Figuring out What the Heart of Ecotourism is Really All About
Ecotourism is a new concept to many, as even though its been around since at least the 1980s, its still not nearly as popular a concept as some feel it should be. Understanding what ecotourism is all about will help to determine for you what the heart of ecotourism really is.
Understanding the heart of ecotourism, or what the word really truly stands for is the best way to get to know the concept and to decide for yourself whether or not its something youre interested in participating in.
What Ecotourism is All About
The heart of ecotourism for many is simply to help preserve the lands of our World. Its to learn about our cultures and the way nature survives, so we can help insure life for thousands of more years to come. Some particular things that ecotourism is known for are:
Ecolodges-
Areas of land that are either purchased or leased by someone, and then turned into natural sources of lodging for ecotourists. More like camping than lodging, these ecolodges are very popular spots for tourists, making it an essential part of the heart of ecotourism. Ecolodges can be found through agencies that cater to ecotourism, or through methods of word of mouth.
Preservation-
Whether by the community who runs an ecolodge or the tourists themselves, preservation is a huge part of the heart of ecotourism. Animals, plants, land and even buildings and structures are made to stay preserved because of ecotourism. If there was no ecotourism, there would not be enough interest generated to preserve as much of the world as we do now.
Distant Lands-
Lands that in the past were left unexplored and even unreachable are now available to tourists due to ecotourism. Far off communities have taken the heart of ecotourism by the roots and found ways to open up lands for conservation and exploration that had previously been unattainable.
The Heart of Ecotourism is What You Make of It
In the end, the heart of ecotourism is what you feel it is. There is no right or wrong answer here its more the meaning of ecotourism to you and what it stands for. Whether its because of preserving land, having the opportunity to explore previously unknown places or just the thought of what ecotourism stands for, the heart of ecotourism is in the eye of the beholder.
Ecolodges
Nevertheless, there are certain differences between mass tourism and eco-tourism and we need to explore these to arrive at an informed decision about which one is better and also to learn how to improve both forms of tourism.
Ecotourism examples abound and can be seen in the instance of places such as the Lamanai area situated in the north of Belize, and in this regard much effort is being expended in not destroying the many attractions that such a destination has for its eco-tourists. Being the first global ecotourism conference since the designation of the year 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourism, this conference had the goal of reviewing and also celebrating the many achievements accomplished by the ecotourism industry and also to assess the future challenges that lay ahead. This is not to say that an instructor should bring a sense of alarmism with him towards the issue. Places would create projects for ecotourists to complete when visiting, whether it was restoring a piece of land or planting very needed trees.
Such a scenario is not as unlikely as we may assume and global warming is a very real threat that may lead to many disastrous situations in the not too distant future.
Excursions to watching birds is something we may all be familiar with and this is just one good example of what ecotourism is all about. Alarmism never works and will more than likely backfire if employed. Ecotourism in general is a trend that is taking shape in our modern day concept of tourism that involves preserving our environment which means incorporating certain social as well as ecological concerns.
Unfortunately, the environment is something that many people take for granted, so new ways have to be thought of to attract people to the environmental plight.
Economic benefits are the most direct and are seen in better employment and more income. There are also hills where green tea is grown and there are also many bird sanctuaries as well as heavily wooded forests and a lot of wildlife as well. Unfortunately, there is a significant volume of the population that is not entirely familiar with ecotourism as they possess a surface value understanding of the subject. |
