Ecotourism: A Sustainable Way to Travel
Travel needs reform.
Travel is a gift, but it needs reform. As tourism has become a significant industry over the last few decades, negative environmental impacts due to over-tourism have become an essential societal issue. The existence of the world's most beautiful locations is now under threat, and it is getting out of control. If we are privileged enough to travel, we are responsible for traveling in a way that honors the earth we are exploring and benefits the place and wildlife we visit.
What is ecotourism?
There is, however, a tourism revolution that is just getting started. One way for this to work is for travel to become more responsible, and the solution is ecotourism. Ecotourism means responsible or sustainable travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the local people's well-being, culture, and historical heritage, and involves education and interpretation.
Here are 3 "key actions that sum up ecotourism:
Supporting local communities and business owners
Reducing your impact on the natural environmental resources, and
Avoiding actions that will negatively impact cultural practices or local traditions."
Travel should be about enriching experiences, and ecotourism does that. You get a deeper understanding of a destination and, therefore, the chance to understand its natural beauty.
Ecotourism-focused attractions put the environment's welfare first to ensure they supply a long-term service. It protects and preserves several of the foremost fragile ecosystems on the earth so that they are often enjoyed for generations to return.
The principles of ecotourism
Creating national parks and conservation areas for natural resources is one strategy to enhance environmental sustainability. It is crucial to stay on designated walkways, dispose of waste responsibly, leave everything as you find it, take only photographs, and leave only footprints. Seek out indigenous artisans and learn about their craft. Be a traveler, not a tourist. Take time to immerse yourself in local music, art, and cuisine. Embrace the cultural differences that make it unique.
Ecotourism aims to reduce the adverse effects of trails, hotels, and other infrastructure by incorporating recycled materials and readily accessible local building materials, renewable energy sources, safe disposal of waste and rubbish, sustainably designed staycations, and eco-friendly resorts. Minimizing the effect to avoid harming the environment entails regulating tourist numbers and visitors. The number of tourists allowed in a specific location should be regulated.
Get Close to Nature
Unlike certain protected areas, ecotourism-reserved sites will not quickly stop working due to a lack of finance. Tourists fund conservation work through camping fees, park entrance fees, municipal taxes, and safari tours.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), our neighboring countries, Nepal, Bhutan, and India have developed their ecotourism sector by implementing appropriate management policies. This is yet to be accomplished in Bangladesh.
Ecotourism in Bangladesh
Bangladesh possesses great potential for ecotourism development. Its topography boasts an abundant source of flora and fauna. There are many ecotourism destinations strewn over this land. For example, our ecotourism products can be offshore islands, haors, wetlands, and mangrove forests. I have highlighted a few spots that could function as ecotourism stopovers based on my experience: The Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, is a gold mine for ecotourism. Among other ecotourism attractions are tea plantations in Sylhet, mountain green landscapes, and Kaptai Lake of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). St. Martin Island is a haven for coral reefs and rare species of turtles and can be considered the most suitable destination for advancing ecotourism in Bangladesh.
Nevertheless, unplanned and unregulated tourism may jeopardize the island's natural setting. Ecotourism would help sustain the rich biodiversity while benefiting the local community. To safeguard coastal biodiversity, most countries have banned the collection and sale of corals, algae, snails, and oysters in the impacted areas.
A Woman Plucking Fresh Tea Leaves at a Tea Garden
In Bangladesh, travelers prefer natural locations since outdoor activities such as camping, village homestay, hiking, trekking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, boat riding, kayaking, and fishing can be carried out efficiently in the natural environment.
Sustainable travel positively impacts the destinations and communities we visit and provides us with meaningful experiences that we will remember for a long time.
Why should you care about ecotourism?
Promoting sustainable travel in Bangladesh will lead to the following:
Preservation of wildlife
Platform to promote and monetize the local native community
Development of remote areas surrounding
It allows the indigenous people to remain on their ancestral land and conserve it.
Locals and visitors become aware of the surrounding environmental wealth.
Both travelers and hosts are provided with a positive experience.
Traditional crafts and customs can be revitalized.
The other travel genres related to ecotourism include adventure travel, multi-sport adventures, and responsible tourism. Adventure travel combines risk-taking and occasionally uses unconventional means of transport. A boat journey within the river of Bandarban hill district represents this sort of tourism. A camping trip in the wilderness that leaves no trace falls under the responsible tourism category. Multi-sport adventures focus on outdoor physical activities like climbing, trekking, cycling, and all that.
The concluding thought on ecotourism
Ecotourism is a growing trend as people become more aware of their travel's impact on the world around them. Ecotourism is about more than just sightseeing. It is about taking ownership of your travel's impact on local cultures, economies, and environments. Ecotourists are conscientious travelers who take care not to harm the communities they visit. They are also interested in learning about the culture and traditions of the people they meet and supporting local businesses. Ecotourism benefits travelers and communities alike and is a crucial way to help preserve our planet's resources. With some planning, ecotourism can be a great way to see the world while making a positive impact.
