Travel News

The Virtuous Traveler On EcoTourism And Responsible Travel Trends In 2011

Locations in this article:  San Francisco, CA

Green Earth - Eco-Travel 2011This is the time of year to reflect on what was and what’s ahead.

We asked our expert columnists to weigh in on travel trends that have jumped out at them.

This week, The Virtuous Traveler Leslie Garrett shares her perspective on the meaning of ecotourism and what green-minded travelers should remember the next time they hit the road.

Katie’s family is what you might consider “typical” travelers.

They’ve been to Disney. To Caribbean all-inclusives. To Spain.

But travel plans for 2011 are a little different. The entire group, from the 12-year-old youngest to 80-plus-year-old grandparents, is taking a cruise to the Galapagos Islands, choosing a small-scale operation with a firm commitment to the environment and culture of Galapagos.

Beach at Little St. Simon's IslandI first learned of the Galapagos Islands not from Darwin, but from Kurt Vonnegut who, in his novel Galapagos, shares his delight in the “dance of the blue-footed booby.” I became equally enamored and developed a yearning to go there … though, increasingly, it seems I’m one of only few who hasn’t fulfilled that longing.

At the time Vonnegut’s novel was written, more than a quarter-century ago, the Galapagos Islands were hardly a vacation destination for the masses. Indeed, the islands welcomed a mere 4,000 visitors in 1970, a number that has swelled to approximately 60,000 annually.

These numbers underscore a clear trend, which is that ecotourism is exploding.

More to the point, ecotourism’s underlying mandate—of travel that “benefits local communities and destinations environmentally, culturally and economically,” as its defined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)— is changing the way many of us take a trip.

Consider these eco-initiatives, virtually unheard of a decade ago:

Hertz rental company has ventured into the car share business with its Connect by Hertz Program, allowing members to reserve a fuel-efficient vehicle for $10/hour.

Check out Leslie Garrett’s latest series, which explores what travel providers are doing behind the scenes to go green:

Carbon-offset programs have grown rapidly, offering travelers what some criticize as a guilt tax, but that nonetheless promote wonderful green-energy initiatives and wildlife preservation around the world.

Clouds, Grass, Ecotourism, Eco-TravelFairmont Hotels have rooftop beehives at six of its properties, as part of its 20-year commitment to the environment.

America’s national parks are experiencing a steady rise in visitor numbers, including the system’s flagship park, Yellowstone. Spokesman Al Nash contributes it not only to an interest in “ecotourism” but an awareness that nature tourism is often one of the best values in tough economic times.

A 2008 study conducted by MSNBC and Condé Nast Traveler revealed that more than half of the respondents indicated an interest in undertaking “voluntourism” vacations, connecting travelers with projects that require volunteer labor. Indeed, 20 percent of the 1,600 respondents had already taken one … and planned on more.

However, like anything that grows quickly, ecotourism could potentially become a victim of its own success. Practiced recklessly, even sustainable travel can be, well, unsustainable.

What’s more, consumers have become increasingly confused about which programs have true merit and which are attempting to cash in on the marketing clout of ecotourism. In 2008, the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Program, the United Nations Foundation and the United Nations World Tourism Organization came together to create a coalition of organizations devoted to promoting sustainable tourism initiatives and the adoption of universal standards.

Check out more from our Eco-Travel section

At this point, however, while there are a lot more options to anyone seeking responsible travel, the ecotourism world is still something of a Wild West, with the onus on conscientious consumers to ask the key questions:

  • How will my trip impact the community in which I’m visiting?
  • How much of my money will stay in the community?
  • How am I traveling and is there a “greener” way of getting there?
  • Does my tour operator support the local community and ensure that natural spaces and wildlife are preserved?

Travel is a massive industry, creating employment for hundreds of millions of people. And practiced responsibly, it’s a powerful way to build communities, preserve wildlife, protect the environment and bridge cultures in a way that promotes not only tolerance but peace.

Not bad for a cruise to the islands.

By Leslie Garrett for PeterGreenberg.com. Pictures via the Intercontinental San Francisco. Leslie Garrett is an award-winning journalist and author of The Virtuous Consumer: Your Essential Shopping Guide for a Better, Kinder, Healthier World. Visit her atwww.virtuousconsumer.com.

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