What exactly Ecotourism ?
The terms eco-friendly, ecotourism, and eco-travel are plastered everywhere these days, and have become somewhat of a buzz word, with all industries within travel scrambling to jump on the bandwagon. So just what is ecotourism, and why are so many companies, countries, and institutions jumping on board?
Is it just a gimmicky trend to grab your business, or should you really be concerned with at least attempting to contribute in becoming an eco-traveler yourself. Being a responsible traveler, a socially conscious traveler; why should you even care?
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Importance of Ecotourism
When we think of the joys that come with the adventures of traveling, we often envision exciting trips to beautiful places fit for a perfect photograph, unique foods you won’t find at home, and encounters with people who are much different from those we are accustomed to. Tourism allows us to do more than just learn facts about various locations. It allows us to immerse ourselves into the cultures and lifestyles of others and leaves lasting impressions that aren’t likely to be forgotten.
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Principles of Ecotourism
Ecotourism is about responsible travel to natural areas that promote conservation, bring harmony among communities, and sustains well being of local people. People who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should adopt the following ecotourism principles:
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Ecotourism helps local communities
THE travel and tourism industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the services sector. The industry, which encompasses transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, and recreation and entertainment, is currently the second largest gross domestic product (GDP) contributing industry for Malaysia.
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