Ecotourism — what is it and how to travel ecologically?

An eco-friendly lifestyle is slowly ceasing to be a fad, and is becoming a social obligation. Mass tourism has an adverse effect on the state of the environment. Its opposite is ecotourism. What is hidden under this term? I will answer this question below.

[Photo by Sagui Andrea from Pexels]

Unfortunately, under the influence of human activity, our planet is changing before our eyes. To slow down adverse changes and prevent some of them, it is necessary to respond appropriately to environmental degradation, and such a response involves implementing sustainable measures in every area of life. This includes travel.

For many of us, tourism represents an opportunity to commune with wildlife and learn about the culture prevalent in more-or-less remote places. However, it is worth realizing that most forms of travel do not have a beneficial effect on the environment. On the contrary, by moving from place to place, we more or less pollute the soil, water and air, and the greater the distances we travel, the more the scale of the negative impact of such travel increases.

Unfortunately, the most popular means of transportation still remains the car. When visiting faraway places, we also like to use airplanes. It is obvious that every such trip leaves a carbon footprint. Ecotourism, or sustainable tourism, counters these trends, but the meaning of this ideology cannot be limited solely to the abandonment of travel by motor vehicles and public transportation, which have the greatest impact on the environment. For this concept has a much broader meaning.

[Photo by Cliford Mervil from Pexels]

What is ecotourism based on?

Ecotourism (green or gentle tourism) is a way of traveling, the essence of which is to get to know the areas visited in depth by discovering places little frequented by other tourists. The core of ecotourism is respect for nature, local traditions and cultural heritage, and these tenets are achieved by not affecting the natural and social factors that shape the identity of a place.

What does all this mean in practice? The essence of this style of travel is to limit one’s impact on the…