What is Ecotourism?

What is Ecotourism?

Ecotourism is defined as "responsible travel that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves education of society". How does ecotourism work? Why it is important? How can we put the main principles into practice?

As a movement starting to take shape in 1980s, the concept of “ecotourism” is an umbrella term for many terms such as sustainable tourism, green tourism, nature tourism, responsible tourism, ethical tourism, careful travel, conscious travel, etc. Regardless of its names and technical differences, the common point of this philosophy is its focus on environment-friendly practices in travel industry. In short, the belief that a destination should protect natural and cultural heritage and support local communities.

What is the Definition of Ecotourism?

Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, a famous environmentalist, was recorded in the literature as the first person to use the term ‘ecotourism’ in 1983 and the first person to define ecotourism. Today, the original definition of Epler Wood, the director of International Sustainable Tourism Initiative, is as follows: “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and increases the well-being of the local people.”
It is a general fallacy to assume that ecotourism is about protecting nature and wild life. Since it is not ecotourism if a destination does not provide tangible financial benefits for the local community.

NGOs such as The Center for Responsible Travel have expanded the concept of Epler Wood to provide a more in-depth definition for ecotourism. Currently CREST defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and provides information and cultural understanding for all relevant people (including personnel, travelers and community members) through education.”

What is the Goal of Ecotourism?
Ecotourism is an approach that combines protection of nature, wellbeing of communities and sustainable travel. Implementors, participators and marketers of ecotourism activities need to adopt the following ecotourism principles:

• To minimize negative physical, social and behavioral impacts of tourism.
• To raise environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
• To provide positive experiences both for visitors and hosts.
• To provide financial benefits both to the local community and private sector in order to protect nature.
• To provide experiences to tourists that help raising awareness for environmental and social climates of host countries.
• To design, build and manage tourism facilities with low-carbon footprint
• To form collaborations in order to protect local communities’ rights and to increase their wellbeing.

According to the above principles, ecotourism includes all activities based on nature which enables tourists to understand and appreciate natural and cultural values. It aims to be ecologically, economically and socially sustainable. It requires to contribute in the wellbeing and protection of natural areas and local communities in which it operates.

These contributions may be tourism practices including educative experiences/activities. Moreover, it tends to choose local businesses as service provider partners in the destinations. The goal is to provide an experience that minimizes negative impacts on natural and socio-cultural environment. Ecotourism also focuses on creating economic benefits for local communities, organizations and authorities. Creating alternative employment and income opportunities in the local region is one of the goals. Ecotourism also aims to increase awareness about the protection of natural and cultural assets among tourists and local people.

 
What Does Ecotourism Include?
• To protect nature
• To prioritize conservation of fauna and flora species.
• To conduct waste management.
• To create funds to conserve natural resources.
• To enable protection of cultural heritage.
• To make environmental emergency arrangements.
• To inform visitors about natural and cultural values and world heritage status.
• To report suspected violations, events and pollution.
• To enable monitoring for protected areas and their utilization.
• To support local and indigenous communities.
• To educate personnel as well as tourist who visit the destination.

What are the Principles of Ecotourism?
Ecotourism is essentially focused on long-term sustainability rather than short-term profits. It is concerned with bringing together people who protect nature/wild life, local communities and responsible travel industry in order to enable local development. 

The aim is to develop touristic accommodation facilities, activities and attraction centers that all relevant people (local community, travel industry stakeholders and travelers) would benefit from. 

With this mission in mind, ecotourism industry has developed a series of guiding principles in the last couple of years. The principles of Global Sustainable Tourism Council may be listed as follows;

1. Creating Environmental and Cultural Awareness
Education is an important part of ecotourism initiatives both for local communities and visitors. Most of these efforts focus on raising awareness, making people more sensitive for environmental problems and making them aware about their impacts on the places they visit.
Some tour operators develop protection training programs for local schools. They provide the assistance of interpretative guides, natural scientists and guest academics to help deepen the understanding of travelers about their experiences.
Protecting the environment and nature is probably to most important element of ecotourism. It aims to provide long-term, sustainable solutions to conserve biological diversity and nature.

