ThoughtCo.(2019, May 25) An introduction to Ecotourism. Retrieved August 25, 2019, from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-ecotourism-1435185.
Ecotourism is loosely described as travel with a low environmental impact, that educates those visiting about the local culture and ecosystem. Ecotourism began in the 1970s, but only became a seriously used means of travel in the 1980s. Because of its popularity, many different companies based on ecotourism exist. Due to its popularity, certain guidelines have been created in order for a trip to be labeled ecotourism, have minimal impact on the environment, build respect and awareness for local conditions, provide direct financial aid to both the local people and conservation efforts. There exist a few criticisms of ecotourism, the main ones being the increased amount of tourists, tourists dependant cities or governments, and unbalanced wealth within the local populations.
This article provides background information on ecotourism. It delves into the history of the industry, and how it came to be so popular. It goes on to warn the reader of possible ecotourism scams. This article also tries to remain a rather unbiased account of the whole situation. It provides not only the pros of ecotourism but also the cons. Finally, the article ends with some consumer advice on how to make sure, your ecotouristic vacation is as agreeable and fulfilling as possible.
I definitely see the benefits of ecotourism. I think it is sustainable and an effective way to prove that economic success and environmental success can coexist and actually support each other, if done carefully.
Ecotourism definitely seems like a great idea. A single plane flight directly translates to a chunk of ice being taken out of the poles, meaning that our travel affects the environment greatly. Do you think ecotourism will become a large phenomenon, or will it remain in obscurity relative to how big traditional travel and tourism is?