What is EcoTourism?

Whether you embark on a nature hike through the mountains or stay at a luxurious ecolodge in the Caribbean, there are many activities to do and places to stay that let you show how much you care about the environment. However, does that hike through the forest really make your vacation sustainable?

Ecotourism is defined by the Nature Conservancy as "Environmentally responsible travel to natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and accompanying cultural features, both past and present) that promote conservation, have a low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local peoples."

However, most tourism in natural areas today is not ecotourism and is not therefore, sustainable. Ecotourism can be distinguished from nature tourism by its emphasis on conservation, education, traveler responsibility and active community participation. Specifically, ecotourism possesses the following characteristics:

• Conscientious, low-impact visitor behavior
• Sensitivity towards, and appreciation of, local cultures and biodiversity
• Support for local conservation efforts
• Sustainable benefits to local communities
• Local participation in decision-making
• Educational components for both the traveler and local communities

Learn more from the Nature Conservancy on eco-tourism.