Every Day Travel Can Be Ecotourism

written on September 16th, 2015 by Rafia Abubakar

 

The first time you see an awesome scene, all your senses tingle, eyes scanning every corner, feeling the wind on your skin, taking in the smell and tasting whatever possible. We’ve all had that moment. A photograph can’t compare to experiencing beautiful scenery.

This is especially true when traveling to a new place. Many times I have said to myself, “I will be back, next time with my family and friends.” It is for such reasons that we should take care of where we visit during our travels. So that others may experience and enjoy what we were fortunate to see.

Over time the need to raise awareness about protecting the natural environment, Ecotourism, has spread like wildfire (no pun intended). As travellers, we should always be aware of our impact on the places we explore. We are merely visitors and we have responsibilities towards our hosts. If the situation were reversed, how would we feel if our home were treated badly?

What is Ecotourism?

Ecotourism as defined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education” (TIES, 2015).

TIES has also laid down the Principles of Ecotourism;

• Minimize physical, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts.
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
• Generate financial benefits for both local people and private industry.
• Deliver memorable interpretative experiences to visitors that help raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climates.
• Design, construct and operate low-impact facilities.
• Recognize the rights and spiritual beliefs of the Indigenous People in your community and work in partnership with them to create empowerment.

 

The Ripple Effect

From those principles we understand that the responsibility lies not only with the hosts but also with the visitors as well. Some people think that a small thing like littering does no harm. “It’s only a small plastic, just this once.” If one does it, and a dozen more does the same, it all adds up. Best not to be that one person who starts it.

As a traveler, you can start with simple things to give back to the beautiful places you’ve visited:

• Bring reusable bags. They are your best bet when you do your shopping. Trust me, lugging around plenty of shopping bags while traveling is not comfortable.
• Bring your own water bottle / canteen and refill wherever you can. It saves you from having to constantly buy water and lessens the plastic waste.
• Admire plants and animals from a safe distance and let them be. They were there first.
• Above all, have the common sense to respect the things, people, places you encounter. Don’t be that person who stomps around nonsensically just to get a picture.

 

To end allow me to share this quote, that speaks volume of how we should treat the beautiful places we visit:

“Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints…”