Week 9
Ecotourism
BURAK ÇELİK
ADA412 Contemporary Problems in Urban Sustainability Bilkent University Department of Architecture 01.04.2018
What is Ecotourism? Ecotourism (also called sustainable tourism) can be defined by a variety of travel practices, but it all comes down to a general set of ideas. As an eco-tourist, you decide to travel in a way that shows respect to nature and does not contribute to its degradation.
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As The International Ecotourism Society says, “Ecotourism is now defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education” (TIES, 2015). Education is meant to be inclusive of both staff and guests.”
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Principles 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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Minimize physical, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect Provide positive experiences for both visitors and local people Provide direct financial benefits for environmental conservation Generate financial benefits for both local people and private industry Deliver memorable interpretative experiences to visitors that help raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climates Design, construct and operate low-impact facilities
Benefits The rewards that come with the newness and the satisfying learning experiences of travel are irreplaceable, and these benefits can be enhanced through ecotourism. As an ecotourist, you travel with more than personal satisfaction in mind. You help the planet and you enable people to lead a more fulfilling life.
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A Learning Experience As we explore unknown places with a spirit of curiosity and kindness, we begin important discussions with locals and other visitors. Through their stories, we have an inside view of what the needs and desires of the people are. Unfortunately, tourists are viewed by some as rude visitors who create inconveniences for residents. Locals are often annoyed by the increased traffic, unreasonable demands and the inability of tourists to understand and respect the cultural expectations and dress codes.
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Ecotourism Promotes Economic Stability We live in a very diverse world full of eclectic people who live off the land and depend on what nature provides. Commercial tourist attractions may be placed in a specific area, but that doesn’t mean it gives back to these communities. Instead, large corporations tend to change the way of living for some natives depending on what will be most profitable.
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Ecotourism Reduces Our Carbon Foorprint While on a trip, explore guided areas that offer tours on foot. Have fun discovering the unique types of shared transportation that each city provides, such as trolleys and hybrid buses that offer comfortable means of travel for tourists and locals.
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Ecotourism Helps Animals that Suffer Instead of paying to view animals in captivity, go sightseeing to see them at play in their natural habitats. There are also hiking trails waiting to be explored that offer colorful views of nature and close encounters with diverse species.
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Planning to Travel Sustainably is Easier with Technology Because of its ability to attract and connect people, travel can be especially powerful as a way to preserve the environment instead. Proper planning and research allow tourists to find eco-friendly alternatives that are enjoyable for both solo travelers and families. There are lots of online tools and travel companies that can help you to book incredible experiences that are kind to the environment.
4 USEFUL APPS 1. Green Globe
Green Globe is the quintessential green travel app. It finds sustainable hotels, resorts, cruise ships, tours and conference centers and provides photos of properties, videos and links to help you book travel directly.
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2. Commute Greener
Commute Greener does what its name suggests, giving you tailored suggestions for your daily commute to make it as low-emission as possible — from the most efficient map routes to ridesharing suggestions in your area.
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3. iRecycle
This is pretty basic. If you have absolutely no idea where your local recycling facility is, download iRecycle and it'll find it for you. You can customize your search based on what you're trying to recycle — including old VCR tapes! — and it'll find the nearest place for you, with all their contact information and restrictions.
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4. Carma Carpool
Carma is a carpooling app for various parts of the U.S. that helps you find people to carpool with and makes the whole begging-for-gas-money thing redundant: every member of the pool pays 20 cents per mile using credit on their app accounts, and most of that goes to the driver. You can find strangers along your route or use it to coordinate trips with friends.
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References: • https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/principles-importance-benefitsecotourism.php • https://www.nature.org/greenliving/what-is-ecotourism.xml • https://greenglobaltravel.com/what-is-ecotourism-10-simple-steps-to-moresustainable-travel/ • https://www.zmescience.com/other/feature-post/what-is-ecotourism/