is Re-Writing Its Future Through Eco-Tourism | The African Exponent

# data[].attributes.subject
How Angola Is Re-Writing Its Future Through Eco-Tourism | The African Exponent

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Angola has had its own share of economic turmoil as a result of falling oil prices in the globe.

In the third quarter of 2014, the Angolan crude was averaged $104. In the first two months of early 2016, the price had fallen to merely $30 per month.

Last November, IMF announced that Angola's oil revenues would fall below 15 percent of gross domestic revenue, down from 40 percent in 2011.

In a bid to resuscitate its economy, the country is in talks with IMF to find solutions to the changing global environment.

But Angola has also realized that overreliance on oil could affect is the future economy in addition to damaging its environment. As such, it has sought to invest in other sectors such ecotourism to drive growth as well as help in the fight against climate change.

Speaking yesterday (June 5, 2016) at the celebrations of World Environment Day (WED), in Angola, Environment Minister Maria de Fátima Jardim said there is "need to look at ways to diversify our economy and participate in the progress of our future generations."

Angola was picked to host this year's event for its commitment to combatting the illegal trade in wildlife. The Angolan President has also shown commitment to protecting the country's elephants.

Angola has played a key role in the illegal trade of wildlife treasures as it is used as a transit country for ivory, with carved goods coming over the border from the Democratic Republic of Congo for re-sale, largely to Asian nations.

The southern African nation lost many of its elephants during the civil war between 1975-2002. While there are a few herds left, they face pressure from poachers- both those who seek to make a kill from ivory and poor communities that rely on bush meat to survive.

A report released by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)-INTERPOL on June 4, ahead of WED, indicated that the "value of environmental crime is 26 percent larger than previous estimates, at $91-258 billion today compared to $70-213 billion in 2014."

On top of Angola's list of strategies to deal with the problem include: introducing tougher penalties for poaching; shutting down its domestic illegal markets; and looking to provide alternative livelihoods for those at the bottom of the illegal wildlife trade chain. Additionally, the country is also training former combatants to become wildlife rangers.

"We have a big push to manage protected areas and create others for the benefit of our people," said Abias Huongo, Director of Angola's National Institute of Biodiversity. "For us to survive, other species need to survive. Together with the tourism ministry, we are exploring the potential of ecotourism to address the economic deficit with biodiversity."

Reinventing Cuando-Cubango for ecotourism

As a major project to boost the economy, Angola has identified Cuando-Cubango, a key region for biodiversity, where new lodges are opening. One such lodge is Rio Cuebe which hosts a collection of endearing and edgy huts well-arranged along the leafy banks of a lazy river near Menongue.

While the lodge is yet to receive many guests since it opened three years ago, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner believes this situation is about to begin changing.

"Cuando-Cubango is a region that could provide an enormous opportunity for investment in terms of tourism: a unique area where in 20 years' time the world will be paying thousands of dollars for an overnight stay."

According to Steiner, the overreliance on the fossil-fuel economy has had a negative impact on Angola but with diversification such as the notion of the green economy could make a huge difference in the country.

The concept is also appreciated by Steve Boyes, a National Geographic Society explorer who believes Angola has a first-hand natural beauty that is yet to be explored. In their exploratory journey in the country, Boyes and his team discovered three new species of plant, six new species of fish and four new species of reptile - all unique to Angola.

The Angolan government in collaboration with Boyes and his partner John Hilton are working to explore ecotourism opportunities.

"We are talking about the largest undeveloped river basin on the planet," Boyes said. "It's an incredible opportunity for conservation, for tourism development. To me, it's the biggest tourism and rural development opportunity in Africa in the last few decades.

In order for it to succeed, however, Boyes believes there is a need for urgent measures to be put in place to conserve the wildlife. Moreover, villagers should be empowered to cease from killing animals for (bush) meat.

"The scenic beauty and wildlife are all here. If we do it (conservation efforts) in five years' time it would take thirty years to fix. If we do it now, it will take ten years to fix," he said. "If we get 100 adventure travelers in on mountain bikes in, they (villagers) will earn far more money than they get off bush meat. There is a strong desire for a new beginning," UNEP quoted Boyes as saying.

This year's WED theme- Go Wild for Life - calls each and every one to celebrate all those species under threat, by taking actions that safeguard them for future generations.

"This can be about animals or plants that are threatened within your local area as well as at the national or global level - many local extinctions will eventually add up to a global extinction!

Whoever you are, and wherever you live, show zero tolerance for the illegal trade in wildlife in word and deed, and make a difference," UNEP suggests.

Image credit: WED

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Angola Is Re-Writing Its Future Through Eco-Tourism | The African Exponent

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Angola has had its own share of economic turmoil as a result of falling oil prices in the globe. In the third quarter of 2014, the Angolan crude was averaged $104. In the first two months of early 2016, the price had fallen to merely $30 per month.

# data[].attributes.headline
Ecotourism - What does the future hold for tourism? - Earth Wanderess

# data[].attributes.subject
Ecotourism - What does the future hold for tourism? - Earth Wanderess

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
My biggest passion is life is to travel and explore the world. The last 3 years it's been my biggest hobby and I've been traveling once a month with everything from weekends in Europe to month long trips to Oceania and Central America. The number of flights I've takes has not gone my conscience by unnoticed.
Ecotourism is about traveling in a responsible way that protects and favour the nature, culture and locals of the destination. For me this should be the foundation of travel, not a niche of the industry.

When I travel I try to support the local businesses before the big international ones. I'd rather do a home stay than stay at a fancy hotell, and hostels or couchsurfing is to me my starting point when it comes to accommodation. And I rarely buy souvenirs that are bought in souvenir shops made in another part of the world for starvation pay. When I do buy souvenirs, it's usually something handmade from a local that I meet. Actions and awareness like this makes sure that my money goes to the locals and the community and not to the giant multinational chains that keep the money to themselves, making it harder for locals to make a living.

