Although travel provides a fantastic opportunity to build cultural and environmental awareness, it’s no secret that the tourism industry isn’t always the most ethical and eco-friendly. From the carbon footprint of transportation, cruise ships, and large resorts to unethical practices of underpaying local staff and using animals for entertainment, traveling responsibly isn’t always easy. As climate change and loss of biodiversity become an increasingly serious problem, is there any way we can continue to travel without negatively impacting local cultures and society, nature, and wildlife? Eco-tourism is the answer.
But what is eco-tourism? How is it changing the face of the tourism industry? And how can you get involved? Let’s dive into it!
What is eco-tourism?
Traveling responsibly and refusing to support unethical and environmentally destructive practices is a great starting point, but eco-tourism takes it a step further. It’s more than just neutralizing the impact of travel; it’s having a positive impact at the same time. Eco-tourism involves initiatives that respect the environment and give back through conservation efforts, sustainable development, empowering local communities, and fostering environmental awareness. All of these efforts help protect the biodiversity of our oceans, wildlife, and the planet as a whole. The aim of all eco-tourism activities is to unite conservation, sustainability, and communities. It provides socio-economic benefits to all by addressing the demand from tourists while improving the well-being of local communities and environments.
The benefits of eco-tourism
Eco-tourism is beneficial for tourists, communities, the environment, and wildlife for several reasons. These include:
Providing educational opportunities to the global community
Protecting local cultures
Increasing environmental awareness
Reducing the negative contribution of tourism to climate change
Preserving sensitive natural environments
Raising awareness of the social issues in other countries
Creating income opportunities for the local population
Providing a more fulfilling and authentic experience for tourists
Encouraging the use of sustainable resources
Protecting local wildlife and supporting biodiversity
Empowering local communities to use sustainable practices
Examples of eco-tourism initiatives around the world
There are tons of amazing eco-tourism initiatives and opportunities around the world that you can get involved in! Here are some of the main pillars of eco-tourism that you can explore if you’re interested in traveling more responsibly, sustainably, and ethically.
Eco-friendly accommodation
The accommodation you choose when going on a trip can significantly impact your environmental footprint when traveling. But it also provides an excellent opportunity to choose eco-friendly accommodation options that prioritize sustainable practices like using renewable energy, zero plastic usage, local food sourcing, using repurposed materials in construction, reducing water usage, environmentally-friendly sewage treatment processes, and offering low-impact excursions/activity options. Some fantastic eco-friendly accommodation options leading the movement include Bardessono Eco Resort and Spa in California, Arenas Del Mar Beach & Rainforest Resort in Costa Rica, and Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort in Aruba. Or, for budget travelers, check out Impact House in Lisbon, Portugal, and El Jardin de Frida in Tulum, Mexico. You can also use platforms like BookitGreen, Kind Traveler, and Fairbnb to search for eco-friendly and community-friendly accommodations around the world.
Volunteering
One of the most fulfilling eco-tourism opportunities available is volunteering with some of the game-changing organizations in the industry that work on everything from wildlife rehabilitation to habitat restoration and sustainable development. No matter what you’re interested in, volunteering with these organizations gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with local communities and wildlife in a way that most mainstream tourists don’t get to. Not only does it mean giving back and improving the lives of animals, local people, and the environment, but it’s also incredibly gratifying. Check out the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Globalteer, and GoEco to find unique opportunities worldwide. At ProShot, we work with Saving the Blue, who are on a mission to recover and restore a variety of threatened marine species (especially sharks). You can join them on an expedition where you’ll get the opportunity to participate and contribute to research activities.
Sustainable travel methods
The reality is that almost every form of transportation requires energy, but some are more efficient than others. The aviation industry alone contributes to as much as 3.5% of the emissions responsible for climate change. As a tourist, you will inevitably need to use transportation when you want to travel, but choosing more efficient options can dramatically reduce your impact. Instead of taking taxis, Ubers, or renting cars, choose to take buses or trains. Not only are they less expensive, but shared transportation is much more efficient and gives you a chance to enjoy the scenery around the area.
