As sustainable development and environment protection have become main international issues, tourism around the world noticed this new trend and beagn to offer new travels to customers based on a more responsible approach of travelling.
Prejudice about ecotourism is wrong : this new way of travelling is certainly not an embarassment for tourists. Defenders of this touristic approach actually insist on the fact that it’a perfect way to spend a good holiday, but also to be responsible for environment and to encourage a lasting economic development.
This kind of tourism improves local economies and protects local cultures and environment thanks to the economic value it brings to ecology. Ecotourism appears to be a sort of fair trade applied to tourism and therefore embodies an example for the rest of this industry. Thus, ecotouristic travels agencies underlight their contribution to help threatened natural or cultural spots.
Mainly dedicated to nature, this activist tourism underlines the necessity of teaching tourists how to protect nature but also to preserve cultural diversity. Insisting on the welfare of population, ecotouristic travels help to fight against poverty in developing countries.
Thus ecotouristic travel agencies apply a strict ethic policy and try to avoid usual drawbacks and negative consequences of tourism such as prostitution, social divisions, plundering of local ressources…. In fact, this new way of travelling does not simply limit its ecological impact but takes an active role in the protection of the local environment.
Neithertheless this kind o travelling is quite restricted, only a few agencies offer ecotouristic journeys, which are often more expensive than the average ones. But national policies have been implemented in countries like Costa Rica or Ecuador to develop this industry on a larger scale.
Ecotouristic destinations around the world
Bulgaria
Around Dobarsko, Bulgaria With strong organisations defending the protection of local landscapes, this country has kept amazing countrysides despite massive Russian investments to build fabrics or concrete touristic villages. Many villages decided to implement an ecotoristic approach, willing to make visitors discover their culture while protecting local forests and fields. Like in Dobarsko, two hours away from Sofia the capital city, a pioneer in ecotourism where the inhabitants are particularly welcoming.
Yosemite National Park, USA
Yosemite National Park Eco-tours in the Yosemite park offer many activities focused on education and protecting biodiversity : photography, birds and trees identification, family’s activities through hiking. These tours give their whole benefit to the park and participate actively to the different programms implemented by the state to maintain this amazing place.
Ecuador
Pacific Coast, Ecuador Well-known for its biodiversity, Ecuador is now more concerned about its touristic potential and the authorities decided to implement several environmental certifications for ecotourism in the country in order to prevent the destruction of species. The country is incredibly rich for its wildlife and also the native culture. Thus 40% of the population is represented by Indians who are particularly attached to their traditions. Between the Pacific Ocean, the Amazonian Rainforest and the Andes, this dreaming destination is one of the most important place for our natural heritage.
Dogon’s region, Mali
Teli, a village of the Dogon’ region in Mali As tourism had destructed this region for years through its social impact, international agencies have got involved in the development of tourism in this region since 2007. With its unique culture and its fantastic architecture such as villages built in cliffs, eco-tours insist in this country on the necessity to protect cultural diversity but also to be concerned about ressources since Dogons use far less water for instance than international visitors.
Kerala’s region, India
Nila River, India As the Nila River was about to dry, a new travel agency The Blue Yonder was created in 2004 in order to develop a tourism more responsible concerning environment. This agency is now a reference in India and even won several international ecotouristic rewards. Among the activities they offer, several are underlined such as discovering of the local culture: cooking, traditionnal music, trekking, visits of farms. This successful initiative allowed the agency to develop its activities in other threatened regions of India.
If you want to discover this new way of responsible traveling, go and visit the website of the International Ecotourism Society to have more informations about all ecotouristic destinations.
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