What does the future hold?

My perception is that today's tourists, and people in general, are becoming more aware about our impact of our environment.

Somewhere along the way the reason for travel seems to have gone off track. I feel like it for many people have more to do with getting a break from the working life and to get sunshine and heat, and has nothing to do with the actual destinations of where they're going. The hotel resorts look all the same around the world, and some people never leave the resort, which makes the visit seem... Unnecessary to me. Sure, it gets them some vitamin D and time to relax, but it's on the expense of the locals and their lands.

Our generation

But I do feel very hopeful for our future. I feel especially hopeful for my generation. Young enough to still have hope. We want to save the world for our and our children's future. We care. Growing up with the world being so close to us thanks to the internet. Other continents don't seem as distant or strange to us as it might to those who grew up not knowing, seeing or hearing about distant lands.

The more people who take responsibility and share their knowledge, the more people will learn about it and hopefully want to do the same - to do what's right.

The time of now and the future is a time of knowledge spreading fast and easy. It's starting to be impossible to hide behind lack of knowing that you're doing things that are bad. Just like no one can say that they think the meat industry is fair and that they have no problem with how the animals are treated - because everyone knows their life conditions are torturous and inhumane, the knowledge of how tourism can hurt the communities are spreading, and soon more people will want to get away from the hurtful ways of travel and to do it in a way that profits the nature and the locals, just as it should've been all along.

I feel hopeful. And I want to spread my knowledge, and I want to learn more about how to do right from other's who know more about this.

What are your thoughts about this?
Have you learned anything new? Do you disagree on anything or do you want to add something? Please share your thoughts in the comments below, I would love to know what you think!
More about Ecotourism:
Why is it needed Part 1 Why is it needed Part 2
Swedish female solo traveler. Been to 6 continents and 65+ countries. Nature, hiking, adrenaline, responsible travel and minimalistic packing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ecotourism - What does the future hold for tourism? - Earth Wanderess

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
My biggest passion is life is to travel and explore the world. The last 3 years it's been my biggest hobby and I've been traveling once a month with everything from weekends in Europe to month long trips to Oceania and Central America. The number of flights I've takes has not gone my conscience by unnoticed.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 2007, the UNWTO estimated that ecotourism captured 7% of the global tourism market.

As the race continues to find alternative sources of energy and green solutions to combat global warming, new industries are sprouting up as well. Ecotourism is a case in point. The idea budded almost four decades ago in the 1970s, but has taken on new meaning today, as global concerns about a fast depleting environment are deepening.

So what exactly is ecotourism, an industry that is growing at a very rapid pace? The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has defined the term as tourism that minimizes the negative impacts on the environment, supports the protection of natural areas through economic benefits, creates jobs for local communities, and increases awareness for conservation of fragile environments and animals. Fueled by individuals who desire to experience pristine and untouched environments and at the same time promote green awareness, this niche market has been expanding by at least 20% to 30% since the 1990s, according to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES).

In fact, ecotourism accounts for one in five tourists worldwide today. To acknowledge ecotourism's sensational popularity, the United Nations held a World Ecotourism Summit and declared the year 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourism. Building upon the momentum, the UNWTO declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. "These people are looking for two things: access to unique areas that most tourists can never visit, and a way to improve the quality of life of the people and places they do visit," elaborates Duane Silverstein, executive director of Seacology a Berkeley-based non-profit organization.

And as more tourists flock to experience the unspoiled environments of underdeveloped countries, those economies benefit immensely. "Many of our projects encourage ecotourism so that rural people can make a living out of something apart from using too much of the forests or fisheries or wetlands," explains Geoffrey Howard of the East Africa office of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Nairobi, Kenya. Tourism has indeed turned into a powerful tool for conservation. Blue Ventures, a British non-profit organization, offers expeditions for scientists and volunteers to its marine field station in a remote location in Madagascar. Their efforts have paid off. In three short years, Blue Ventures succeeded in improving octopus conservation and awareness, winning the organization the United Nations Seed Award.

Today, it is Costa Rica, which holds pride of place as the world leader in ecotourism. From just 330,000 visitors in 1988, the country's rich biodiversity spots have attracted more than two million tourists just twenty years later in 2008. According to the Costa Rican Tourism Institute, the country raked in a total of $2.2 billion in revenues last year, as tourists spent an average of $1000 to visit the country's carefully preserved green ecosystem.

In the U.S., ecotourism has become the fast growing travel trend and
represents 5% of the overall U.S. tourism market, according to research
estimates from Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability Journal.

But it is not just emerging market nations that are pushing ecotourism; developed countries are benefiting as well. Netherlands-based architectural firm, WHIM, is planning to construct an entire Recycled Island in the Pacific Ocean from 97 million pounds of plastic. Touted as the ecotourism spot of the future, the island, roughly the size of Hawaii will be fully sustainable with enough space to accommodate half a million ecotourists. Taking care not to leave behind too many carbon footprints, the island will be powered by wave and solar energy, while seaweed will provide eco-friendly fuel for the residents. Over in Sweden, at a location around 40 miles away from the Arctic Circle, a Tree Hotel made of glass was opened recently. Set amidst a thick forest, the mirrored exterior walls reflect the surroundings, making the structure seemingly disappear in the lush greenery. The environment friendly building is made of sustainably harvested wood with electric radiant floor heating and incinerating toilets. "This is untouched forest and we want to maintain it the same way," says Anette Selberg, the Treehotel Sales Manager.

Yet, despite such good intentions, ecotourism can have a negative side too. Less obvious impacts are worrisome to many conservationists and environmentalists. "Transmission of disease to wildlife, or subtle changes to wildlife health through disturbance of daily routines or increased stress levels, while not apparent to a casual observer, may translate to lowered survival and breeding," explains Philip Seddon of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. In the hinterlands of South America or Africa, the "dos and don'ts" guidelines are often blurry, which potentially can cause harm. And as ecotourism continues to grow, competition will also rise at a scorching pace, potentially leading to a depletion of resources.

