Travel that prioritizes the earth’s wonders while having minimum impact on the environment is what lies at the heart of ecotourism. The current tourism industry is worth an incredible $7 trillion, employs one in ten workers worldwide, and is growing at a consistent rate of 5% per year.
However, conventional tourism’s carbon impact is three times what scientists originally estimated. According to a 2018 study by the University of Sydney, current tourism practices make up for over 8% of the world’s carbon emissions.
Experts in the tourism industry say they have hope that new travels methods (like ecotourism) can curb that number. Director of Research at The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Rochelle Turner, said of the findings, “We’ve seen a growing number of hotels, airports and tour operators that have all become carbon neutral so there is a momentum. There is a real need for people to recognise what their impact is in a destination, and how much water, waste and energy you should be using compared to the local population. All of this will empower tourists to make better decisions and only through those better decisions that we’ll be able to tackle the issue of climate change.”
To highlight their efforts on the forefront of ecotourism, we’re rounding up some of the most famous climate-conscious destinations in the world today:
Palau
Starting off in our Southeast Asia region, the Republic of Palau is a small country of roughly 380 islands sitting east of the Philippines. Palau is the first nation to have a conservation pledge that all visitors must sign to enter the country. And this passport pledge is written by the children of Palau. The country’s travel website reads, “On December 7, 2017, Palau became the first country to update its immigration policy and landing procedures to implement legislation with the goal of preserving Palau’s vibrant culture and the beauty of natural environment for future generations.”
Costa Rica
A true pioneer in ecotourism, Costa Rica has been encouraging visitors to travel responsibly to their nature parks and lush rainforests since the 1990s. Although it’s a small territory, Costa Rica makes up 5% of the world’s biodiversity. With 29 natural parks, 19 wildlife refuges, and 8 biological reserves, over 25% of the island is protected natural wonders.
Galapagos Islands
Ecotourism is responsible for 85% of the Galapagos Islands’ economy, and it’s no wonder why. Boasting coastal sceneries, volcanic landscapes, and an abundance of wildlife, these islands have long been attracting tourists who seek to immerse themselves in the natural world. Even Charles Darwin, one of the islands first ecotourists, was so inspired by their natural beauty he used it to study the theory of evolution. Entrance fees into the Galapagos National Park go straight to conservation efforts on the islands, helping to protect the many endangered species unique to the environment.
Bhutan
Located at the seat of the Himalayas, just east of Nepal, Bhutan is a breathtaking nation full of mountain vistas, often finding itself in lists of the top ecotourist destinations in the world. Aside from the rare, beautiful flora and fauna throughout the region, man-made structures coexisting with the environment create vistas that people travel from all over the world to see.
Coming soon…Natuna
Natuna Island boasts unspoiled beaches and forests, offering bountiful opportunities for ecotourism to blossom. Even the locals are interested in economic growth and foreign investment to turn the island into an ecotourism destination. To date, there has not been a campaign to turn the island into the next, more environmentally-conscious ecotourism hub, making the island primed for green investment. Sustainable economic growth in Natuna would show the international community that the island is an integral part of the Indonesian cultural and economic identity.
