Ecotourism Ideas - Be Responsible and Sustainable

Your next vacation can offer more than rest and relaxation. It can also benefit the communities that you visit. It's called Responsible Tourism, and when you practice it, everybody wins. Tourism is a big business the world over, with 1 in 12 people globally making their livelihoods from travel-related industries. But tourism can also produce a negative effect on local environments by creating high consumption of valuable resources. For example, tourists tend to consume 7 times more water than local residents, a precious resource many parts of the world can't afford to give up. Overcrowding and population are becoming monumental problems in popular destinations like Venice, Italy, and Costa del Sol, Spain. Problems like these have forced tourism boards and travel providers to rethink the impact of tourism on our planet Traveling this way gives you a unique perspective of world communities, allowing you to experience the regions just like locals do. If you travel for discovery and adventure, there are a number of simple ways you can give back while on vacation. Using local hotels, guides, and even eating in local restaurants keeps your travel dollars in the communities that desperately need them. It also gives you a more authentic experience overall. When traveling abroad, try to take advantage of cultural events happening within local communities. You can do this by attending craft markets instead of airports for your souvenir shopping and listening to indigenous music from live regional performers rather than resort entertainment. Another great way to give back is to make your holiday a volunteer experience. Websites like ResponsibleTravel.com have dozens of ideas for volunteering while you visit. Take an expedition to the Amazon for rainforest conservation, spend time as a sports coach for children in Africa, or take a backpacking trip through Haiti to help generate revenue for local communities. These kinds of trips usually charge a base rate for food and accommodations, with a large portion of proceeds going back to local service organizations. Getting away from the major resorts and hotel chains might just take you out of your comfort zone at first, but once you experience traveling responsibly, you'll never look at your vacation the same again. For more information, go to our website athomewithdidier.com.