Biologists and researchers call for caution and feel that ecotourism should be developed carefully. Perhaps in recognition of its growing dangers, as well as promise, the second World Ecotourism Conference was recently held in Malaysia, in collaboration with UNWTO and TIES, to promote safe ecotourism and discuss frameworks.

If approached correctly, ecotourism could become an essential cog in the wheel of conservationism. "There's a compelling argument to be made that ecotourism is a huge piece of the conservation movement, which would drop off if the travel stopped," points out Auden Schendler, the executive director of sustainability at Aspen Skiing Co. in Colorado. In our storied past, man has largely served as a foe to the environment. By fostering travel that reinforces good environmental practices and promotes the economies of underdeveloped countries, ecotourism might foster a symbiotic relationship between humankind and the environment that in the end will benefit all of us.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As the race continues to find alternative sources of energy and green solutions to combat global warming, new industries are sprouting up as well. Ecotourism is a case in point. The idea budded almost four decades ago in the 1970s, but has taken on new meaning today, as global concerns about a fast depleting environment are deepening.

# data[].attributes.headline
BBC NEWS | Magazine | Benidorm - the new face of eco-tourism

# data[].attributes.subject
BBC NEWS | Magazine | Benidorm - the new face of eco-tourism

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Benidorm, Spain... does it qualify as an eco destination?

Home to high-rise hotels and bus-loads of tourists, Benidorm is not an obvious destination among tourists looking for an eco holiday. But maybe it should be, says Tom Heap, presenter of Radio 4's Costing the Earth.

Of all the choices you'll make this year, where to go on holiday may well be the one with the biggest environmental consequences. Maybe you fancy trekking with the Kalahari bushmen and living on grubs; a quick lounge on the hot sand; or a long lunch in Dubrovnik.

To reach a decision you'll weigh up the usual things - cost, excitement, relaxation and available time. But increasingly people are beginning to add environmental impact into the mix.

The travel industry has, of course, spotted this and green claims abound. But holidaymakers may be surprised to find out that frequently it's not the painted lady of eco-tourism, but the modest, unpretentious beach break, that should win the plaudits.

Sadly, I couldn't afford to sample some of the latest "eco-tourism" offers to Rwanda, Saudi Arabia or Algeria in practice. A more sustainable solution was to seek the view of John Swarbrook, head of Sheffield Hallam University's Centre for International Tourism Research.

"I think it's absolutely disastrous news for people interested in the environment," says Mr Swarbrook, who likes to refer to the movement as "ego tourism".

"What it does is it takes people to places where they really shouldn't go. It's given the idea that so called sustainable tourism can only ever be practised by a tiny minority of people who can afford to or wish to go to places like that."

"Eco" destinations such as Antarctica make no sense, he says.

"Why? There's no reason to go. It would be better if you didn't go. We know from around the world where tourism takes off today small time, by tomorrow it's going to be big time."

Bucket and spade destinations such as Benidorm tend not to excite the independent, environmentally-conscious traveller. Yet on a trip to the Mediterranean resort, self-confessed eco-geek Gemma Roberts noted they have much to commend them.

Pump-operated taps

At one hotel, all the room lights automatically switch off on leaving. Street lighting is low energy and many of the taps are foot pump-operated to save water.

Much of the food is locally sourced; the beach immaculately clean and visitors can walk, rather than drive, everywhere. But perhaps most importantly, the sheer volume of tourists has an environmental upside. Stacking thousands of guests in such a small area limits the size of place they're impacting.
"I was expecting to arrive in a very developed, built-up area that would be doing absolutely nothing towards looking after the natural environment," says Ms Roberts.

"I've been really pleasantly surprised by lots of small things that are going on within the resort itself."

The proximity of facilities is impressive, she says.

"I really love the fact that everything is within walking distance. There are lots of lights on the promenade and they're all low energy, there are recycling bins everywhere. All the hotels have energy-saving devices.

"There's lots of local produce available. Even in a high density resort like Benidorm there are opportunities to become as sustainable as possible; to make sure the impact is kept to a minimum."

Goldilocks approach

But there's no denying the environmental damage caused by actually getting there - the aeroplane trip.

One economy trip from Birmingham to Benidorm leaves 464kg of CO2 in its wake, according to calculations by the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management. Yet, if two people shared a car from Birmingham to Cornwall, each passenger would be responsible for just 84kg of CO2.
So the journey to Cornwall itself has one fifth of the global warming potential - making it, on one level at least, a greener choice. A next obvious step for visitors would be one of the growing number of "eco hotels".

Emma Stratton, who manages the Bedruthan Steps hotel at Mawgan Porth near Newquay, warns potential guests not to arrive expecting to be pampered. She is trying to change the philosophy of hotels - to break the link between enjoyment and consumption.

She believes instant luxury is just a sugar rush and true holiday pleasure is to be found in what you DO.

"The whole experience is about bloating the guest with far too much and what we're trying to do is reverse that and say actually you might be happier if you have less," explains Ms Stratton.

"We want to go as far as we can to be eco friendly and sustainable and still have guests. But we've still got to make sure our guests have a fabulous time otherwise they'll make sure their neighbours will come to us."
But the nearby presence of Newquay airport is a niggling reminder that if tourism is about anything, it's about transport... and the tourist business really wants more of it.

Wouldn't the greenest holiday of all be to stay put, at home?

Leo Hickman, the Guardian's green guru, has just written a book, the Last Call, questioning if our love of travel can be sustained.

Predicting that surging oil prices might put paid to budget flights anyway, he advocates a "Goldilocks approach" to tourism: a three-year cycle of - flight one year, Europe overland the next, and holidaying in Britain the next.

