Eco-Tourism or Marketing Angle?
While the images of sun drenched Caribbean seas, colorful coral and an abundance of pelagic sea life may stir fantasies of diving in exotic lands, you may not realize the price such beauty has taken on the environment. Your beachfront resort may have replaced mangroves. Your hot shower in the Serengeti may be using precious water resources. Here is where eco-tourism comes into play. But how do you know if your eco-lodge is truly practicing sustainability?
Currently there is no definition of sustainable tourism. Eco-certification organizations are on the rise. Many of them are just using lingo to attract tourist without providing the basis of a truly sustainable business practice. As one vendor, the manager of a Tour and Safari organization, told me: “Without getting into much detail I need to say that we are in a developing country (used to be called 3rd world) and as such, our (this area of North Sulawesi Indonesia) environmental footprint might be considered larger that acceptable.”
You can rely on your own judgment when booking your next trip. Here are some things to ask when booking your exotic diving adventure:
1. What kinds of sustainable practices do you use in regards to your accommodations? Do you use environmentally sensitive, renewable energy, water and waste disposal systems as well as recycled building materials or those that are harvested in a sustainable manner?
2. What is your environmental policy? Does it take into consideration environmental, economic and socio-cultural impacts?
3. Does your company support conservation efforts?
4. Does your company maintain awareness of environmental impacts? Are vehicles limited to designated roads? Do guides ever intentionally disturb wildlife or wildlife habitats?
5. Are locals receiving economic benefits from your organization? Do you support locally owned and operated vendors (guides, restaurants, etc)?
6. Does your organization take advantage of public transportation?
7. Does your organization make efficient use of natural resources?
8. Do you work towards cutting down or eliminating waste?
9. Does your company advocate respect for local cultures, traditions and holy places?
While you are on your trip, take a bit of time between dives to observe, watch and listen to see if this vendor is really living up to their end of the sustainability bargain. Once you are back home, let your travel agent know what you discovered. Together we can make a difference in the move towards truly sustainable tourism. To read more about eco-tourism, click here.