Tourism is an activity that annually generates a strong impact on the environment, both locally in the site that receives tourism and globally. With the greatest environmental awareness in recent decades, a trend has emerged that advocates a tourism that is more respectful of the environment, it is ecotourism or also called ecological tourism or sustainable tourism.
In this Green Ecologist article, we analyze how ecotourism influences the environment to better understand all that this movement of tourism that respects the planet in various senses entails.
Tourism is an activity that moves thousands of people around the world and that brings great economic benefits to the country that receives them (and also in the global economy). Despite this, tourism activity generates great impacts on the environment such as the contribution to accelerate climate change, the loss of biodiversity and natural spaces, the excessive use of resources or produce waste that harms the environment. For example, it has been calculated that a tourist on vacation consumes up to 7% more water than a local inhabitant. These environmental impacts are greater in the country that receives tourism, but it also generates impacts at a global level.
Thus, ecological tourism or ecotourism It emerges as an option that respects the environment. Ecotourism offers a greener and healthier alternative to tourists and an improvement in local conditions.
Through the practice of ecotourism, tourists can help to conserve the environment and local conditions, by means of a few simple rules. The influence of ecotourism on the environment, includes:
When deciding on practice ecological tourism, there are a number of tips that can be given:
In this other Green Ecologist article we explain in more detail How to do sustainable tourism.
One of the drawbacks that hinder the development of ecotourism it is the scarce supply and higher cost of ecological products, lack of information and few alternatives to conventional tourism. On the other hand, the provider of these services also faces problems such as lack of demand, mistrust, ignorance, lack of regulation or abuse of the term "eco".
It is recommended to inform yourself well before undertaking this kind of trip, making use of the web or contacting directly with the providers of these services, NGOs or ecotourism associations, although some travel agencies can also find information.
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