Ecotourism, sustainable travel,
responsible travel... the overall goal is to have an enjoyable vacation
while not doing harm to our destination, its people, or the planet.
These travel industry concepts have roots in consumer interest in
conservation, environmental
consciousness, and social responsibility.
The International
Ecotourism Society defines Ecotourism as "responsible travel to natural
areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of
local people."
Why might my vacation be un-eco-friendly?
There are several issues, but here are a few examples:
- From a social responsibility perspective, tourism is a
significant "export" in many developing countries - however the
construction of large resorts often displaces local people from their
homes and very little of the profit stays in the local economy.
- Water overuse is very common for laundering of linens and towels,
but many hotels now participate in linen and towel re-use programs,
such as Project Planet.
- Environmental damage stemming from the introduction of large volumes of tourists into fragile geographical areas.
Due to increased awareness of these issues, sustainable and nature tourism are growing every year.
Interested in making your travels easier on the planet?
When filling out your reservation request , let us know that you are interested in making your travel green!
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