Eco Tourism – The Sustainable tourism

By Jaimon Mathew

Sustainable tourism- According to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), sustainable tourism is tourism development with a balance between environmental, economic and sociocultural aspects.

“Sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic and sociocultural aspects of tourism development. A suitable balance must be established between these three dimensions to guarantee its long term sustainability”

Eco Tourism

For the International Ecotourism Society (TIES), ecotourism is defined as:

“Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education” Ecotourism should provide direct financial benefits to local people and is focused on conservation of natural resources.

So eco tourism could be sustainable tourism as it creates tourism opportunities without changing the prime source, that is, nature or we can say limited exploitation rather than over exploitation of natural resources.

The Eco tourism concepts comprise of local community involvement and have their development. The rural people or tribal or local residents have the best knowledge of their area and hence are supposed to be the best guides. Their ancestors told them how to use nature for their well being without over exploiting it.

The tourism industry need to be ecofriendly in all terms as we are now limited to a very small resource of forest and wildlife. We can’t afford to lose it anymore in any term either in the name of tourism or development or for becoming smart by all means. Eco tourism ensures minimum production of non-biodegradable wastes without threatening the local natural diversity

Eco tourism is the best way of forwarding tourism while promoting the wellbeing of the Planet and preserving the cultural life style of the destination in question.