According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), ecotourism is defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education.”
What most of us know as the ecotourism movement started in the 1970s; the concept is intimately intertwined with the environmental preservation efforts of the time. Activists and biologists started organizations and awareness campaigns to try and protect swaths of land and biodiversity.
The term “ecotourism” is sometimes used interchangeably with sustainable, ethical, conscious, green, responsible, or mindful travel/tourism. However, to be considered ecotourism, a trip must meet six guidelines established by the International Ecotourism Society (IES):
- Minimize the impact of visiting the location (i.e.- the use of roads)
- Build respect and awareness for the environment and cultural practices
- Ensure that the tourism provides positive experiences for both the visitors and the hosts
- Provide direct financial aid for conservation
- Provide financial aid, empowerment and other benefits for local peoples
- Raise the traveler’s awareness of the host country’s political, environmental and social climate (Author edit: this includes your OWN country!)
Ecotourism is a Complex Concept
Like anything else, there are differences of opinion as to what ecotourism really means. As such, many initiatives can’t be viewed in terms of black and white—rather, we must think in shades of grey. Nothing is perfect!
For example, some elephant sanctuaries in Thailand allow tourists to walk with and bathe with the elephants in a river for a fee. You might look at this and say it’s inhumane to require the elephants to interact with humans. But think about this: it’s incredibly expensive to rescue, feed and provide medical care for these (often abused and severely mistreated) large mammals. This is an unfortunate situation all around but personally, I think it’s better for the elephants to walk with visitors than to be ridden or used for begging in the streets of major cities. As a general rule, anywhere that allows you to hold, feed or ride wild animals should be avoided altogether. I’ll definitely write a longer post about animal tourism in the future.
For the purpose of this blog, I’ll try my best to adhere to the standards put forth by IES. Number one may be a problem since I’m traveling in a van at the moment and will be using roads, but I plan on setting up camp for weeks at a time, so won’t be driving much during the periods in between stops. For me, it’s not about being perfect, but about making an effort where you can and always learning more about Mother Earth and the little things you can do to help protect her.
Beware of “Greenwashing”
Just because a company offers nature tours or operates in remote locations does not mean it is truly ecotourism.
A perfect example of this is Tulum, Mexico, where I lived during most of 2016. Tulum attracts a privileged crowd and nearly every beach hotel markets themselves as “eco-chic,” “eco-friendly,” etc. The ugly truth, however, is that many of those establishments were anything but environmentally friendly. Many were owned by foreigners, powered completely by gasoline generators, and seeped toxic raw sewage into the very reefs and cenotes that visitors swam in.
This isn’t to say that people shouldn’t visit Tulum. But if you do, make sure to do your research. Ask questions about how the tourist facilities are powered, if they offer recycling (and where it is disposed of), where the food they serve comes from, if they have pools or attractions with wild animals on the property, etc. The same goes for any vacation destination. For example, many resorts in Cancun offer opportunities to swim with dolphins in a pool and have your picture taken with then. I won’t patronize those kinds of places, and actively speak out against them.
Ecotourism In Action
In addition to the IES principles, here are a few more actionable steps to travel more sustainably:
- Fly less; travel closer to home.
- Recycle. Call ahead to make sure your lodging offers this service.
- Use water responsibly (don’t leave water running, limit bathing time).
- Use homestays instead of staying in large chain hotels/resorts
- Purchase sundries and souvenirs from local artisans whenever possible.
- Cycle, walk or use mass transit instead of driving.
- Don’t feed wild animals.
- Don’t patronize circuses and animal parks like SeaWorld that profit from making animals perform tricks; instead, view animals in their natural habitat (with respect) when possible.
- Always respect local people, cultures and traditions—even when you don’t agree with them.