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.

Tourism in Mexico.

Mexico is the seventh most popular tourist destination. Tourism in Mexico is growing very quickly; it is the second after the oil industry. The government and business recognize the importance of tourism for the country. State and business organizations develop a modern tourist infrastructure, improve tourist facilities and services. Mexico offers beach holidays, cultural and exotic tours.

The north of the country is associated with cowboy films, great mountains, deserts, canyons, plains, and giant cacti. In the south you can find green tropical plains and spectacular rainforests on the Atlantic coast. Picturesque coastal sites and beach resorts, such as Acapulco, Merida, Veracruz, La Paz, Cancun are favorite tourist destinations.

There is something very special about the Mayan culture and the beauty of their great stone cities and pyramids in the jungle. We know that they had a very good knowledge of astronomy. They observed and predicted the phases of the moon and solar and lunar eclipses. Today there still remains the mystery of their sudden decline and disappearance before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16^th century.

Mexican food is hot and spicy. Don’t miss the chance to try Tex-mex! It’s delicious. It’s a good idea to buy souvenirs in the markets. They sell a lot of Indian arts and crafts, so ceramics and rugs are nice gifts for your friends and family.

Well, Mexico is a wonderful place to relax and find out more about the world and people.