Eco friendly holidays

What is ecotourism?
A commonly accepted definition of ecotourism is ‘responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people’.

Ecotourism should ideally embrace all of the following:  provide a positive experience for visitors and hosts, contribute to conservation projects, educate visitors about local culture and the environment, minimise the negative impact of tourism and co-operate with local people to manage natural areas.

Eco friendly hotels
Hotels can do many things to minimise their environmental impact such as washing linen at lower temperatures, changing bed linen less frequently, using solar power or other alternative forms of energy, installing low flow showers and lavatories, using recycled products and composting food waste.

Hotels are keen to save energy because it saves them money. Hotels that buy products produced locally and use a locally based workforce also contribute to the local economy.

With the surge in all things green many hotels are keen to jump on the eco friendly bandwagon and can be quick to make spurious claims so take a good look at a company’s claims before you hand over you hard earned wonga for that eco friendly holiday.

Other terms
The terms sustainable tourism, ecotourism and responsible tourism are sometimes used interchangeably but there are subtle differences.

Responsible travel focuses on the way a traveller should behave when journeying abroad. Being respectful, asking permission to take photographs, observing local dress codes all come under the heading of responsible travel.

Alternative tourism is any type of travel that is not mass travel. This covers backpacking, ecotourism, volunteer tourism or any type of untypical holidaying.

Sustainable tourism is that which meets the needs of tourists and hosts while protecting and enhancing future opportunities. It shares the same ideals as  ecotourism but is not limited to natural areas.