SUSTAINABLE ECO-TOURISM

COMMITMENT TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE ECO-TOURISM

Ecotourism, a movement that began to take shape back in the 1980s, is the oldest and most commonly used word for it. More recent industry buzzwords include sustainable tourism, green tourism, nature tourism, responsible tourism, ethical tourism, mindful travel, conscious travel, pro-poor tourism, and many others. 

Regardless of what you call it, the central concepts that these philosophies share in common are that the travel industry as a whole should adopt more environmentally friendly practices, protect the natural and cultural heritage of a destination, and support local communities.

Sustainable Ecotourism

Sustainable ecotourism is responsible travel to protected or vulnerable natural areas that focus on environmental conservation/education while sustaining local communities’ economic and social well-being. For ecotourism to be sustainable for generations to come, it must include all three pillars;

1. Environmental Pillar: Through market-linked long-term solutions and effective economic support, ecotourism promotes the conservation and enhancement of local natural and cultural heritage and the biological diversity.
2. Social Pillar: Ecotourism represents a great opportunity for capacity building, empowerment of communities and increase of employment opportunities, while respecting sustainable development principles.
3. Cultural / Educational Pillar: Ecotourism promotes the interpretation of natural and cultural heritage, which is the processes of understanding and appreciating local nature and society. Additionally, ecotourism provides a unique opportunity for mutual cultural exchanges between local communities and guests.

Brief History of Eco Tourism

Ecotourism was established through the growth of mass tourism and rise of environmental awareness. The phenomenon itself existed long before the term was introduced. 

 17th and 18th century - Age of the Grand Tour, a traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class young European men visiting places of natural and cultural interest (mostly France and Italy).

1797 - The naturalist Alexander von Humboldt and the botanist Aime Bonpland had five-year journey through Mexico, Colombia, the Orinoco and the Amazon basins.

1835 - Darwin’s expedition on Beagle. His visit to the Galapagos islands is of crucial importance for the composition of On the Origin of Species (1859).

1848 - Alfred Russel Wallace and Henry Bates expedition to Amazon rainforests.

19th century - Yellowstone National Park (1872, US), Royal Park (1879, Australia) and Banff Park (1885, Canada) are established as “natural area for protection and recreation in the form of natural parks”

1950s – The Golden Age of Capitalism: postwar economic boom and beginning of the mass tourism.

Late 1960s - Early 1970s - First steps of the environmental movement. Recognition of the potentially devastating effects of mass tourism.

1965 - Ecotourism coined as a term by Dr Nicolas Hetzer, who identified four pillars: minimizing environmental impact, respecting lost cultures, maximizing the benefits of local people and tourist satisfaction. Ecotourism was established through the growth of mass tourism and rise of environmental awareness. The phenomenon itself existed long before the term was introduced.

1983 - The term is used again by the Mexican environmental architect Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, who defined it as “the tourism that involves travelling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with the specific object of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural aspects found in these areas”.

1990 - Foundation of TIES - The International Ecotourism Society in Florida (USA).

1996 - Publication of “Tourism, Ecotourism, and Protected Areas: The State of Nature-Based Tourism Around the World and Guidelines for Its Development” by Ceballos-Lascurain.

2002 - The United Nations celebrated the International Year of Ecotourism .

19-22 May 2002 - World Ecotourism Summit (WES) in Quebec, Canada where the 8 basic principles of Ecotourism were identified.

2003 - Foundation of The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) by Dr. William Durham and Dr. Martha Honey.

2004 till now - Ecotourism is unanimously recognized as the fastest growing sector of the tourism industry (+10% - 30% per year).

2015 - The definition of ecotourism is now interpreted as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people and involves interpretation and education”.

2017 - The United Nations’ International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

Principles of Eco Tourism

Ecotourism is essentially all about bringing nature/wildlife conservationists, local communities, and the responsible travel industry together to ensure development focused on long-term sustainability rather than short-term profits.

The goal is to develop tourist accommodations, activities, and attractions that benefit everyone involved– the local flora/fauna, the local people, travel industry stakeholders, and travelers alike.

With this mission in mind, the ecotourism industry has collectively developed a number of core guiding principles over the past few decades. Although international regulation and accreditation have remained elusive, these guidelines provide a general blueprint for responsible tourism development.

ECOTOURISM OR GREENWASHING?

The main idea to set criteria for ecotourism is to avoid the spreading of “greenwashing”, a practice understood as a form of “disinformation disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image”.

A business that “greenwashes” will promote either wrong information, or confusing signs that will lead the consumer to believe that their activity has a “green” and ethical side, even if it may be the exact opposite.

The main risks of greenwashing:

It causes degradation of the local economic, environmental and social stability, despite the good will of the customers, and even sometimes of the providers themselves.

It harms the image of some providers who are themselves making efforts to respect the core idea of ecotourism and bring some benefits to the local area.

First Eco Tourism Principles as specified by Mohonk Aggreement

The first attempt to define some criteria specific to ecotourism was the Mohonk agreement, signed in 2000 by the most important certification programs at the time . This agreement provided a framework for defining ecotourism criteria.

According to this document, criteria should provide minimum standards for the following features:

1. Focus on personal experiences of nature to lead to greater understanding and appreciation
2. Interpretation and environmental awareness of nature, local society, and culture .
3. Positive and active contributions to conservation of natural areas or biodiversity
4. Economic, social, and cultural benefits for local communities
5. Fostering of community involvement, where appropriate
6. Locally appropriate scale and design for lodging, tours and attractions
7. Minimal impact on and presentation of local culture

Unsustainable Ecotourism

Tour operators and travel companies may conduct ecotours as a marketing ploy to get the attention of travelers looking for more environmentally friendly travel options. Unsustainable ecotourism may embody only one or two pillars of sustainable ecotourism. Adventure companies or individual travelers may partake in nature-based adventures while disregarding local communities. Others may seek to capitalize on the economic gain of nature-based tourism while exploiting nature. Other companies may lack adequate support and resources to meet well-intended goals. All are examples of unsustainable ecotourism and result in problematic exploitation of natural resources or local communities. 

(Part 2 will be published in the next Newsletter)

Eco-Travel Tip

Respect the traditions of the local/native people get the first hand information of the cultural heritage!

Top Trend of Eco Traveling in 2022

Cultural immersion will overtake lazy beach days

According to one International survey, 45 percent of travelers say they see learning about local cultures as key to sustainable travel. This is supported by 66 percent of people wanting to have ‘authentic’ experiences that give insight into local culture and customs, away from exaggerated tourist attractions.