Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The following questions (including ideas from Ecotourism Australia)
are worth considering as you plan your trip:
To what extent does tourism strengthen the conserva-
tion effort the places visited? Does it affect locals in a
way that causes them to support preservation of their
environment?
Are locals benefiting financially from the tourist activ-
ity, directly or indirectly? Some outfitters build their
own lodges and bring in their own (often foreign) guides
and supplies. Many also fly clients directly into an area,
operate the tour, and then leave immediately. Are locals
receiving sufficient economic benefits as guides, cooks,
crew, local supply dealers?
Are the tour operators and accommodations efficient in
the use of natural resources, such as water and energy?
There are plenty of opportunities for lodges to use fast-
growing, renewable, and sustainable building materi-
als; rainwater showers; composting toilets; and solar
electricity - or at least use candlelight and kerosene
(which add to the ambiance anyway).
Are the sensitivities of other cultures being respected?
Are local customs considered? Are clients encouraged to
dress modestly and leave jewelry at home?
Is the outfitter or lodge involved in a recycling program?
Who owns the hotels and ecolodges? Do they have good
conservation ethics? Were locals displaced from their
homes to make way for the project? Community-based
lodges are more difficult to track down, but they provide
the most benefit to the locals.
Where does the food come from? Is there any program
that includes organically grown food and ways to edu-
cate the locals about sustainable practices? Are you eat-
ing endangered species or beef from rainforest-grazed
cattle that are encouraging local deforestation?
When researching or evaluating local outfitters, lodges, and services,
think about the following:
Are tour guides well versed in and respectful of local cul-
tures and environments?
Is there any involvement in current political and envi-
ronmental issues, particularly in those of the local area?
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