A guide to understanding eco-tourism
Image: The Daintree Rainforest. Photo: Flickr.
Eco-tourism is centred around visiting the natural world and immersing yourself in nature,
while being mindful of the impact you have on the locations you visit. It refers to travelling
while being mindful about sustainability and reducing negative environmental impacts.
People are becoming increasingly aware of the impact that their holidays and travel
experiences have on our planet and communities. Studies show that travellers want to explore
the world with the environment in mind. A 2021 Booking.com study showed that 83% of
travellers want to use more environmentally friendly forms of transportation, and 69% want to
reduce their carbon footprint on their holidays.
Transportation is one of the leading contributors to global carbon emissions! It’s important to
understand that trips on planes, trains and cars to reach your stunning destination can have a
negative impact on the environment. Eco-tourism is all about understanding the impact you
have and mitigating these factors.
Where to go?
So how can you be eco-conscious when you travel? It’s all about making the right decisions
when planning your trip. A great place to start is to think about travelling locally. Popular eco-
tourism destinations in Australia include The Great Barrier Reef, the stunning bushland of
Tasmania, or the Daintree Rainforest in our country’s tropical north.
All of these stunning locations offer visitors the chance to connect with Australia’s natural
wonders and contemplate the impact that climate change has on their survival. When looking
for accommodation, consider staying in an eco-lodge or even camping.
The final thing that eco-tourism focuses on is the communities that live in travel destinations
who have been negatively impacted by travel to that area in the past. Visitors can be damaging
to communities that deal with lots of tourism through pollution and the degradation of the
natural landscape.
Eco-tourism is about understanding how to make your travel count in the right ways, by
enriching local communities and connecting with different cultures. The future of travel is being transformed by eco-tourism to be an overall more sustainable and positive experience for everyone involved.
