Category: Conservation

What is ecotourism? According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), it is "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education". Ecotourism is a subset of sustainable tourism. As with any sustainability strategy, regardless of industry, the three foundational pillars are: People Planet Profit. These pillars, aka the triple bottom line, are critical to the success and legitimacy of any sustainable initiative. Sustainable tourism has a unique responsibility to improve the lives of the local community and visitors, stretching their boundaries through education and experiences. This type of eco-friendly tourism offers travelers a rare chance to experience nature in remote areas. The first time I stayed at an ecoresort was in South Africa. Space was limited. It was a very intimate experience. I'll never forget hearing the lions roar at night, eating local food, and learning about South African culture over a warm campfire. Ecotourism does not need to be an extreme example of traveling out of your native land. To summarize, there must be an aspect of the environment, culture, and local financial benefit to qualify as ecotourism. Rapid growth of tourism Take a guess on what market of tourism is the fastest growing? Yup, you guessed it. Ecotourism is the fastest growing market in tourism, important to keep in mind, considering how influential the tourism industry is. Per the World Travel & Tourism Council’s latest research, tourism accounted for 10.2% of the world’s GDP (US$7.6 trillion) in 2016 with no signs of slowing. For the past six years, the travel and tourism industry has outpaced the global economy. Who should go on an ecotourism trip? You! No, but really, you should. Ecotourism can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life, including millennials and baby boomers. Previously, ecotourism was thought to be better left