What is Ecotourism?

More fun when you are travelling! Since some years, ecotourism defines values of resources otherwize difficult to estimate. What does that mean? Well, a jaguar somewhere in the Pantanal region in Brazil is now worth more Alive than Dead, because of its attraction power on the tourists. It has become a veritable magnet, earning the locals lots of income from tourism. Or think of whale safaris: the former whale hunters that have turned around to tourism are now earning ten times as much as they used to, and this without depleting the main resource for their income: the whales themselves. More than 10 million people have been on a whale safari. This is serious fun!

Internationally, ecotourism is defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." (The Ecotourism Society)

The same definition was given by the Swedish World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in 1994 and by the Swedish Ecotourism Association in 1996.

Agreeing upon what ecotourism really is, this means that those who work with or participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following principles:

  • Minimize impact on the destination's nature and culture
  • Sustain the local economy
  • Work in a sustainable way, both in the office and on location
  • Actively contribute to the conservation of nature and culture
  • Promote the joy of discovery, knowledge and respect
  • Ensure safety all the way through the activities, and be a trustworthy business partner

Source www.ekoturism.org and its organisation for ecotourism labelling Nature's Best www.naturensbasta.com (Sweden)

The International Ecotourism Society www.ecotourism.org

The association that is the "mother" of all, where theory hits the markets and gets tried on for size.

 

World Horse Riding
Email: michele@worldhorseriding.com
Telephone: 0039 333 3006836

 World Horse Riding promotes sustainable travel that benefits the local regions we visit, by making the following efforts:


 Supporting the local economy:

All of our guides are long-time residents of the regions we visit. All produce and food items are either grown on the farms or purchased in situ to support the local commerce. Souvenirs are bought from the local crafts cooperatives or shops, and all made by local artisans.

 Minimal use of vehicles:

We utilize horses or our own energy for transportation as much as possible, by riding horses, hiking, biking, kayaking etc. We use small vans only when necessary to transport the group and luggage over longer distances, or when there is no alternative.

 Local projects:

We contribute to different projects of conservation of nature at each of our destinations.

 Small groups:

Our group size hardly ever exceeds 8 people. This not only because the quality of the experience is higher, but it also minimizes our impact on the local scene.

 Become a member:

Even if you can not be a founder of associations or work actively within ecotourism, you can help those who do! If you love nature, and would like it to remain uncontaminated for many years still, with the aid of sustainable tourism, you can do something concrete: Become a member of an Ecotourism Association!
For more information, go to one of the sites of the associations mentioned to the left, or look up one in your own country!
We all need your help.
 

Copyright © 2009 Cristiano Michele Dolcetti/World Horse Riding. All rights reserved.

Principal website photographer, Staffan Widstrand. All rights reserved ©.

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