Whale watching, bird watching and Scottish island cruises from Northern Light Charters :: responsible tourism

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ECOTOURISM The International Ecotourism Society, founded in 1990 and the largest and oldest ecotourism organization in the world states its definition of ecotourism to be:

Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people.

Ecotourism has rapidly expanded over the last 20 years becoming one of the most dynamic sectors of the tourism industry and has evolved into a set of principles and practices that is challenging the way we travel in the 21st century. As the world changes and society appears to become more selfish and more demanding, there are an increasing number of people who look for some meaning in their holiday and/or travel experience. From being actively involved in restoring historical buildings or giving one's time for VSO to enjoying a holiday experience which causes minimal environmental damage, such as viewing wild birds and mammals from a boat. It is generally agreed that quality, rather than price, should be the key element of choice for an ecotourism destination or product.

Lindsay hauling the Zodiac down the beach (eat more spinach girl) by Sheila Saltmarsh

The above short TIES statement was perhaps descriptive enough when it was first launched in 1991 but many people feel there have developed plenty of other valid definitions which incorporate the core values of the TIES definition. For example, responsible characteristics of ecotourism might include:

::	Minimising the negative impacts on nature and culture that can damage a destination.
::	Informing the traveller of local species and educating them on the importance of conservation.
::	Stressing the importance of responsible business that works in cooperation with local people to meet local needs and deliver conservation benefits.
::	Directing revenues to the conservation and management of natural and protected areas and biological diversity.
::	Emphasizing the use of environmental and social base-line studies, in conjunction with long-term monitoring programs, to assess and minimise impacts.
::	Maximising economic benefit for local business and communities, particularly peoples living in and adjacent to natural and protected areas.
::	Supporting the economic empowerment of communities through training and hiring local people, paying fair wages and benefits, buying supplies locally, and supporting local ownership or joint ventures with outside business or NGO partners of tourist facilities and concessions.
::	Ensuring that tourism development does not exceed the social and environmental limits of acceptable change as determined by researchers in cooperation with local residents.
::	Relying on infrastructure that has been developed in harmony with the environment: minimising use of fossil fuels, conserving local plant and wildlife, and blending with the natural and cultural environment.

If properly planned and managed, ecotourism can offer many economic advantages for governments, private enterprise and local groups and communities. It can also act as an efficient tool for preserving the natural and cultural heritage.

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