Ecotourism

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This article is a travel topic.

Ecotourism involves visiting natural areas with the objectives of learning, studying, or participating in activities that do not bring negative effects to the environment, whilst protecting and empowering the local community socially and economically. It's an increasingly popular approach to travel, as concerns about human impact on the world have grown in recent decades.

[edit] Environmental issues

By encouraging travellers to behave in an environmentally responsible way, EcoTour operators offer information on how travellers can minimize their impact on the ecosystem and contribute to the protection of fragile ecosystems. They may offer travellers the opportunity to participate in conservation or preservation projects. An important element of this type of project is education. The goal is that through participation, eco travellers will return home with increased awareness and concern for environmental issues and therefore continue to behave in an environmentally conscious way.

[edit] Social issues

By involving the local community in aspects of planning, decision-making, ecotourism empowers individuals.

EcoTours may educate travellers through leaflets, interpretation and advice from tour operators or guides about the culture, customs and etiquette of locals. This may prevent conflict between locals and travellers that might have been caused through misunderstanding or ignorance.

[edit] Economic issues

By employing local people whenever possible and paying fair wages, ecotourism seeks to prevent exploitation. This benefits the local economy by preventing leakages of the revenue acquired through tourism.

Many Ecotour operators are involved in working on initiatives and projects with the local community such as training and education programs.