Ecotourism Vs. Sustainable Tourism
sustainability in the travel sector
Travel, as an industry that helps connect people around the world, has a duty to limit its destructive effect on the environment and tourist destinations.
As one of the most important sectors, traveling creates thousands of jobs, develops the infrastructures of countries, and plants a sense of cultural exchange between foreigners and citizens. According to Statista in 2020, the number of jobs in the travel and tourism industry worldwide was 272 million. The tourism industry incorporates many industries, including transport, accommodation, travel companies, food and drink services, and more.
In the last few years, consumer sentiment toward making more responsible purchasing decisions has shifted. Skift Research’s Millennial and Gen Z Traveler Survey 2019, released in August, found that more than half of millennial and Gen Z travelers from the U.S., UK, Australia, China, and India find it important to choose travel companies that prioritize sustainability. Most of those travelers are also willing to pay more for experiences from companies with a track record of green operations.
Sustainability has been a growing trend in the past few years and people are applying it to all the different aspects of their daily lives. Today we’re going to talk about ecotourism and sustainable tourism. You might think these two terms are basically the same but make no mistake, they are completely different things. We’re going to talk you through these two terms so you get a better understanding of them.
Ecotourism
Let’s start by defining what ecotourism is; according to the International Ecotourism Society and Fennell ecotourism is now defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education. It is a sustainable form of natural resource-based tourism that focuses primarily on experiencing and learning about nature and is ethically managed to be low-impact, non-consumptive, and locally-oriented. It typically occurs in natural areas and should contribute to the conservation or preservation of such areas. Their core principles involve the following aspects:
- Building a culture of environmental respect and protection while providing positive experiences to visitors and hosts.
- Generating value for local people and the industry.
- Minimize physical, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts.
- Observation and appreciation of nature.
- Supporting the maintenance of natural areas.
Ecotourism is more focused on ecological conservation and educating travelers on local environments and natural surroundings. They focus on taking care of not altering the integrity of the ecosystem; producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people.
Sustainable Tourism
According to The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), sustainable tourism refers to sustainable practices implemented in the tourism industry. It is a form of tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts. Its principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development, and a suitable balance between these three to guarantee its long-term sustainability.
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is a global initiative dedicated to promoting sustainable tourism practices around the world. GSTC and its global members of UN agencies, global travel companies, hotels, tourism boards, and tour operators follow the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. The 23 criteria focus on best practices to sustain natural and cultural resources, maximize social and economic benefits for the local community and minimize negative impacts to the environment.
Sustainable tourism focuses on travel that has minimal impact on the environment and local communities. Destinations and industries may practice sustainable tourism by prioritizing the natural environment when developing activities and infrastructure, respecting the cultural practices of their communities, and ensuring long-term economic operations to support the destination.
become an eco-tourist!
