what is ecotourism? tourism involving visiting relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a...
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What is Ecotourism?
• Tourism involving visiting relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a low-impact and often small scale alternative to mass tourism
The 7 Characteristics of Ecotourism
1. Involves travel to natural destinations 2. Minimizes impact 3. Teaches environmental awareness 4. Financially supports conservation 5. Provides money and empowerment for local
people 6. Respects local culture 7. Supports human rights and democratic
movements
Top 13 Ecotourism Destinations
PalauWhat Is It• A small island nation in the South
PacificWhy Is It Special• Is one of the world's best diving
destinations• Has a “Jellyfish Lake” where you can
snorkel with millions of harmless jellyfish
How Has It Been Preserved• Its remoteness has helped to shield
both it from mass tourism• About 460 miles of reefs and
shoreline are dedicated no-fishing zones, which has allowed many endangered species of fish to repopulate the area
Norwegian FjordsWhat Is It• Long, narrow inlets with steep
sidesWhy Is It Special• Visitors can go hiking, biking, take
a scenic boat ride • The climate is mild due to a warm
ocean current nearbyHow Has It Been Preserved• Their remote location and strict
environmental regulations have helped preserve their pristine beauty
• Norway has taken care to protect its unique coastline by regulating the fishing, whaling, sealing and petroleum industries.
Costa RicaWhat Is It• A beautiful Central American country• It is the most famous ecotourist locationWhy Is It Special• Its famous ‘Cloud Forests’, black sand
beaches, river rapids, active volcanos• Has incredible biodiversity, everything
from monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, jaguars, sea turtles and poison dart frogs
• Lots of adventure tourism like rafting, ziplining, horseback riding, rock climbing
How Has It Been Preserved• It has many national parks, covering over
12% of their land• There are many eco-friendly
accommodations
KeralaWhat Is It• A state in India on the SW coastWhy Is It Special• Beautiful beaches and virgin
forests• Lots of wildlife like elephants,
buffalo and wild boarHow Has It Been Preserved• In the past Kerala's ecosystems
were threatened by excessive forest clearing, but these days many of the state's forests are now protected, and tourist officials are encouraging environmentally responsible travel to the area.
Blue MountainsWhat Is It• A mountain range in Australia,
a World Heritage SiteWhy Is It Special• Lots of adventure tourism like
rock climbing, rappelling, canoeing, and mountain biking
• Koalas live hereHow Has It Been Preserved• Several national parks cover
the area, hosting dozens of trails
• Many eco-lodges to stay in
BorneoWhat Is It• An island in SE Asia that belongs
to 3 countries – Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei
Why Is It Special• New species are being discovered
every year• Mountains and jungles for hiking• Orangutans live hereHow Has It Been Preserved• Award-winning eco-hotels such
as the Sukau Rainforest Lodge, a completely self-sufficient hotel that uses rainwater and solar energy
KenyaWhat Is It• A country in eastern AfricaWhy Is It Special• Its savannas are teeming with
lions, wildebeest and elephants• Its beautiful mountains, rain
forests and beachesHow Has It Been Preserved• Over 50 national parks and
reserves• The government works with the
locals to use ecotourism as a way to boost their economy
DominicaWhat Is It• A small island in the
Caribbean• Called “the Nature Island of
the Caribbean”Why Is It Special• Is the “Whale Watching
Capital” of the Caribbean• It has a naturally boiling lakeHow Has It Been Preserved• Lots of secluded rainforest
eco-lodges• Not many people go there
The AmazonWhat Is It• The biggest rainforest in the
world, is mostly in BrazilWhy Is It Special• Contains 1/10th of all known
species , such as jaguars, piranhas, pink dolphins, marmosets, sloths
• Called “the lungs of the world”, makes 20% of world’s oxygen
How Has It Been Preserved• Lots of eco-lodges• The government works with
locals to preserve the area
AlaskaWhat Is It• The largest state in the USAWhy Is It Special• It has snow-capped mountains,
tundra, glaciers• A wide range of endangered
wildlife like humpback whales, brown bears, lynx, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, and blue whales
How Has It Been Preserved• Over 100 state parks to explore• Not many people go there since
it’s remote and cold
The GalapagosWhat Is It• A set of islands off the coast of S.
AmericaWhy Is It Special• Here is where Charles Darwin was
inspired to write about his theory of evolution
• Home to unique species like komodo dragons, penguins, and giant tortoises
How Has It Been Preserved• The government is very restrictive
about how many people they let in and what they are allowed to do there
• 97% is protected as a the first natural World Heritage Site
• Not allowed activities like jet-skiing or flash photography
BotswanaWhat Is It• A country in southern Africa• Called the ‘Jewel of Africa’Why Is It Special• It has tons of wildlife like
elephant herds, leopards, lions, zebras, hippos, white rhinos, and baboons
How Has It Been Preserved• Lots of eco-resorts, most
are quite pricey so not as many tourists go there
The HimalayasWhat Is It• The tallest mountain range
in the world, between India and Nepal
Why Is It Special• Snow-covered mountains
and glaciers and valleys• Wildlife like snow leopards,
black bears, red pandas, yaks
How Has It Been Preserved• Is a difficult trip, so not
many people go there
Ecotourist Hotels
What Makes a Hotel an “Eco-Hotel”?
• Housekeeping uses non-toxic cleaning agents and detergent
• 100% organic cotton sheets, towels and mattresses• Non-smoking environment• Renewable energy sources like solar or wind energy• Towel and sheet re-use policies• Energy-efficient lighting• On-site transportation with green vehicles• Serve organic and local-grown food• Graywater recycling, which is the reuse of kitchen, bath
and laundry water for garden and landscaping
Examples of Eco-Hotels
Bucuti Beach Resort - Aruba• Your water is heated with
solar panels• The rooms are built from
recycled materials with furniture made of sustainably farmed wood and recycled plastic.
• A local charity works with the resort to preserve turtle nesting habitat and lets guests watch turtle hatchlings crawl to the ocean
Chumbe Island Coral Park - Tanzania
• Tanzania’s first coral reef sanctuary
• Seven self-sustaining eco-bungalows built using local mangrove poles with palm-thatched roofs, each with its own rainwater catchment and composting toilets.
• Shower water is recycled through the garden.
• With almost 400 species of fish, every day of snorkeling is a good day!
Baghvan Pench Jungle Lodge - India
• Your money goes to help fund sustainable local agriculture
• You can see Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and striped hyenas
• The lodge recycles its water and teaches about conservation
Selva Verde Lodge – Costa Rica• Of the country’s many
eco-lodges promoting sustainable tourism, this one stands out
• The lodge works to promote conservation and environmental education
• Birders, naturalists and zipliners will love the 500 acre preserve
Tassia Lodge - Kenya• Part of the Lekurruki
Community Conservation Ranch, it helps the ecosystem but also the local Maasi people
• The rooms are built not on, but into the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast African plain.
• Walking safaris are a welcome change. You’re likely to see giraffes, gazelles, zebras, and maybe a troop of baboons.
Cotton Tree Lodge - Belize
• Is located between the river and the rainforest
• You can scuba dive in the second largest reef system in the world
• Their restaurant serves Belizean food prepared with the freshest ingredients from local farmers and their own organic garden
Laguna Lodge - Guatemala• On the shore of Lake Atitlán• It only has six suites made
of local materials• The food is organic, fresh,
and meat free and the coffee comes from the lodge’s own gardens
• A hundred-acre nature reserve established by the lodge reaches from the shore up the mountain.
• Adrenaline buffs can jump from high rock faces into the deep water
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