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The term ecotourism was first brought to the attention of the world when a person named Hector Ceballos-Lascurain coined this word, which describes nature as being the focus of travel tourism which generally takes visitors to places that are relatively obscure and undisturbed, and where the focus of eco-tourists is to become more educated. It has now become a form of tourism that embraces culture, nature as well as leisure and some amount of adventure as well.
Impact Of Tourism Must Be Minimal
The basis of ecotourism is traveling to places of natural beauty and where the impact of tourism is minimal on the ecology and natural resources while at the same time building awareness of the environment and providing financial benefits to promote conservation. It also respects the culture of the local surroundings and communities, and emphasizes human rights rather than exploitation.
Ecotourism means becoming enlightened and participating in travel to experience the environments of different places and also to get a dose of culture as well as nature and to also promote tourism and also the welfare of the host country, and its resources are to be conserved rather than exploited, and so provides benefits to all the players involved in ecotourism.
Ecotourism, if we are to go by the World Tourism Organization’s information is the fastest growing market within the growing global tourism space, and ecotravel is being opted for as an alternative to mass tourism by more and more people worldwide.
Today, our society is becoming increasingly more aware of the need to conserve our ecology and natural resources, and along with being able to travel to exotic locales has drawn many more eco-travelers now than at any time in the past. And, even countries all across the globe are promoting their natural resources as well as their unique local tourism facilities so that more people choose ecotourism over mass tourism.
There are many businesses too that are engaging them in construction of camps and lodges as also trails and tours that facilitate the eco-tourist, and a continent that is particularly engaged in ecotourism is Africa mainly because of the many numbers of game parks and reserves that are ideally suited for ecotourism. With amazing wildlife, outstanding bird life as well as the many natural wonders, it is little wonder that countries in Africa are the most suitable destinations for ecotourism. Nearly every country on this wonderful continent has unique appeal and a trip to Africa for ecotourism will be sure to take pride of place in the hearts and minds of every eco-tourist.
Labels: Ecotourism, Tourist |
