So What Exactly is Ecotourism?
Moreover, the emphasis is on supporting the local way of life, not merely reducing harm done by the tourist. However, this doesn’t mean that the your experience becomes unpleasant — on the contrary, it’s quite the opposite. It may seem uncomfortable to adapt to the situation at first, but an appreciation and fondness tends to develop with every passing day.
Its value is rising high every year, as travel is becoming increasingly accessible. More and more people are travelling to parts of the World that were never open to tourists before. If anyone cares about nature, the environment, and local inhabitants, they must ensure that to follow steps that are sustainable while traveling.
It’s also important not to be misled by the comforting words on travel packages. A vacation isn’t “ecotourism” merely because it states so on the label, and numerous corporations will promote holidays as Eco-friendly without substantial justification. It’s necessary to exercise caution and stay away from people who try to lure clients by utilizing eco-advertising.
Why is Ecotourism so Important?
Pleasures that come with the experiences of traveling are usually associated with exciting, picture-perfect backdrops, unique food and diverse conversation with interesting locals.And all of this is true. Tourism embodies the spirit of experiencing new ways of living; empowers us to go beyond learning facts about locations. Involving ourselves in the culture around us, and building lasting memories are part and parcel of what travel is about. But more often than not, we tend to lose ourselves in the excitement of something new. Touring around the world may be fun for us, but maybe not so for the life and ecosystems we visit. Animal shows in theme parks, safaris that cross through the middle of a habitat, plastic waste that gets thrown on the beach… These are things we do not really think of while travelling. And it’s not just animal or plant life – indigenous locals are exploited daily, for their craft and lifestyle to make tourism more popular in those areas. A rise in ecotourism enables us to immerse ourselves in the culture and surroundings of a new place whilst being respectful of their origins. Some of the reasons why ecotourism is important include:
1. Ecotourism is Valuable for the People and the Planet
2. Ecotourism is a Learning Experience for Everyone Involved
3. Ecotourism promotes Economic Stability
We are a part of a society full of diverse people who live off the land and depend on whatever nature provides. Commercial vacation attractions may be placed in a particular area, but that doesn’t imply it returns back to these communities. On the contrary, it tends to be quite the reverse effect. Many tourist attractions damage the surrounding areas, polluting the air with gases, water with chemicals and taking away the land’s fertility. Huge companies tend to change local’s lifestyles depending on what will be most monetarily profitable. These things lead to people often relocating, which is a mentally and physically taxing process.
Visiting these local attractions may be a thrilling experience, and you may think that the funding you contribute to these areas goes back to the the community. However, this is not always the case. Ecotourism helps to keep locals’ livelihoods intact whilst educating the tourists on their way of life. It does not take away from the land, instead, the emphasis is on giving back. This encourages local enterprise, and adds to local employment and later, economic stability.
4. Ecotourism Reduces our Carbon Footprint
During your trip, choose guided areas that propose tours on foot. This is the most eco-friendly way to travel, although not that convenient. Each city has a different way of doing shared transport, such as metro lines or public carpool. Trolleys, hybrid vans and even community cycles offer convenient means of the travel for both visitors and locals.
And there you have it! 4 reasons why ecotourism is important, and what you can do to practice it. We hope you enjoyed this article, and it gave your more perspective on what to look out for when travelling. If this inspired you to pack up your bags and go, then wait! There’s one more step: the visa processing! Applying online for a visa online has never been easier; with Visa2Fly here to help. If you’d like more travel inspo, feel free to check out our other blogs on Danish Delights and the wonders of Finland. Happy travelling!