Eco-Tourism
Eco-Tourism: A Transformative Experience of Culture, Community, Conservation, and Adventure
Traveling is an exciting way to experience cultures, often mass tourism has adverse affects on travel locations. Mass tourism is linked to negative externalities caused by capitalist influence. This factor led organizations dedicated to eco-tourism to begin their mission focusing on sustaining and protecting the earth and all living beings. Eco-Tourism creates jobs, positively impacts local and indigenous communities, and seeks to preserve wildlife and nature. It expands education in an exciting, hands-on manner for travelers; which has been shown to increase advocacy for injustices that are vital to sustaining nature and wildlife. If you are a person who loves to travel and wants to experience culture in a more direct way that creates positive externalities, eco-tourism is for you!
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Protesting Mass Tourism in Spain
Activists in Spain have launched a spate of attacks in Barcelona and in Palma de Mallorca against what they consider to be uncontrolled mass tourism.
“Our action is not an attack on tourists, but on those people that profit from the touristic model, accelerating and worsening the negative consequences for our city.”
Mon Repos Sea Turtle Conservation Surveys their Effectiveness on Creating Advocacy
Mon Repos Conservation Park gives tourists surveys after their experiences viewing and learning about the Sea Turtles to measure how effective their educational values of non-consumptive economics are impacting visitors. By establishing a conservation tourists site to observe Sea Turtles, “Sea turtle viewing also convinced the visitors about the urgency of protecting/taking action to conserve sea turtles in Australia and elsewhere. A large majority of the respondents (87%) were convinced of the need to take action to conserve sea turtles."
Explore Eco-Tourist Destinations
Organizations such as Wilderness Safari, Sukau Rainforest Lodge, and Luna Lodge are wonderful, well established resources to begin seeking eco-tourism adventures. Their websites explain in more detail the pro-active concept eco-tourism has made on these location sites. Their websites also show how outside communities connect with local communities to collectively benefit, creating a continuing ripple effect of prosperity.
For more eco-friendly travel options, click the 'travel resources' tab above and click the 'plan your trip' tab below for eco-friendly travel agencies.
Get Involved
GOOD FOR BUSINESS. GOOD FOR THE PLANET
"EarthCheck is the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism. As a group of qualified sustainability experts, we know that what can be good for the planet is also good for business. We assist governments, businesses and destinations to deliver clean, safe and prosperous destinations through our strategic consulting services and technology solutions as well as through our certification and capacity building programs.
We have appointed an EarthCheck Coordinator, who has the responsibility and skills for monitoring our ongoing environmental performance. A dedicated Green Team has been established to assist in the reporting on the organization’s environmental performance, mitigation of environmental risks and monitoring environmental initiatives and sustainability programs."
Want to get involved? Click below to learn more or inquire employment.
Marcela's Experience
I had the privilege of attending a study abroad program in Ecuador July 2017, I witnessed firsthand the indigenous tribes in the Amazon of Ecuador facing an endless battle with miners destroying land and compromising their livelihood. After witnessing their culture and hearing about their struggles with exploitation, I learned that the indigenous Amazonian communities are in dire need for more advocacy. The Amazonians are seen as “outdated and unintelligent”and thus people are trying to push them off their land which allows miners to completely destroy the ecosystems in these regions of the Amazon. The program I was in is similar to eco-tourism in regards to learning about sustainability through the eyes of the Native communities. This experience influenced me to research eco-tourism in an academic manner that transformed my awareness regarding the impact eco-tourism can make. The objective of ecotourism encompasses virtuous motives through increasing environmental sustainable education, as well as providing financial and advocacy support. This experience has opened my eyes in a humbling manner, and is motivating my future career goals. I want more people to have the same experience. I hope people find this website helpful with interesting information for their future traveling endeavors.
Quote from picture:
"Si nos mandan los mineros no nos vamos a dejar pues pa' eso soy del pueblo y no me canso de luchar."
'Viva los campesinos! Viva la lucha! Viva Iunin!'
Translated to english:
"If you send us the miners we are not going to leave because I am of the people and I am not tired of fighting."
'Long Live the farmers! Long live the fight! Long live the unity!'
Reference Page
“About Wilderness Safaris.” Wilderness Safaris, 2018, www.wilderness-safaris.com/about.
EarthCheck, earthcheck.org/about/.
EarthCheck, https://earthcheck.org/products-services/
“Eco Resort | Osa Peninsula | Costa Rica.” Luna Lodge, Operated and Owned by Lana Wedmore, lunalodge.com/.
“Eco-Trips and Travel What Is Ecotourism?” The Nature Conservancy, 2018, www.nature.org/greenliving/what-is-ecotourism.xml?redirect=https-301.
Sansom, Anna. “'This Isn't Tourism, It's an Invasion,' Say Protesters against Mass Tourism in Spain.” France 24, 8 Aug. 2017, www.france24.com/en/20170807-spain-barcelona-tourism-airbnb-protests-demonstrations-italy-venice.
Sukau Rainforest Lodge, www.sukau.com/.
Tisdell, Clem, and Clevo Wilson. “Economic, Educational and Conservation Benefits of Sea Turtle Based Ecotourism: A Study Focused on Mon Repos .” Ageconsearch, Oct. 2000, ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/55110/files/WP%2052.PDF.
“The World's Best Responsible Travel Organizations.” Volunteer Vacations | Discover Corps, Discover Corps, 4 Nov. 2015, discovercorps.com/blog/best-responsible-travel-organizations/.
Wilson-Powell, Georgina. “Top 12 Eco-Friendly Travel Companies for 2018.” Pebble Magazine, 29 Sept. 2017, pebblemag.com/magazine/travelling/top-10-eco-friendly-travel-companies-in-2017.