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Ecotourism
by Chuck Hall

With summer fast approaching, many people are in the process of planning their vacations. A relatively new idea in vacationing is ecotourism. According to the International Ecotourism Society (www.ecotourism.org), ‘ecotourism’ is “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.”  Ecotourism is about connecting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel.

Ecotourism packages are designed to minimize the impact of travel on the local ecosystem. Instead of tour buses, such trips often use bicycles, hikes, canoes or other non-polluting forms of transportation. Once you arrive at your destination, you get to experience life in the local culture. You might participate in a tribal festival or help with the harvest. You might build a church, school or other needed building. You might use your expertise and training to help the local villagers dig a well, improve their healthcare, or plan their village’s development. Ultimately ecotourism is about learning from and contributing to the local culture; gaining mutual respect, education and maybe even friendship.

Many ecotourism adventures take place in more rural settings in agrarian communities, where people are more in tune with nature and have a deeper appreciation of the growing cycles and seasons of the year. They have learned to take care of the land because they depend upon it for their survival. By vacationing in these locations, you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in cultures that have a deeper appreciation for the benefits of nature. In many ecotourism vacations you will also gain firsthand experience in implementing conservation measures, and the cost of your vacation package will contribute to sustainable development for the people who live at your destination.

Another benefit of ecotourism is the cultural exchange. By participating in the local culture, you become aware of the political situation there. You become sensitive to the political, environmental and economic concerns of the region. With such sensitivity comes awareness. This awareness helps to build community and understanding around the world. You are in effect an ambassador of goodwill, learning about the customs and concerns of other peoples in other nations.

A particular type of ecotourism that environmentalists might be interested in is sustainable travel. Sustainable travel is designed in part for the benefit of the locals. If you have special skills or education that they could benefit from, a sustainable travel package would allow you to volunteer for a brief or extended period to put your skills to work for the local community. For example, if you are a teacher, you might teach a class. If your specialty is construction, you might plan a building for use in the community. If you are a health care specialist, you might set up a clinic. If your specialty is agriculture, you might educate the locals in sustainable crop development. A skilled travel agent can take an inventory of your talents and put them to work in many locations throughout the world. If you don’t have any specialized skills, don’t worry. There are still many hands-on opportunities that require little or no skills. You might find yourself building a home for a needy family, digging a garden, or making a road. The possibilities are endless!

Ecotourism is a hot topic right now, therefore most travel agents have ecotourism packages. Check with your local travel agent for details. If your town’s agent doesn’t offer ecotours, you may also visit The International Ecotourism Society’s site at: www.ecotourism.org.

Bon voyage!

Chuck Hall is a Sustainability Consultant and author. His latest book, Green Circles: A Sustainable Journey from the Cradle to the Grave, is now available at Booklocker.com. You may contact Chuck by email at: chuck@cultureartist.org or visit the Culture Artist Web site at www.cultureartist.org.