But he also has a more radical idea to address our seemingly insatiable thirst to witness first-hand the charms of places like Venice or the Taj Mahal - a global lottery for entry tickets.

"There's lots of places where we know they're already struggling to sustain the number of visitors each year: Venice, Macchu Picchu, the Great Barrier Reef. You can charge an entry fee but there's a fairness argument there," says Hickman.

"Does it mean that tourism becomes an elitist activity? Or do we enter into this concept of lottery based tourism? It instils a new mentality where you feel like you're having a privileged moment to be able to go. It brings us back to an approach to tourism that kind of guest mentality that I would love to see a return to."

Below is a selection of your comments.

Bravo for saying that Benidorm is a good spot for eco-tourists. Going to out of the way destinations is always ego tourism whatever the excuse. Is a pilgrimage on foot a good eco way to take a break? It helps the esprit de corps anyway .
Joanna, Castelnau d'Auzan, France

Not only should access be only by lottery, but it should cost money to enter the lottery, e.g. $100 US for each entry (or pair of entries), from which funds the winners would be partially subsidized, perhaps on a graduated scale based on income and net worth. This would allow people of more modest means to be able to experience and benefit from such places, e.g. teachers, nurses, firemen, policemen, Wal Mart employees and others who make something less than a CEO's salary.
Lloyd Davidson, Evanston, IL US

Would a lottery stop tourism being elitist? I don't think so. I can foresee tickets going on eBay and reaching premium price. If tourism is about getting away, travelling, then it's how we travel and its impact/cost rather than whether we travel. I also think that some governments want the quick economic fix that tourism can bring and so encourage tourism without considering the impacts
John Tabor, Wantage UK

At a capacity of 120 passengers (around that of a Boeing 737) each passenger will be responsible for 3.9kg of CO2. That is somewhat better than the 84kg in a car. So if everyone stopped flying to Benidorm and drove to Cornwall instead, even if every car was full, there would be significantly more CO2 released.
Rob Watkins, Brighton, UK

You fail to mention that Spain is already overtapping its aquifers and losing wild species such as the Iberian lynx due to insufficient water supplies, not to mention Barcelona shipping in water. Maybe one of your reporters should do a 15 minute research on WWOOF and other permaculture inspired holidays.
Bruce Weiskotten, Shell'm, WA, US

Went to Norfolk from Germany last year using the camper van. Altogether 1500km of driving a family of four. No buildings needed apart from the occasional chip shop and toilets. Were we eco-tourists? I do not know, but we do something similar every year. I would love to go on safari with the kids but it all just seems so false these days.
Ken Wright, Bueckeburg, Germany

"One economy trip from Birmingham to Benidorm leaves 464kg of CO2 in its wake... Yet, if two people shared a car from Birmingham to Cornwall, each passenger would be responsible for just 84kg of CO2." This is just not a reasoned argument, whenever people compare planes to other types of transport why is the volume of people they carry not considered? Planes never only carry two people at a time. So based on the figured in this article If all 200 people from that plane drove down to Cornwall with two in a car it would throw out 16, 800kg of CO2, so how is that more eco friendly?
Jon, Worcs

It seems like a person on holiday would consume just about the same amount of power, food etc, so its mostly the CO2 generated from travel that is the biggest impact. It seems like more efficient travel options would offer the biggest improvement in green holidays. Rail instead of fly, bus instead of car. biking, rafting, or sailing holidays. Are there any cruise liners that use wind power like some of the larger tankers do ?
Jon, LA, US

Airships, sailing ships, electric cars and bicycles. No problem. Being the occasional nomad is not the real problem in fact it is very human. Turbo capitalism is the big problem.
Toners Bruxtin, Great England

I do agree with the ego tourism notion. Been a hotelier for more that 30 years, I have travelled a lot, and I feel it is terribly wrong to interfere with nature as it is done nowadays. Unesco has a program for sacred places around the globe and many other places should be considered and visited as such, with reverence, but better so, left alone.
Beatriz Beltran, Colima, Mexico

If you ever been to Spain, you will see that the coastline has been ruined forever. Are you telling me that we should all go to such a rubbish place and save the world? No thanks.
Benito Di Terlizzi, Vancouver, Canada

Benidorm is fab, I go every year. It's close by, no too far for the old carbon footprint, we all have a fab time, good old fashioned fun at the seaside. So much better than going to the Maldives.
David Glossop, Sheffield

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Benidorm, Spain... does it qualify as an eco destination? Home to high-rise hotels and bus-loads of tourists, Benidorm is not an obvious destination among tourists looking for an eco holiday. But maybe it should be, says Tom Heap, presenter of Radio 4's Costing the Earth.

# data[].attributes.headline
Brighton Travel agent. responsibletravel.com About Us information

# data[].attributes.subject
Brighton Travel agent. responsibletravel.com About Us information

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Brighton Travel agent. responsibletravel.com About Us information

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Call us in Brighton on 01273 823 700 for expert advice or to book. Come in and visit us at 42 Bond Street, Brighton. We offer worldwide over 5000 responsible adventure and eco holidays.

# data[].attributes.headline
What do you think the future for ecotourism looks like? - Quora

# data[].attributes.subject
What do you think the future for ecotourism looks like? - Quora

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
NOTE: For some reason, I can not get the paragraphs to stop merging together when I save this answer. I am trying different ways to fix it, apologies if it is hard to follow as I edit and continue to re-save. The solution for now seems to be putting horizontal separators between paragraphs.

I am not a big fan of ecotourism. There are instances where it has positive benefits as a teaching/awareness tool for sustainability or building an awareness of what could be lost (harvesting of the rainforests), but it too easily can become an elitist practice with a benevolent label. I have seen too many instances where wealthy people move into relatively pristine areas where locals have been co-existing with the environment for years, build their amenities to make themselves comfortable, then advocate for policies that maintain what's left for their personal enjoyment to the exclusion of the "natives" and traditional uses.

