EcoTourism Home > Ecotourism > Ecotourism definitions
Today many different types and definitions of ecotourism
exist, however The International
Ecotourism Society
(TIES) give the following definition which has been widely accepted:
"responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."
This means that travelers must think and act responsibly in all aspects of their holiday experience in order to minimise their impacts on the environment and local community.
In addition, ecotour companies must hold principles and practices that seek to either preserve conserve the environment and wildlife whilst protecting and empowering the local people.
The following principles should be followed by everyone who implements and participates in ecotourism activities:
Minimize
impact
Build
environmental and cultural awareness and respect
Provide
positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
Provide
direct financial benefits for conservation
Provide
financial benefits and empowerment for local people
Raise
sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate
Support
international human rights and labor agreements
You may have come across some of the following terms that closely related to ecotourism :
Agro-tourism:
This concept is a direct expansion of ecotourism, which encourages visitors
to experience agricultural life at first hand. This type of tourism is gathering
strong support from small communities as rural people have realised the benefits
of sustainable development brought about by similar forms of "green tourism".
Visitors have the opportunity to work in the fields alongside real farmers
and wade knee-deep in the sea with fishermen hauling in their nets.
Community based Tourism:
The aims are to enable participation from the local community in the development
and operations of tourism with their consent and support. Another important
feature is that a reasonable share of the revenues are enjoyed by the community.
This type of tourism also maintains and respects the local culture, heritage
and traditions. Often, community-based tourism actually reinforces and sometimes
rescues these. Community-based tourism also implies respect and concern for
the natural heritage, particularly where the environment is one of the attractions.
Nature Tourism:
This interlinks with ecotourism however it concentrates more on enjoying and
respecting the wildlife and the environment without the educational element
present in ecotourism.
Pro-poor Tourism:
This type of tourism is set up in developing countries as a means to improve
the local economy for local people. It enhances the linkages between tourism
businesses and poor people, so that poverty is reduced and poor people are
able to participate more effectively in tourism development. The aims of pro-poor
ranges from increasing local employment to involving local people in the decision
making process. Any type of company can be involved such as a small lodge
or a tour operator. The most important factor is not the type of company or
the type of tourism, but that poor people receive an increase in the net benefits
from tourism.