Regardless of what method of transportation you choose, eco-tourism means traveling slowly. It can be tempting to visit every hotspot when traveling, moving as quickly as possible from place to place. Not only does this mean more emissions from transportation, but it also means that you will miss out on the opportunity to truly experience the culture and develop connections and understanding with the local people. When you’re not rushing, you can use more eco-friendly travel methods like simply walking around the area or renting a bicycle for the day to explore. Many cities have rent-a-bike programs where you can pick up and drop off the bikes at various areas around town. This is a great way to get around and see cities from the eyes of a local.
Ethical, eco-friendly, and community-friendly activities
The activities you take part in when traveling all have an impact, and you can choose whether that’s positive or negative. Choose experiences that won’t negatively affect the local community, wildlife, or environment. And even better, select ones that actually have benefits.
Community- and culturally-friendly activities
Talk to the locals, and ask them what is best to see and do. The local community can provide more insight into activities that are more authentic and culturally friendly than Google ever could. You could even hire a local as a guide to take you on a hike or biking tour. Many local people run free city walking tours (donation-based) where they show you around town by foot, allowing you to get a feel for authentic local culture and support a local person. You could also take a cooking class run by a local, using locally-sourced ingredients to prepare culturally authentic foods or a local dance class. These are all great examples of eco-tourism.
Educational experiences
Take the initiative to learn and truly understand how our planet has changed as a result of human impact and what we can do about it. Visit places where the impacts are the most apparent, document your experiences and share them to increase awareness. You can visit the glaciers in Iceland and Greenland to see how they've receded due to rising temperatures. Or bring money back into the communities in The Bahamas and Puerto Rico, who've been dramatically impacted by extreme weather. You could also take an eco-friendly tour of the Amazon Rainforest, where you can see the impact of deforestation and learn about the conservation and sustainable development projects there, or an ethical wildlife safari in Africa. The more educated we all are, the better we can make responsible choices.
Ethical activities
Something to keep in mind is that a lot of animal tourism is unethical. Tourists love wildlife experiences, but it often comes at a great cost to the well-being of the animals. You should avoid any activity that allows you to hold, ride or touch animals. They do not enjoy this; it causes them immense stress, and it’s part of an animal exploitation industry that has a negative impact on wildlife and disrupts their natural patterns. Activities that involve animals in captivity, like zoos or aquariums, should also be avoided unless they are a legitimate sanctuary or rehabilitation center. In these cases, tourists should have no contact with any animals being prepped for release but may be able to observe long-term residents from a distance. Beware of glorified zoos that call themselves “sanctuaries,” as there is still a lack of regulation around naming conventions. The Global Sanctuary Federation has a database where you can find legitimate and accredited sanctuaries.
Eco-friendly underwater experiences
Another great way to have ethical and eco-friendly traveling experiences is in the water! Eco-tourism involves educational activities that allow tourists to have amazing adventures while generating environmental awareness and supporting conversation efforts. And there are some great ways to do this from the water (after all, it does cover 71% of the world). Snorkeling and scuba diving are incredible ways to observe wildlife and underwater landscapes, and as long as these activities are done consciously, they are ethical, eco-friendly and can even aid in conservation efforts! Always go with local guides who will take you to safe, designated areas to help you avoid disturbing protected reefs, and never try to touch wildlife (but you can take lots of underwater photos using a waterproof phone case. And make sure that you’re using reef-safe sunblock when participating in any water activities.
What is eco-tourism, and what does the future look like for the industry?
It is our hope that eco-tourism continues to grow at the rate it is. According to EBSCO Sustainability Watch, it has a growth rate of 10-30%, making up about 5% of the overall travel market. The fact that you’re even here reading about it means that there is growing interest in traveling more sustainably, which is incredibly encouraging. Eco-tourism, at its core, is there to support and protect our planet, wildlife, and local communities, and we must ensure it stays that way. As the demand for eco-friendly travel options grows, there is no doubt that there are those who may try to exploit it. There is a risk that eco-tourism could turn into mass tourism if not effectively managed. The best thing we can do collectively is to do our research, make conscious choices and continue to support the incredible eco-tourism initiatives that are truly making a difference.
