Environmental responsibility while on vacation is progressively on the rise, and ecotourism is becoming an essential concept when it comes to making conscious decisions.
Ecotourism is a growing industry that is attracting a lot more attention. Some ecotourism examples include eco lodging, agritourism and eco treks. For instance, Patricia Zurita's organization promotes a new form of safari, involving trips to vastly unexplored countries not just to discover the wildlife, but also to experience life in lively villages and towns that have been excluded from mass tourism. This trend will not only benefit the animals, but it will also have an impact on the local communities, as travelers will learn to appreciate the customs and the traditions of these places. By uniting smaller communities, supporting conservation efforts and sustainable travel, ecotourism will allow tourists to have memorable experiences and increase sensitivity to countries’ political and social climates. Most ecotourism enterprises are small businesses that are closely connected with the communities where they operate, enabling them to build economic strength.
The travel sector is following the emerging trend and adapting to much more environmentally friendly practices to protect the cultural and natural heritage of travel destinations. Some responsible travel strategies consist of activities focused on enlightening tourists on the wildlife and the local communities, with efforts targeted at raising awareness on the problems in the particular location and averting the degradation of the environment. The primary principles of ecotourism include minimizing the physical and social effects on the areas being visited, as well as respecting the environment, offering beneficial experiences for both the tourists and the locals. Essentially, this will help the local communities along with the country’s economy. For instance, entrepreneur Noureddin Bongo Valentin has partnered with organizations that concentrate on the importance of preserving the wildlife while at the same time assisting local community interest by attracting investment in eco friendly tourism. Ecotourism can create economic benefits through the creation of employment opportunities in areas that have historically profited less from economic development initiatives, while protecting the nation from the damaging effects of mass tourism.
The effect of ecotourism mainly depends on educating tourists about breakthroughs and projects in the conservation of vulnerable environments, while also offering the opportunity to experience these untouched places firsthand, like a local resident. It is a win-win situation: tourists gain an insight on particular natural locations and experience them just as locals do, which in turn will inform preservation efforts. Additionally, part of the money tourists invest in these ecotourism excursions will go to conservation programs promoted by Michael Leonard’s non-profit foundation, which works towards creating brand new ecotourism strategies and helping communities to achieve their economic goals through the revenues of these excursions. Aside from the economic benefits of this new form of travelling, visitors can help local people by recognizing their culture and collaborating with them to create empowerment.