Ecotourism ethics
Ever since reading Maggie's comments about the
annoying
tourists in Monteverde,
I've been thinking a lot about whether ecotourism is a bane or a
boon. In a perfect world, ecotourism would prompt local people to
protect their wild areas by putting a high price tag on the
environment. At the same time, sustainable ecotourism would
impact the local ecosystems and culture as little as possible. Is
that combination realistic?
Here are a few factors
that an ethical ecotourist should consider when deciding where to spend
their money:
- Pay local guides.
In essence, you are voting not only for the park you are visiting, but
also for local people to become educated about the beauty and
importance of their natural surroundings. On a similar note,
staying at a locally run establishment and eating meals at local
restaurants will put your cash straight into the local economy rather
than into some big corporation's pocket.
- Choose tours carefully.
If you're going with a larger company rather than setting up the whole
trip yourself, choose one that commits to spending some of its profits
as contributions to the parks you are visiting. They should also
hire local people for all of the services they provide.
- Consider visiting during the low
season. Seasonal businesses make times tough for tour
guides and other ecotourism support staff. If you can swing it,
visiting outside the usual busy months will also save you money and let
you see parks in a more natural state.
Mark and I adore cruises, so in a way we're
skipping step two. On the other hand, I was able to find both a
local driver to take us to a ruins and a locally run Mayan steam lodge
excursion to reserve for our next trip. (The internet is
amazing.) And, being cheapskates, we picked a time right before
Christmas, when normal people prefer to stay at home with their
families. Hopefully our next cruise will not only send me into
months of enjoyable reminiscenses, but will also positively impact the
local environment.
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