Eco Tour
An opportunity for communion with nature......
Tourism
Tourism is one of the most familiar terms to any society. Though definitions vary, inevitably included components of tourism are travel, pleasure, accommodation, expenses and recreation. Among these, travel to unknown places has laid the foundation stone to the concept of tourism. Now the new mobility technologies have fueled more to it, to compress the whole world into one single tourist destination.
Most of the countries, developed and developing ones, actively promote tourism development as the means to achieve a number of economic objectives. The important of them are inflow of foreign exchange, new career opportunities and development of some remote regions. Some cities find their total revenue from the tourism industry alone.
Tourism derives ultimately from personal or individual satisfactions. The degree of this satisfaction varies depending upon the value system of the individual.
Recreation
It may be the activity for pleasure and enjoyment during leisure and that which enriches the lives of people. Recreation can be classified into two, the former being the end in itself and the latter, is purposeful. Leisure for its sake has no focus while recreation with creative and uplifting vision has a lot to deliver for the society as well as for the individual.
Mass tourism – Concept
Mass tourism was the logical outcome of key social, economic, political and technological influences after the Second World War. Post-war peace and prosperity, paid holidays and charter flights accelerated the growth of tourism industry. Within two short decades, the tourism industry became mass, standardized and rigidly packaged. So pervasive was the tendency towards mass tourism, standardization and rigid packaging.
Factors responsible for mass tourism
- Sustained prosperity and rise in the income level of a wide section of society.
- Monotony and pressure of work and life in an industrialized society.
- The growing number of the self-employed and highly paid professional youth.
- Rise in the average educational standard of the general pubic.
- Reduction in the size of the family.
- Development of communication networks and transportation facilities.
Despite the apparent economic benefits derived from the mass tourism industry, there are drawbacks also.
Eco-effects of Mass Tourism - Environmental degradation
The onrush of mass tourism, the “lemming syndrome” of holiday over-crowding, has had a devastating impact upon tourist regions, marring the landscape and lying waste the living environment. Everywhere there is littering, trampling of meadows, destruction of grasslands, forest fires, congested motor vehicle traffic, tourist facilities with unsightly mechanized equipments and massive resorts and hotels erected at haphazard and obstructing natural sites. These defacements have also done serious damage to complex ecosystems. These particular facets of environmental concerns indicate that high tourist density is devastating to the complex of these biotic factors that act upon an ecological community and determine its survival.
The need of a solution
Destinations are already congested with conflicting type of development. This will continue towards a drastic end of the natural prestige and beauty and bio-diversity of world’s important destination unless some alternative strategies are brought to fore. These are strategies which must not only show more respect and responsibility towards environment but facilitate some mutual understanding between the locals and visitors.
Eco-Tourism – A remedy…
Eco tourism can be defined as travel natural attractions that contribute to their conservation, respect the integrity of local communities and enhance the tourist’s understanding of the natural attraction, its conservation and local community. It should have a minimum impact on soil, water, air, flora, fauna and bio-physical processes; use little energy; cause little pollution; educate the tourist and contribute to the welfare of local and indigenous populations.
While ecotourism has been around since the nineteenth century, it has grown considerably in popularity and commercial significance in just the past one decade. It is believed that ecotourism will build a support for nature conservation.
Basically, ecotourism means linking environmental awareness with people’s vacations. Undoubtedly, the maintenance of bio-diversity is a critical component of sustainability. Sustainable development teaches us that the environment and economy are integrated with society and culture. This is the area where eco-tourism has a big role to play.
Ecotourism is a "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." Ecotourism is about connecting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel.
This means that those who implement and participate in responsible tourism activities may follow the following ecotourism principles:
- minimize impact
- build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
- provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
- provide direct financial benefits for conservation
- provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people
- raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate
Eco tour is also a sustainable travel that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future.
By choosing responsible travel, you can have the fabulous vacation that you've dreamed of, while ensuring that your dollars are benefiting the environment and the local people at your destination. Also, by exploring alternative travel choices, you can have a unique trip and avoid leaving negative marks on cultures, economies and the environment.
Also, let’s note that the contact between nature and man is more intimate in a forest or a beach than in the streets of a modern city.