What is ecotourism?
Ecotourism,
eco travel, eco-lodges and just generally being "eco" have become
popular tourism sales pitches. What is true ecotourism? What defines an
eco-lodge or an ecological company? How is the surrounding community involved?
And finally, is ecotourism such a great thing anyways?
The pros and cons of eco travel
In order to
truly understand ecotourism and all of it's attendant pros and cons it is
necessary to do some background research. This page offers an introduction to
the topic along with several links to more detailed information. The basic
definitions below have been adapted and clarified from commonly used travel
industry lingo. Some of the links are to articles that help further define
ecotourism, some promoting, some critical, but all are thought provocative and
informative.
Responsible traveler's purchasing
power
The goal of
this section of Untamed Path's website is neither to sell nor devalue
ecotourism but rather to explore it as a concept and to help create better
informed travelers who ask lots of questions before, during and after their
trip. Well informed travelers choose their guides, travel companies and lodges
from a position of knowledge. This purchasing power can be the driving force
behind positive or negative impacts on the places we visit.
Defining the experience
There are
almost as many terms to describe types of travel as there are travel companies.
A couple of buzzwords that you often hear these days are
"Eco-Tourism" and "Adventure Travel". To further confuse
the issue there is also "Sustainable Tourism", "Responsible
Tourism", "Nature Based Travel", "Green Travel",
"Multi-Sport Adventures" and "Cultural Tourism".
The following
are Untamed Path's definitions based on common usage.
Eco tourism
Perhaps the
most over-used and miss-used word in the travel industry. But what does it
mean? The Ecotourism Society defines it as "responsible travel to natural
areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local
people". A walk through the
rainforest is not eco-tourism
unless that particular walk somehow benefits that environment and the people
who live there. A rafting trip is only eco-tourism if it raises
awareness and/or funds to help protect the watershed. A loose interpretation of
this definition allows many companies to promote themselves as something they
are not. If true eco-tourism is important to you, ask plenty of questions to
determine if your trip will help "conserve and improve" the places
you visit.
Adventure Travel
Another term
which is heavily used by marketing departments. While travel to another country
is often adventurous it is not necessarily "Adventure Travel". Most
dictionaries define adventure similarly: "an unusual experience including
some level of risk and uncertainty". Adventure Travel includes this idea
of perceived risk and oftentimes some unconventional means of transport. A dugout canoe journey deep into the Amazon basin with it's
attendant difficulties meets this definition. While a city tour of Paris might
have some level of uncertainty it is not by definition "Adventure
Travel". If you love true adventure you probably already know this and can
see through the hype to find the real thing for yourself.
There is sometimes a
distinction made between "soft" and "hard" adventures. Soft
adventures have a lower level of risk, greater comfort in accommodations and
are less physically rigorous. Hard adventures often have very basic facilities,
higher risk factor and greater physical challenge (ie: mountain climbing, backpacking or
river expeditions).
Sustainable Tourism
Any form of
tourism that does not reduce the availability of resources and does not inhibit
future travelers from enjoying the same experience. If the presence of large
numbers of tourists disturbs an animal's mating patterns so that there are
fewer of that species in the future then that visit was not sustainable. Kayaking school on a free flowing river is an example
of sustainable tourism. Big game hunting in Africa is not.
Responsible Tourism
Tourism which
operates in such a way as to minimize negative impacts on the environment. A wilderness camping trip using "leave no trace"
ethics would be considered responsible tourism while dune buggy tours would
not.
Nature-Based Tourism
A more generic
term for any activity or travel experience with a focus on nature. Remote jungle lodges fall into this category as do cruise
ships to view penguins in Antarctica. These types of trips may or may not be
environmentally sustainable or responsible.
Green Tourism
Often used
inter-changeably with eco-tourism and sustainable tourism but more accurately
described as "any activity or facility operating in an environmentally
friendly fashion". A lodge with composting toilets, gray water system, and
solar powered lighting is probably "green". There are varying degrees
of "greenness"; an awareness of where resources are coming from and
where wastes are going is at the heart of the idea.
Multi-Sport Adventures
These trips
have a focus on physical outdoor activities. Rafting,
mountain biking, climbing, surfing, diving, etc. all offered in the same
package. Not necessarily sustainable or eco but might be since many companies
want to protect the areas where these activities take place.
Cultural Tourism
Interacting
with, understanding and learning
about unique cultures is the
focus of this style of trip. The concept of learning from other cultures to
broaden ones’ perspective is usually a core value. An artisan showing you how
to weave a tapestry and learning from them about their traditional dress would
be a form of cultural tourism. Buying crafts in the market with no more
interaction than the exchange of money does not provide the insight into
another culture that is the central theme of cultural tourism.
Clearly all of
these definitions are debatable. What one person or company calls
"eco" another calls "sustainable" and so on. The main
distinction between these terms is the motives and ethics behind them. Is the
environment being cared for? Is there genuine effort to help the local
economies? Are resources being left intact for future generations? Is the local
culture being honored and valued and not just photographed? These questions
will cut through the semantics and allow you to see what is really being
offered.
At Untamed
Path we've blended many of these ideas together to create our own unique form
of travel. We place a high priority on preserving the places we visit, both
environmentally and culturally. We enjoy active outdoor pursuits so many of our
trips incorporate these sports but never at the expense of the natural world or
the people who already live there. However, we don't make claims to be
something that we can't live up to and are constantly reassessing our trips for
ways to improve their ecological and cultural soundness. All of our trips contain elements of adventure travel,
eco-tourism, multi-sport and cultural travel. We operate in a focused,
responsible and sustainable fashion and make sure to always have fun along the
way.
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