Eco-tourism Task 3

Ecotourism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ecotourism is a form of tourism  involving visiting fragile, pristine, and relatively undisturbed natural areas… Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, or to foster respect for different cultures and for human rights.

Aims of ecotourism are helping conserve nature in a faraway place; educating tourists about the place they are travelling to; respecting the culture of people who live there; the conservation of animal and plant species that are in danger of becoming extinct; minimizing the impact of tourism in the area; helping people who live there; leaving a small carbon footprint.

Eco tourists can help preserve the local environment by walking instead of using motor vehicles using less water turning off electricity if they don’t need it eating locally produced food not throwing things away keeping to footpaths wearing clothes that do not offend the locals not scaring animals respecting the local customs and traditions

Well established Eco-tourism Advantages:  Well established Eco-tourism  has minimal impact on the environment; builds awareness and respect for the local culture and environment;  offers positive experiences;  employs and benefits local people;  educates visitors by an on-site visit about the local political, social and environmental issues;  money from the tourists go back into the conservation of the area;  a wildlife habitat, for example, is protected;  visitors carry new ideas back to influence their own environment.

Disadvantages:  Badly managed Eco-tourism  If the site is badly managed there can be problems of  overcrowding constructions;  pollution of the habitat;  unlimited numbers of tourists;  the site becoming a "honey pot" area. The site becomes over-visited;  traffic congestion;  erosion where cars park illegally;  footpath erosion, soil loss;  tourists don't understand or care what eco-tourism really is. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotourism http://russia-ic.com/travel/hints/987/#.VxOkXx9RpOx