Ecotourism needs to be seen for what it is- encroachment, however limited. The inference that ecotourism will not have an impact is simply not valid. It might be minimal and at least there is a focus on minimizing impacts, but people are creating a infrastructure for supporting human activity in an otherwise natural environment. It precludes sustainable utilization by the local population as a whole.

Aside from the direct impacts to a specific area, there will be considerable expenditure of natural resources in transportation to get there, and likely part of maintaining the eco-friendly tourism will mean hauling created waste away from the location. Travel and waste are not necessarily a bad thing, but before one labels some form of tourism as more eco-friendly, all impacts should be honestly taken into account.

Ecotourism will flourish as long as current trends continue with the concentration of wealth and power, population growth and a capitalistic system that survives based on continuously increasing consumption. There will be less and less "nature" upon which can an ecotourism venture can be located. By definition, impacts need to be minimized, this will be done by limiting the number of people who can participate. High demand, limited resource, high cost. It will be lucrative, luxurious and exclusive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What do you think the future for ecotourism looks like?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Answer (1 of 3): Ecotourism is likely here to stay and grow for the foreseeable future. Stay, because ecotourism has become over the past decade or two a mainstay of the tourism industry. Whether it's luxury hotels running on renewable energy or nature-based activities for young adults or famil...

# data[].attributes.headline
TripAdvisor Survey Reveals Travelers Growing Greener

# data[].attributes.subject
TripAdvisor Survey Reveals Travelers Growing Greener

# data[].attributes.headline
Eco-Tourism and Nature Based Tourism gaining popularity in Australia

# data[].attributes.subject
Eco-Tourism and Nature Based Tourism gaining popularity in Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Published on Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Tourism Australia at Australian Tourism Exchange today said that Eco-tourism experiences are gaining new momentum with increasing numbers of travellers looking for 'green' holidays, whether it be choosing Eco Certified tourism products that focus on fostering environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation, 'zero impact' packages, carbon neutral itineraries, hiring hybrid cars or checking green ratings of hotels and airlines the environmentally conscious traveller is increasingly choosing Australia's eco-friendly tourism products.

Eco-tourist destinations now attract about 15% of the global tourist market with TripAdvisor, one of the world's largest travel community website, polling 1,000 travellers worldwide and discovering that one-quarter are considering going on an ecotourism trip and 38% per cent of respondents said that environmentally-friendly tourism is a consideration when travelling.

In addition, 9% specifically seek out environmentally-friendly hotels, 34% are willing to pay more to stay at an environmentally-friendly hotel with 25% willing to pay a 5-10% cent premium and 2% willing to pay 10-20% premium.

In 2006, 3.4 million overseas visitors to Australia, took part in a nature-based activity, an increase of 600,000 since 2003 and visits to National and State Parks were ranked the 5th most popular activity with 47% of all international visitors choosing this activity.

Visitors also participated in a range of activities from bushwalking and rainforest treks to whale and dolphin watching and from eco-camping facilities to environmental volunteer projects Australia delivers quality ecotourism and nature based experiences that are easily accessible.

Below is a listing and web site links to some of the eco-tourism and nature based products attending ATE.

1. Ecotourism Australia (National) Booth #218 - The national body for the eco-tourism and nature tourism industries in Australia. www.ecotourism.org.au

2. Tourism Research Australia International Visitor Survey 2006 - www.tra.australia.com

3. Emirates Hotels Australia (NSW) Booth #24 - Emirates is investing US$70 million (approx. AU$ 90 million) to build a luxury, conservation based resort in Australia's Blue Mountains - its first hospitality development outside Dubai. www.wolganvalley.com

4. Kingfisher Bay Resort (QLD) Booth #208 - One of Australia's pioneers in ecotourism, the Kingfisher Bay resort is located on World Heritage listed Fraser Island, the World's largest sand island. www.kingfisherbay.com

5. Mirvac Hotels and Resorts (National) Booth #305 - Mirvac Hotels & Resorts is an Australian owned hotel group with 40 properties located in throughout Australia and New Zealand. www.mirvachotels.com

6. Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park (TAS) Booth #487B - The park operates breeding programs for a range of endangered animals including the Eastern Quoll, Southern Bettong and Squirrel Glider.

7. Phillip Island Nature Park (VIC) Booth #455 - Victoria's Wildlife Island, Phillip Island is an easy 90 minute drive from Melbourne providing provides unique wildlife experiences, from interacting with koalas to the sunset march of the Little Penguins. www.penguins.org.au

8. Sydney Wildlife World (NSW) Booth #114 - Sydney Wildlife World houses the largest variety of Australian animals under one roof and provides a complete all-Australian wildlife experience in the heart of Darling Harbour. www.sydneywildlifeworld.com.au

9. The Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary (QLD) Booth #103B - The Rainforest Habitat Wildlife Sanctuary promotes appreciation and understanding with a little more detail, the intricate interdependence of rainforest fauna and flora by experiencing up close, some of its inhabitants and through this appreciation and conservation. www.rainforesthabitat.com.au

10. Voyages Hotels & Resorts Booth #290 - Voyages is an Australian travel company, providing experience-based holidays in spectacular wilderness locations including the Red Centre, Top End, Kimberley, Queensland and Tasmania. www.voyages.com.au

11. Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park (TAS) Booth #347 - The Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park is a wildlife attraction and tour operation open through the year and at the forefront of efforts to save the Tasmanian devil, which is under threat from a unique new type of cancer. www.tasmaniandevilpark.com

12. Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary (SA) Booth #447A - Winner of South Australia's Major Tourist Attraction and best Ecotourism Product Awards in 2005, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is home to some of Australia's most spectacular arid mountain landscapes. www.arkaroola.com.au

