Ecotourism

Note: I wrote this earlier in the term and forgot to post it. 

One of the fastest growing travel industries is ecotourism.

What is Ecotourism?

Is it simply an effort to make traditional tourism less damaging? Maybe just another case of greenwashing? Or is it something else all together?

Let's face it, traveling can have a huge impact. Air travel contributes to ummm... a shit ton of global warming, and many mega-resorts do a poor job of being sensitive to the local culture and ecology.
What's more, many of these resorts look like they could be in any number of tropical locations. They provide a highly generic experience designed to make tourists feel comfortable and safe in a new place, and many tourists don't even venture out of the confines of the resort.


Here's a typical resort in Cancun Mexico:

How are eco-resorts different?

First of all, these properties are usually designed with local culture, architecture, and ecology in mind, often with input from the people living nearby. Efforts are taken to use environmentally-friendly construction materials and to design buildings for maximum energy and water efficiency. Employees are paid living wages and some are even included as part-owners. Customers are treated to a highly customized experience, with regionally inspired food, interaction with locals, and low-impact outdoor adventures. Rather than being buffered from reality, ecotourists are encouraged to engage and learn about the prevalent environmental, social, and political issues in the places they are visiting.

One of my favorite experiences was an eight-day trek with Mountain Lodges of Peru. The trip began in the Incan capital of Cusco, and we were transported to an active trail in the Andes. We hiked a few miles to the first of four lodges where we were treated to local food and beverages and introduced to our guides, both of Quechua descent. Guides were careful to educate us on local etiquette and religious customs so that we could have the smallest negative impact possible. We continued to walk several miles a day for the next 6 days, through cloud forests, high alpine tundra, and deep jungle, making sure to pay our respects to Pachamama along the way.

The money brought in to many resorts is used for a wide variety of positive impacts, from education to species conservation, in addition to economic growth and voluntary wealth redistribution (yeah, i said it). Travelers often become invested in the places they visit and become voices for the oppressed and disadvantaged, with many even choosing to return and contribute in impactful ways. 

Not everything is perfect in eco-tourism. Many resorts are more talk than action when it comes to sustainable practices, and air travel still has a major impact. Some even exploit the locals in the name of ecotourism. But it's a start, and much less damaging than giant cruise ships and megaresorts, and many eco resorts are doing amazing work.

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