2. Designing and Operating Efficient Facilities
The aim in ecotourism is to minimize carbon footprint of travel on the environment. Therefore, it is imperative that ecotourism facilities are designed in a conscious manner, from utilization of alternative energy sources to local sourcing of all structural materials.
​
3. Providing Financial Benefits for Protection
Using the income obtained from ecotourism for creating funds to protect nature and wild life is not a new idea. This type of practices goes back to the establishment of USA National Parks Service over 100 years before. When properly managed, ecotourism is the most effective solutions for negative phenomena such as unplanned urbanization, deforestation, unsustainable agriculture and illegal poaching.

4. Providing Wellbeing for Local Communities
Ecotourism should provide financial benefits for local communities through direct (tours, entrance fees and donations) or indirect means (such as travel or accommodation taxes). In general, best results are obtained when the local communities are more engaged in all steps of tourism development process.

5. Supporting Human Rights
Ecotourism initiatives must try to support human rights, economic empowerment and democratic movements in a certain destination. It must raise awareness about socio-political and environmental problems a certain destination faces and support local businesses and local residents’ rights to protect their land and assets.
Ecotourism prioritizes increasing employment opportunities and empowering local communities. Thus, it helps to fight against global social problems such as poverty and contributes in sustainable development.

Why Ecotourism is Important?
Ecotourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in tourism industry.
If managed in a sustainable manner, ecotourism provides alternative income resources for local communities and enables decreasing poverty by creating employment. 

According to a study published in National Sciences Academy Proceedings Book, it was revealed that the communities in the regions surrounding the protected areas in Costa Rica have lower poverty rates compared to the areas which are not close to the protected parks. 

Ecotourism emphasizes sustainability and threatened or endangered species and offers unique travel experiences focused on nature and education. Incomes obtained from ecotourism are generally directly spent for protection of natural areas which are visited.
​
Potential Risks of Ecotourism
In certain situations, ecotourism may harm the ecosystem as it may help it. It is especially imperative to be careful about ‘greenwashing’ which we hear frequently of late. Practices which are not green and sustainable may be marketed under the name of ecotourism, and this may finally harm the environment.
Moreover, infrastructure works conducted to host more visitors as the ecotourism activities become more popular may wear down the nature. In summary, crowds may create more pressure on local resources, cause land loss due to increased pollution and erosion and harm flora quality. Ecotourism should not be conducted with a mass greed and the balances should be protected.
​

Ecotourism on a Personal Base
Being a more responsible traveler is the best way to make your adventures positive for local people and the planet. Although it may seem that being an environmentalist in an individual level does not create an impact, we can create s social difference when we become more conscious about our preferences. What we need to do are below listed simple practices and habits;

1. Conserve Water
Take shorter showers, turn off the faucet when shaving and brushing your teeth and use hotel towels without changing them for a few days.

2. Save Energy
Close the lights, heating, air conditioner and TV when leaving your hotel room. Consider leaving “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to prevent the housekeeping personnel cleaning your room every day. This provides savings on hard chemical cleaning agents and on electricity from vacuuming and washing bed sheets.
​
3. Buy Locally
Research local craftsmen and get informed about their crafts, support local producers, artisans and craftsmen.

4. Leave Only Your Footprints in Nature
Stay on the marked tracks in order to avoid harming endemic vegetation and bring a bag with you to collect trash during your trip.

5. Be a Traveler, not a Tourist
Take time to get to know the local music, arts and cuisine. Embrace cultural differences. Learn about the local people and their perspectives on life. You may be surprised what you can learn when you open your mind to new ideas! Understand the traditions and respect them.

6. Be A Smart Shopper
Read the labels and ask questions such as “What material is this product made of?” All over the planet people sell products made of precious trees and endangered species in an unsustainable manner! Be aware and careful when shopping.

Ecotourism Offers the Opportunity to Be Responsible for Nature
Jane Goodall, a world-famous environmentalist, says "We would care if only we understand. We would help if only we care. We would be saved if only we help “. Therefore, ecotourism starts with educating tourists who visit the natural areas and local people living there. Ecotourism also educates children and creates new generations of nature lovers.