13. Australian Eco Adventures (National) Booth #96 - Australian Eco Adventures was one of the first special interest nature based operators in Australia emphasising experiences and factual interpretations in geology, ornithology, zoology, botany, anthropology, culture and photography. www.ozeco.com.au

14. Bamurru Plains (NT) Booth #384 - This new safari camp located close to Kakadu National Park, offers visitors the experience to live and breathe the natural environment while being afforded all the expected creature comforts of a premium safari camp. www.bamurruplains.com

15. Conservation Volunteers Australia (National) Booth #216 - The Conservation Experience operates weekly in all states and involves active conservation volunteering team-based projects. www.conservationvolunteers.com.au

16. Europcar (National) Booth #35 - Europcar Australia has partnered with Greenfleet, a non profit environmental conservation organisation that specialises in reducing environmental impacts of transport by planning native trees to offset carbon emissions and promoting fuel-efficient technologies. www.europcar.com.au

17. Freeman Productions North Queensland - Cape York Turtle Rescue (QLD) Booth #63 - This unique experience allows visitors to work with Aboriginal rangers securing the habitat of nesting turtles with visitors spending a week camping and working with Aboriginal rangers.

18. Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris (SA) Booth #416B - Gawler Ranges Wilderness Safaris provides nature-based tours led by people who have lived in the outback all their lives. www.gawlerrangessafaris.com

19. Karijini Eco Retreat (NSW) Booth #573 - Exclusively owned by an Aboriginal community this luxury camp set in a national park offers visitors an authentic cultural and outback experience.

20. Rawnsley Park Station (SA) Booth #415B - Whether you want to pitch a tent under the stars or enjoy our luxury Eco Villas, Rawnsley Park Station has accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. www.rawnsleypark.com.au

21. Something Wild Wildlife Sanctuary (TAS) Booth #345B - Something Wild is Tasmania's largest wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary and home to the Eastern Quoll buffer against extinction project. www.somethingwild.com.au

22. The Freycinet Escape (TAS) Booth #340B - Freycinet Escape is a luxury wilderness eco-camp situated within the Freycinet National Park. www.freycinetescape.com.au

23. Undara Experience (QLD) Booth #64B - The Undara Experience features the world's longest lava tube from a single volcano. Explore the Undara Lava Tubes with a variety of tours conducted by international quality Savannah Guides. www.undara.com.au

For more information visit: www.tourism.australia.com/australianexperiences

Report by The Mole on location from ATE 2007, Brisbane

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Eco-Tourism and Nature Based Tourism gaining popularity in Australia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Published on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 Tourism Australia at Australian Tourism Exchange today said that Eco-tourism experiences are gaining new momentum with increasing numbers of travellers looking for 'green' holidays, whether it be choosing Eco Certified tourism products that focus on fostering environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation, 'zero impact' packages, carbon neutral itineraries, hiring hybrid cars or checking green ratings of hotels and airlines the environmentally conscious traveller is increasingly choosing Australia's eco-friendly tourism products.

# data[].attributes.headline
Ecotourism: The Future of Travel is More Than Green - YouTube

# data[].attributes.subject
Ecotourism: The Future of Travel is More Than Green - YouTube

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.entities[].name
Patrick Dixon Futurist Keynote Speaker for Industry Conference

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.entities[].name
Future of Travel Industry Google Travel and Tourism Conference Keynote

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ecotourism: The Future of Travel is More Than Green

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The 2nd Annual Women In Green Forum was held at the Santa Monica Sheraton and attracted a global audience of sustainability professionals. See: http://www.womeningreenforum.com. Ecotourism: The Future of Travel is More Than Green - Rosalyn Salters, Founder, EcoArts Tours Produced by http://www.threesquaresinc.com

# data[].attributes.headline
Responsible Tourism the Future of Travel

# data[].attributes.subject
Responsible Tourism the Future of Travel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Responsible Tourism is the Future of Travel

When I talk to my parents about my travels and explain to them that I've been able to visit over 20 countries in 2 years, I always hear the same thing: "when I was younger, it was impossible to travel to this many places within an entire lifetime, let alone a year." Why? Because travel was expensive! So those of you who think travel is expensive today, take a look at what prices use to be in comparison to workers wages.

Now that travel has become more affordable and less of a luxury option, more and more people are jet-setting off to their dream destinations. That's awesome. What isn't awesome is that the more we travel the more we bring destruction and increased carbon emissions to our globe and to all the countries we're visiting. Unless, we engage in responsible tourism.

A couple weeks ago I attended the World Travel Market London conference and learned a whole ton about responsible tourism that I wanted to share with you. Here are just a couple of their findings:

1. "60% of the trade says the importance of responsible tourism will increase over the next 3 years" - WTM 2014 Industry Report

2. "Almost 9 in 10 say responsible tourism is important to their businesses" - WTM 2014 Industry Report

So how can we be responsible travellers? Here are just a few suggestions:

1. If you're volunteering, volunteer sustainable. Many travellers only visit countries to work with the children and them leave them while feeling a sense of gratification for themselves. This does nothing for the children, but lets you walk away feeling like you've made a difference. Hard reality here - you didn't. If you want to volunteer while abroad, make sure your supporting in a way that is sustainable.- Build a school (if they need one, not just because everyone else does)
- Use your talents (I like to build their social media pages to get international exposure)
- Provide them training
- ...and for goodness sake, please provide them with things they actually NEED, don't assume you know best

2. If you're taking flight after flight without reducing your carbon footprint in any way, this is not sustainable tourism. I am a culprit every once in a while, I have to be honest. Some airlines offer you to pay a 'green fee' which isn't a substantial amount of money and allows you to offset your carbon footprint for that flight. Some flights don't offer this which is a shame, but as responsible tourism becomes more popular among businesses, this is sure to be the future of tomorrow.

