22. Ecotourism

Tourism is a powerful and sometimes dangerous force in the modern world. Tourism can save cultures and the local way of life but it can also destroy them. Tourism can help to protect environments, plants and animals, but it can also damage them. So problems of ecology are very important nowadays.

Ecotourism is environmentally friendly and it also benefits local communities. Ecotourism is called responsible and sensitive tourism. Some tourist companies advertise jungle treks, scuba diving and other expeditions as ‘nature tourism’. But the popularity of these activities has caused environmental problems. Like mass tourism, mass jungle trekking can damage the ecosystem and the living and working conditions of local people.

Tourists only think of what they pay for food, travelling and accommodation. Nature for them is free. It is not so. The natural environment will be destroyed if tour operators and tourists don’t change the way of thinking.

Tour companies must provide travellers with a pack of instructions on how to behave and what to do to best preserve the cultures and places visited. The key factor in minimizing damage through tourism is to keep groups to a manageable size and then you can control how they behave. People now go on holiday to restore ancient monuments or clean up beaches. There are programmes to protect wildlife habitats in Kenya and Tanzania, to save the rhino, veterinary programmes and so on.

It is important to educate visitors so that they are sensitive to both the physical and the cultural environments of the area they are visiting.

Ecotourism in practice

New Tourism is tourism that is sustainable, environmentally and socially responsible, and mutually beneficial to visitors and host countries.

Tourism Intelligence International.

We are committed to developing, operating, and marketing tourism in a sustainable manner; that is, all forms of tourism which make a positive contribution to the natural and cultural environment, which generate benefits for the host communities, and which do not put at risk the future livelihood of local people.

Article 1.3 of the Statement of Commitment, Tour Operators’ Initiative

Being an ‘eco-friendly’ tour operator or travel agent brings many benefits such as reduced costs, wildlife conservation, cultural understanding, and more ecotourists. Here are some guidelines to consider for a ‘green’ travel agency or tour operator.

Economic policy

How much of your profit is returned to the local community and wildlife projects?

Choose a project that interests your company, such as rhino conservation or village water supplies, and set yourself a goal, create the timeline with your staff and then inform your clients of your goal.

How do you support local camps and villagers that provide the traveler with local gifts?

Do you give your clients tips on what to purchase? Do you purchase local gifts to give to your clients? Do the lodges and camps you use have a local handicraft shop?

Environmental policy

How do you offer local environmental insights for your travelers?

Do you give your clients the Kenya Wildlife Service Park Regulations, a great guide to the ‘dos and don’ts’ of wildlife watching?

How do you reduce environmental impact with your tours?

How do you ensure that your drivers don’t drive off the road in national parks? Explain to your clients the potential damage of off-road driving and ask them to help protect the parks by not asking the driver to do so.

Are your staff trained to be co-friendly?

Do you have an eco-policy briefing for new staff? If not, ask one of your staff to mentor new staff on your company’s eco-policies.

How involved are you in regional initiatives to conserve the environment?

Start looking for partners that will help you, help themselves, and protect the wilderness areas at the same time!

Social responsibility

What pre-departure cultural information do you provide the traveler?

Create pre-departure information that provides helpful hints on how to visit local cultures. Give background information on cultural ‘dos and don’ts’ for each area your client is visiting.

How do you introduce the local culture to your travelers?

Do you work with the camps and lodges to create cultural talks and tours? Do you allow the clients to spend time with the local tribes while traveling?

How many of your company’s staff are local citizens?

Working with local citizens gives you the local information that you and your clients need.