Adventure Ecotourism: Why Its Important and Where to Go

As global citizens and outdoors lovers, we believe that everyone should respect the environment they travel in. Even if we pick up litter and follow leave no trace principles, conventional tourism often disrupts local ecosystems, raises pollution levels, and contributes to the loss of local cultures. Ecotourism cuts out some of the adverse effects of mass tourism. It offers a sustainable travel solution for tourists along with their hosts.

There’s a lot of myths about ecotourism. Many think that you need to travel to the heart of the Amazon rainforest, or another far off destination, and spend your vacation without electricity or hot water to qualify as an eco-friendly tourist. In truth, there are probably tons of ecotourism destinations right on your doorstep (with fully functioning facilities).

In short, it’s about time we asked what is ecotourism and why is it important? What are the ecotourism benefits, and where can I find legitimate ecotourism providers?

• What is ecotourism?
• Types of ecotourism
• The importance of ecotourism
  • Ecotourism vs sustainable tourism: what’s the difference?
  • Why is ecotourism important?
  • The benefits of ecotourism
  • Eco-friendly activities
• Adventure ecotourism providers
  • Europe
  • North America
  • South and Central America
  • Asia
  • Africa
  • Worldwide

What is ecotourism?

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.”

According to TIES, ecotourism can be divided into three categories:

1. Conservation – long-term economic incentives that encourage the protection of nature and cultural heritage. (i.e. protecting a forestry area from building development because leading nature hikes will be more profitable in the long term).
2. Communities – empowering and enriching local communities, by providing employment, education, and economic development through tourism.
3. Interpretation – ecotourism aims to educate. It offers greater opportunities, when compared to regular tourism, for visitors to learn about local cultures, heritage, flora and fauna.

In practice, ecotourism is a type of tourism that provides ecological, cultural, and educational based trips, often to undisturbed nature areas. Ecotourism encourages visitors to respect and learn about the area that they are visiting. Tourism, eco-friendly or not, provides opportunities for economic growth in the destination country. It provides millions of jobs worldwide and can be a crucial factor in lifting countries and communities out of poverty. However, mass tourism also has several negative consequences. Ecotourism differs from regular tourism because its primary focus is the conservation of local cultures and biodiversity. Ecotours often operate on a small scale, and travellers may spend days or even weeks exploring a single area.

Types of ecotourism

Ecotourism isn’t just wildlife watching and nature hikes; the term is inclusive of any types of travel that prioritise environmental and cultural conservation. That includes multi-day group tours, independent eco-friendly travellers, and even long-term volunteers. Here are some ecotourism examples:

Adventure ecotourism

Also called sustainable adventure tourism, adventure ecotourism combines outdoor activities with environmental and cultural conservation. Adventure ecotourism organisations go the extra mile to support local communities and environmental projects. Adventure ecotourism programs typically include activities such as hiking, biking, climbing, kayaking, rafting, wildlife watching, and nature education, as well as visits to local communities or cultural heritage sites. Accommodation is often provided in Eco lodgings, campsites, or small-scale guest houses. Adventure ecotourism organisations mostly employ local guides and economically support the communities they visit, either through trade (i.e. accommodation, restaurants, and local markets) or by charitable donations.

Volunteering

Ecotourism often offers opportunities for you to volunteer in rural communities. Volunteering opportunities can include community development projects, planting trees in areas affected by deforestation, wildlife conservation, and community aid.

Agritourism

Visitors can travel to rural farming communities. On these trips, visitors usually have the opportunity to see local working farms, learn about harvest and planting, interact with local farming families, and perhaps purchase local produce. Some agritourism destinations offer volunteering opportunities.

Eco lodging

Staying in accommodation that is located in natural settings and made with environmental awareness in mind is a good example of ecotourism that is becoming more mainstream. This can include low-rise buildings that complement the surroundings, buildings made from natural/renewable materials, accommodations that are powered by renewable energy, small-scale/family-run accommodation, or local homestays.

Photo by David Marcu

The importance of ecotourism

Ecotourism vs sustainable tourism: what’s the difference?

Ecotourism is a type of tourism that primarily educates visitors on natural areas, flora, and fauna. Ecotourism is, by its nature, sustainable. Sustainable tourism, on the other hand, is a concept that can be applied to any type of tourism. For example, sustainable medical tourism, sustainable adventure tourism, or sustainable beach tourism. Sustainable tourism aims to minimise the impact of tourism on local communities and environments, but the tours are not necessarily nature themed.

Why is ecotourism important?

Most of us dream of travelling to faraway places with pristine beaches and scenic views, but tourism, in itself, causes environmental and cultural changes that can decimate natural areas and communities. Particularly in locations that have delicate ecosystems. Ecotourism minimises the negative environmental impact of travelling, helps to fund conservation, and protect biodiversity. Ecotourism can also ensure the survival of natural landscapes that would otherwise be lost to erosion or other natural causes.

The benefits of ecotourism

Ecotourism promotes conservation by providing financial benefits to locals. Often untouched landscapes are destroyed in order to access natural resources. Ecotourism, therefore, provides an alternative way for locals to earn money from the land without destroying it. Ecotourism in remote areas can also boost employment and education opportunities. As a traveller, ecotourism providers make it easier to visit unspoilt destinations and understand local culture and heritage. We’re able to enjoy breath-taking nature spots without massive crowds and, by supporting ecotourism, we ensure that tourism can continue indefinitely.

Eco-friendly activities

Here are some eco-friendly activities for tourists that you can add to your trip itinerary:

• Hiking – from day hikes on well-marked trails to multi-day wilderness expeditions
• Biking – cycle touring, or backpacking is one of the most eco-friendly ways to travel between cities or even across continents. Travellers with more limited vacation time can rent a bike and explore the countryside and nearby sites on two wheels.
• Non-motorised water sports – swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, surfing, free diving, kayaking, canoeing, and rafting are all eco-friendly activities.
• Camping – while camping, you’ll use less electricity. It’s also the best way to connect to nature. But avoid camping in places that will disrupt wildlife and remember to leave no trace – check out our Leave No Trace quiz if you’re not sure abou this.
• Agricultural tours and farmers markets – support farming economies and learn about farming by visiting the countryside.
• Beach cleanups – seek out a beach cleanup in the destination you’re visiting. You can do your part to keep tourist destinations clean while interacting with locals.

Adventure ecotourism providers

Any travel agency with eco in the title must be environmentally conscious, right? There are a lot of travel agencies out there, and a lot of them are less environmentally sound than they claim to be. Before booking your next big adventure, do a bit of background reading on your travel provider. Most genuine ecotourism providers will have a sustainability statement, certifications from recognised conservation organisations, or links to supported foundations visible on their website.

To save you some time, we’ve put together a handful of ecotourism providers that operate tours across the globe.

Europe

Abella Climb

Visit Strandja

Photo by Andre Ouellet

North America

Outer Shores Expeditions

Maine Windjammer Association

Photo by Arto Marttinen

South and Central America

Quasar Expeditions

See Turtles

Ecoventura

Photo by Sebastian Pena Lambarri

Asia

New Milestone Tours

Responsible Adventures

Photo by Sergey Pesterev

Africa

Elewana Collection

Photo by Frank Busch

Worldwide

Gondwana Ecotours

Fly Green

Good Wings

Intrepid Travel

Nat Hab

Green Loons

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