Ecotourism: traveling while respecting nature
Appeared about thirty years ago, ecotourism is attracting more and more travelers tired of mass tourism. This new form of tourism promotes many values related to environmental respect.
Becoming an ecotourist means traveling while respecting the ecological environment, the people you meet, and the beauty of biodiversity. Rather than giving you a list of generalities, we felt the need to mention some brands and organizations in this article, not from an advertising perspective but rather to show you some concrete examples of what is being done in ecotourism.
Discover without polluting
Responsible travel means blending completely into the scenery. To minimize the impact of tourism on territories, some travel agencies like Green Aventure try to offset 100% of the CO2 emissions related to non-ecological trips. In partnership with Action Carbone, the agency uses a small part of the travel price to finance and distribute solar cookers in Bolivia. Ecotourism is also based on educating tourists about more environmentally friendly practices. For example, a “gîte panda” label was created thanks to WWF, the Federation of Regional Natural Parks of France, and the Federation of Gîtes de France to promote tourist accommodations that respect nature within national and regional parks.
Ecotourism, between solidarity and conviviality
Agencies specializing in ecotourism offer their travelers small group packages that make it easier to appreciate cultural practices. Some agencies even offer their clients accommodation with locals for a total immersion. For example, Voyageurs Solidaires gives its clients the opportunity to discover Morocco by staying with locals. To enjoy local life, it is also possible to choose committed trips that combine tourism and volunteering. In the PACA region, ecotourists can participate in heritage restoration projects in partnership with the Association for Participation and Regional Action. Mobility is also a central concern in ecotourism as it involves favoring soft modes of transportation. To promote these soft modes and conviviality, the PACA region has set up the Esprit Nature portal bringing together carpooling sites.
Trips to create yourself!
Ecotourism offers a specific approach that is mindful of your ecological and cultural ambitions. The website www.voyageurs-solidaires.com offers all lovers of Morocco a diverse range of accommodation with locals, multiple hikes and treks, sports, and recreational activities. To supervise accommodation with locals, the agency has established internal regulations that tourists and owners agree to respect. Specialists go even further in tailor-made travel with VIP, the personalized individual trip. Why not dive with specialists to see sharks up close? Certainly, this is an extreme and unrealistic example for many of us, but it shows the extent of the offers available. To avoid any surprises, it is preferable to contact serious and recognized agencies because others take advantage of the enthusiasm for ecological tourism to charge unfairly high prices and sometimes fail to deliver services.