3. Natural Conservation is something that tourists often seem to forget about. Of course, many of us would rather explore 'off the beaten paths,' but to what extent? If it is harming the biodiversity in that region, would you do it? Make sure you are well educated on the nature reserves around the area and ensure that while visiting you are helping to preserve and not diminish.

There are a TON of other ways to be sustainable and responsible travellers, I could write an entire book about it. What are your suggestions? Ways to travel responsibly?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Responsible Tourism the Future of Travel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When I talk to my parents about my travels and explain to them that I've been able to visit over 20 countries in 2 years, I always hear the same thing: "when I was younger, it was impossible to travel to this many places within an entire lifetime, let alone a year."

# data[].attributes.headline
Ecotourism is gaining popularity day by day

# data[].attributes.subject
Ecotourism is gaining popularity day by day

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ecotourism gained relevance during the start of 20 century by marking above 5% steady annual growth. According to UN, the ecotourism sector would contribute 25% percent of the world's total revenue from the tourism sector in 2020. Like the two sides of a coin, ecotourism has lots of advantages and certain disadvantages that cannot be ignored.

Ecotourism is all about attracting tourists to nature-blessed locations and bridging the gap between the tourists and local communities. The whole idea is to improve the income of the local people in the tourist destinations and develop the tourist sport with the support of local people. The local people work under tourism organizations as guides and earn their daily bread by taking the tourists around their own location. For example: - hundreds of local people work as rangers and field staffs in the Bwindi Forest . These people even offer food and accommodation to the tourists by which they earn money for living. Since the local people earn income by serving the tourists, they play their part in developing the tourist spots and attracting the tourists.

On the other side, experts highlight the negative side of ecotourism. According to a study, a rare specie of wild monkeys in Costa Rican national park have turned into garbage feeders by eating waste food left out by the tourists. This has adversely affected the health and behavior of these monkeys.

The increased flow of tourists to ecologically sensitive areas could result to environmental degradation . Moreover, tourism is a seasonal business and therefore, the local people cannot depend on tourists for their daily income.

Whatsoever, today people can get details of every nook of the globe sitting at home through Internet. People have started loving to discover new holiday spots ecotourism is going to gain more popularity in the days to come. In our next posts, we will discuss the dos and don'ts that you need to follow while going on a trip to such new holiday spots.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ecotourism is gaining popularity day by day - Welcome to RelaxandJourney.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ecotourism gained relevance during the start of 20th century by marking above 5% steady annual growth. According to UN, the ecotourism sector would contribute 25% percent of the world's total revenue from the tourism sector in 2020. Like the two sides of a coin, ecotourism has lots of advantages and certain disadvantages that cannot be ignored.

# data[].attributes.headline
Travel trends and predictions. Debate on the future of sustainable tourism; a vision for sustainable tourism in 2020.

# data[].attributes.subject
Travel trends and predictions. Debate on the future of sustainable tourism; a vision for sustainable tourism in 2020.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tourism has changed from being a service industry offering you a flight, a room and some food to offering experiences. This trend was famously observed by Gilmore and Pine in their book ' The Experience economy '.

Travel is now more about rejuvenation, adventure, fulfilment, learning new skills and 'being more of who you are' than just ticking off places and things and flopping in the sun.

This represents a big challenge for legacy tour operators and online travel agents offering flight and hotel packages and all inclusive resorts. The family who was satisfied with this 10 years ago now wants to go mountain biking or whale watching. Read more about experiential travel and how tourism became a dirty word.

By 'experience' we often mean access to other people's cultures, ways of life, food and environments. At Responsible travel we believe that these things are only possible when local people buy into this idea, and benefit fairly from tourism. We believe Responsible travel is more experiential or authentic than other forms of tourism. This trend explains why Airbnb is keen to try to position itself as about ' belonging ' and experiencing a place 'like a local'.

In the luxury sector we see wealthy people who are more likely to spend money on experiences than objects – jewellery, watches etc. This is a further demonstration of the experience economy and there is a sense that people value memories more than some physical possessions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The future of travel and tourism. Travel trends and predictions. Helping Dreamers Do

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Tourism has changed from being a service industry offering you a flight, a room and some food to offering experiences. This trend was famously observed by Gilmore and Pine in their book ' The Experience economy '.

# data[].attributes.headline
4099Presentation 0.1 Kelly Bricker - full presentation.pdf

# data[].attributes.subject
4099Presentation 0.1 Kelly Bricker - full presentation.pdf

# data[].attributes.headline
What future does ecotourism have? - Quora

# data[].attributes.subject
What future does ecotourism have? - Quora

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Year 2017 us the international year of sustainable tourism.
What is Ecotourism?
Ecotourism is made up of two words, Ecosystem and Tourism. Ecosystem is the system in which we live and includes earth, water, sun and all living and non-living things. Tourism means, travelling for happiness. Thus, Ecotourism is a tourism which involves visiting an Ecosystem.

The conventional form of tourism is not eco-friendly, and is not close to the nature, thereby, also called non-sustainable tourism. On the other hand, ecotourism is a sustainable tourism which emphasis on conservation of nature, education, spreading awareness to emphasis traveller responsibilities to keep up nature.

Ecotourism-Sustainable Tourism and benefits

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Answer (1 of 3): Ecotourism is a growing Market and is expected to grow during the forecast period due to the rising concerns of reviving the nature. Moreover, Ecotourism attracts travelers because of their fresh environment. In addition, most of the families have working couples with hectic sche...

# data[].attributes.headline
Is the future green? | Travel | The Guardian

# data[].attributes.subject
Is the future green? | Travel | The Guardian

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you happen to be on a MyTravel flight this summer heading to the sun, watch out for a short film being shown as part of the in-flight entertainment. A cartoon character called Hatch the Turtle will be introducing children on board to the concept of sustainable travel. It's the idea of the Travel Foundation, a charity largely funded by the UK tourism industry, and it's symptomatic of the trade's current angst that it needs to be doing much more when it comes to improving the often negative environmental and social impact of tourism around the globe.

