Ecotourism: What can you do ?

Travel and tourism is a natural right of all people and is a crucial ingredient of world peace and understanding. With that right comes responsibilities, please whenever you travel, on business, pleasure or a bit of both, always bear in mind……

(1) Respect the fragile earth - Always follow designated trails. Do not disturb animals, plants or their natural habitat. Remember, we have not inherited the earth from our ancestors, we just borrow it from our children.

(2) Leave only footprints - Take only photographs and memories. Leave no litter or graffiti.

(3) Respect the privacy and dignity of others - Enquire before photographing and/or video-recording people.

(4) Cultivate the habit of listening and observing, rather than merely hearing and seeing.

(5) Cultivate the habit of asking questions rather than knowing all the answers.

(6) Discover the enrichment of seeing a different way of life through other eyes.

(7) Travel in a spirit of humility and with a genuine desire to learn more about the people of your host country, their customs, history, culture, language and the natural environment.

(8) Do not make promises to people in your host country unless you can carry them through.

(9) Spend time reflecting on your daily experience in an attempt to deepen your understanding. It has been said that what enriches you may rob and violate others.

(10) If you are looking for an experience of 'home away from home' it is foolish to waste your money on travelling.

Other action you can take

Tearfund published a report ‘Tourism: putting ethics into practice’, which examines the operation of UK based tour operators. One of the action points for tour operators is to investigate and report on the impact of their holidays in terms of use of local business, employment opportunities for local people, environmental impacts and contributions to health and education provision. However, tour operators will only report this if they are convinced that the customer demands it. You can play an active role and raise your concern by asking your tour operator some very simple questions about the impact of the holiday that they sell. For example;

‘Do you have any information on how holidays contribute to local development,
particularly in [Africa, Latin America or Asia]?
I am concerned to know the impact of holidays to these places,
especially on the local people and environment.’

For further information visit Tearfund’s website



www.tearfund.org