If you are an avid traveler and enjoy planning your vacations well in advance, you may have seen the words ‘Ecotourism’ and ‘Green Travel’ splashed across the headlines of your favorite travel blogs.
The term ‘ecotourism’ has become somewhat of a buzzword in the travel industry, but what does it actually mean? Ecotourism is a form of travel that aims to minimize your impact on your travel destinations. This impact ranges from environmental through to physiological impact on the communities you venture through.
It is widely accepted that global tourism contributes to overcrowding, pollution and the exploitation of wild landscapes. Becoming an ecotourist and choosing to support ecotourism is a way for you to contribute to solving global climate issues whilst still enjoying your travels.
Participating in ecotourism is also thought to enrich your travel experience as you become more connected with your environment by engaging with local communities.
Does becoming an ecotourist sound like the right choice for you? We’ve created 6 simple ways to become an Erickson Ecotourist this Summer.
1. Book local eco-friendly accommodation
Eco-friendly accommodations are generally known to be very energy efficient, conscious of their carbon footprint, participate in local recycling projects and generally work towards being self-sustaining. Booking local eco-friendly accommodation is the easiest first step to becoming a certified ecotourist.
2. Skip on the daily hotel room cleaning service
By skipping hotel clean-up services you are directly reducing the amount of water, energy and harsh chemicals that are being used each day by your host.
3. Support the local economy
Choose to eat and shop locally and select authentic tourist activities. This includes shopping for locally made souvenirs that use sustainable materials like wood. Doing so directly returns profits back into local communities. Local knowledge is often richer and choosing local is likely to open your eyes to greater cultural insights and perspectives.
4. Walk the talk and take public transportation
Walking is a great way to explore the streets and taking public transport is another way to tour through local eyes. Public transport often uses the least amount of energy!
5. Ditch the single-use plastics
By now we know that single-use water bottles and straws are a no-no. A simple way to curb single-use plastics is to take a reusable water bottle and shopping bag with you wherever you go. If you can remember to bring a reusable straw or just opt out from one - that’s even better!
6. Take the hands-off approach to wildlife
The urge to reach out and touch the beautiful thing that is in front of you is real. But the damage to the natural balance of the ecosystems can be devastating. Imagine if every human were to remove something natural from the environment, we would be living in a world displaced.
Committing to being an ecotourist may require a little bit of effort, but it can make travel more meaningful and we think you’ll agree that it is comforting knowing that you are choosing to support local people and communities. Ultimately, as an ecotourist, you are contributing to the future job creation and longevity of the spaces that you are traveling to.
Tara Panton has a BSc Honors degree, specializing in marine biology. She currently works in the Marketing Department for Erickson Coaching International. Tara is an avid Ecotourist and is passionate about traveling, scuba diving and lifelong learning.