Travel Weekly, tourism's trade publication, recently ran an editorial in which it challenged readers to confront this issue - and fast: "This industry needs to set out where it stands on the environment. Polite notices about putting out towels to clean in hotel rooms don't wash with an increasingly green public . . . This issue is not going to go away. Tobacco firms knew for 20 years that advertising and smoking bans were inevitable and fought to ensure they came out the best they could. What is travel's strategy to protect itself? We might make people's dreams come true, but there are those who argue travel contributes to future nightmares."

This concern was also reflected last month in Washington DC at the World Travel and Tourism Council summit - an annual gathering of the industry's great and good. Under one roof were around 100 leaders of the sector's largest companies, including Marriott, Disney Resorts, Emirates, easyJet and Kuoni. Talk in past years has been largely of maintaining economic growth and overcoming the threat terrorism and natural disasters present to tourism. But also on the agenda this year was how this $1.6 trillion-a-year industry, that employs one in every 11.5 workers on the planet, can keep growing, as it most certainly is, without trashing the very assets - the pristine beaches, the ancient ruins, the mountains, the centres of culture - on which it so greatly relies.

Unsurprisingly, there was talk about the increasing demand for ecotourism - long billed as a panacea for tourism's ills - and, crucially, whether it can move beyond the industry's fringes and ever be integrated into mainstream tourism.

There was plenty of applause ringing out when this year's Tourism for Tomorrow Awards - which reward the world's best examples of ecotourism - were handed out at the summit. This year's worthy winners included the Sierra Gorda biosphere reserve in Mexico, the Campi ya Kanzi walking safaris in Kenya, and Hotel Punta Islita in Costa Rica. But what wasn't discussed amid the backslapping was what exactly is meant by "ecotourism" - a term that has long been open to abuse and misrepresentation. After all, any destination in the world can proudly boast they cater for ecotourists. There are no defined "rules" and no widely recognised certification scheme - as there is with, say, Fairtrade coffee or organic food - that would act to reassure the fast-rising number of tourists keen to reduce their impact when on holiday.

Kerala state in southern India has long been known for its ecotourism, particularly around the backwaters near Cochin. Indeed, it was shortlisted for the best destination award this year at the summit. It didn't win, but the judges' citation noted its efforts and vision for "undertaking a wide variety of projects focusing on conservation, preservation, community development and raising awareness of the importance of responsible tourism development to both communities and visitors".

But back in February a letter was sent from concerned tourism workers in the state to the judges urging them to abandon their decision to consider Kerala for the award. The letter talked of the unsustainable extraction of ground water in tourism hotspots, pollution of the backwaters caused by tourism, the impact of sex tourism, and poor waste management. "It has been clearly demonstrated that the claim that tourism is a vehicle for developing the environment in the state is highly questionable at best and unfounded at worst," it concluded.

The letter graphically illustrated how the problems will persist if ecotourism remains a self-certifying system and is too widely cast when used. After all, how can a whole state be labelled as such when there are, like any large tourist area, thousands of hotels ranging wildly with regard to environmental best practice? Just as we rely on the ratings and recommendations of Michelin, AA, Fodors, Les Routiers, Lonely Planet and the rest when we travel, we need a robust scheme for ecotourism that has a globally consistent high watermark. The difficulty, of course, will be preventing the costs from being borne by the small operators who are already scratching, often forlornly, for as much of the tourist dollar as they can get. We, the tourists - as guests wishing to enter someone else's home - must be made to pay.

Expedia recently announced it had teamed up with the UN Foundation to establish the World Heritage Alliance, a scheme that aims to raise ring-fenced funds through tourism in order to preserve the 800-plus world heritage sites - the Pyramids, the Great Barrier Reef, the Galapagos Islands etc - and the communities that live close by. But the scheme, while laudable in its aims, also raises the vexed issue of whether, as with flying, the future may need to be one of travel by quota. Even if our money is being spent "sustainably" and with a guarantee to enrich the local economy and preserve the environment, can more and more of us just keep visiting these places without restriction, as all the forecasts predict?

Communities living in the shadows of the Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu, for example, have long urged a cap on visitor numbers to help limit damage. Would a more sustainable future be based on, say, the Bhutan model, whereby tourists are charged a minimum $200 a day in order to restrict numbers, but still secure benefits for the local economy?

Again, as with flying, what we pay for our holidays today does not in any way reflect the lasting impact our visit can have on a destination. If we demand ever-cheaper holidays, we can't be surprised that costs are cut at the destination with obvious negative effects. And as the trend for experiential holidays increases - we now have a generation raised on gap years and minibreaks, as well as fit, well-off babyboomers entering retirement, neither of which are sated by two weeks on a sun lounger - so our footprint increases further still.

In contrast to the last-minute, have-it-all tourism that we enjoy today, we must develop a mindset that it is an honour to visit another country and, as guests, we must tread with tentative, respectful steps. Hopefully, this is what Hatch the Turtle will be telling the travellers of tomorrow this summer.
CO2 emissions
By plane Return to Washington DC 1.65 tonnes
Topics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you happen to be on a MyTravel flight this summer heading to the sun, watch out for a short film being shown as part of the in-flight entertainment. A cartoon character called Hatch the Turtle will be introducing children on board to the concept of sustainable travel.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Next 20 Years of Ecotourism | Green Money Journal

# data[].attributes.subject
The Next 20 Years of Ecotourism | Green Money Journal

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By Megan Epler Wood, 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 current work, as the head of the Planeterra Foundation ( http://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 (http://www.eplerwood.com ) has devoted itself to aiding some of the poorest countries in the world with sustainable tourism development. Megan is presently the 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.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By Megan Epler Wood, 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.