Ecotourism: A Vacation Experience with a Conscience
By Sandra J.S. Bean
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“Tourism.” The word brings to mind vivid images of packed buses converging upon a landmark to spill forth eager souls in souvenir tee shirts and khaki shorts. White zinc-oxide-nosed folks click away with their cameras, chattering at warp speed and perhaps forgetting to actually to stop and appreciate the sights. Then they scurry off in an urgent search for plastic hula girls, snow globes and key rings emblazoned with city names to prove they were there.
Do you want more out of your travel experiences? If you are looking for a way to not only explore an area, but also understand it and give back to the community and the planet, you are the perfect candidate for a sustainable ecotourism experience.
The concept of ecotourism embodies respect for the destination community. As an ecotourism traveler, you enter as a humble guest, much like entering the home of another person. When a country welcomes you with open arms, you respond by being conscious, respectful and appreciative. In turn, you then have the opportunity to connect with the place and its inhabitants in a remarkable way.
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improve the well being of local people.” This type of travel provides direct financial benefits for conservation projects and empowers local people. It also serves to “minimize impact, build environmental and cultural awareness, raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental and social climate [and] support human rights and labor agreements” (TIES, 2004). Nurturing a harmonious interdependence between the traveler, the community and the land, ecotourism promotes a healthy business model for the region, while also synergizing an educational, fun experience for the travelers. Tourism without responsibility also epitomizes selfishness. (Imagine a distant cousin who comes for a visit and proceeds to park on the lawn and leave dishes on the counter. Would you perhaps prefer that they stayed home?)
Unbridled fascination can lead to problems in local areas if travelers do not observe planetary and culturally friendly practices. For example, the Seri Indians of Mexico on the coast of the Gulf of California have experienced the negative impact of traditional tourism. Travelers to this area took souvenirs of beautiful Seri ironwood carvings, and the demand of these tourists was so great that non-Indian Mexican workers tried to duplicate and mass-produce them. Instead of stripping away the dead branches of the ironwood trees – as the Indians traditionally did – the workers used machines to harvest the living trees. By failing to observe the Seri methods of sustainable harvest, the ironwood trees – of longtime traditional value to these Indians – have become threatened with extinction. The artisans who once made a living sustainably by creating beautiful works now must secretly harvest in re-stricted areas or else purchase the wood at prohibitively high prices. This is causing both Seri Indian and non-Indian carvers to abandon their craft because they no longer can make a good living this way.
It is important to realize that ecotourism is not simply a “back to nature” type of travel. Although sustainable ecotourism is achieved by understanding and working with the area's indigenous populations and natural resources, travelers must also determine potential secondary and tertiary effects of their visits. For example, divers off the coast of Mexico once discovered that huge manta rays enjoyed having their backs scratched, which removed barnacles and parasites. Soon, the rays began to approach the boats immediately so that scuba divers could offer them rubdowns. Diving boats began running ecotours to see and touch the rays in an effort to create a public awareness of these amazing creatures. Unfortunately, local fisherman got word of the domesticated manta rays and were able to easily harvest them all. By neglecting to respect nature and domesticating the rays, albeit good-heartedly, the tourists caused the rays to become vulnerable to fishermen. Other traditional tourism practices have led to the pollution, destruction and exploitation of natural lands.
As a benign visitor making environmentally sound, re-sponsible travel arrangements, you can minimize the negative impact that tourism has on travel destinations while also providing a realistic living for local cultures so that destructive practices for survival are reduced. Mindful tourism can even break the bonds of poverty. In Savai'i, Western Samoa, the village was offered a large amount of money in exchange for logging rights in the forest that nurtured and supported the community, which was in need of funds to recover from a destructive monsoon. Rather than sell these rights, local chiefs decided to construct a remarkable canopy walkway designed to attract ecotourists to the area. They were able to build the walkway with the help of a loan and charitable donations. The resulting sustainable tourism in the village has not only given them the eco-nomic boost they desperately needed, but it also has provided a way for the population to conserve both the forest and their way of living.
Ecotourism also offers advantages that go beyond satisfying environmental and social conscience while experiencing the joy of globetrotting.
It provides the opportunity to experience other worlds in an incredible way – through the eyes of those who live there. Locals know the stories that places have to tell, as well as the hidden treasures most likely to go unseen by foreign eyes. They know the best shopping and local cuisine, too.
Ecotourists become immersed in traditions that can heal and revitalize the body and spirit. Many ecotours can be custom-designed to meet the vacationer's personal needs, while also providing access to the best guides and other individuals with environmental consciousness. Ultimately, this means an amazing vacation and a healthy boost for the earth and its people.
When choosing an ecotour, be sure to do your homework on the tour company. Does it recommend environmentally sound, locally owned venues? Does it respect local tradition and provide the opportunity to get to know the culture? Does it allow time for self-exploration so you can fully see, feel and experience the local color on your own terms?
Mutually beneficial models of ecotourism create lasting, supportive relationships between the visitor, the inhabitants and the land. A conscientious, respectful and appreciative approach allows for a unique immersion experience that can be sustained for generations to come. By truly heeding the saying, “take only photographs and leave only footprints,” the memories of your ecotour will last a lifetime – especially in your own good conscience.
Sandra J.S. Bean is the Director of Public Relations and Publications Earth Healers, a local company that runs full-immersion spiritual awareness and traditional healing ecotours to Peru, Guatemala and Belize. For more information on Earth Healers' biodiversity and wellness retreats, please contact Director of Indigenous Empowerment and Global Relations Marvin Cal at (216) 228-6936 or visit its website at www.earthhealers.com.
