Is Eco-Tourism Really Eco-Friendly?
By NomadicMatt | Published: January 12, 2009
There is a trend in travel that has picked up a lot of steam over the last few years. That trend is called Eco-Tourism (or Green Travel). As the environment has become more important to people over the last decade, and especially so in the last couple of years, companies around the world are trying to cash in on people’s willingness to spend lots of money in the name of environmental protection. Much of it is greenwashing though, or insincere and over hyped attempts to be viewed as green. The travel industry has not been immune to this trend and many companies now tout their environmental credentials in an effort to lure customers and great a positive image.
You have to wonder though, just how environmentally friendly is eco-tourism? Eco-tourism is defined as “connecting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in responsible tourism activities should follow the following eco-tourism principles: minimize impact, build environmental and cultural awareness and respect, provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts, provide direct financial benefits for conservation, provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people, and raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climate.”
But how many companies really live up to that? How much of it is really greenwashing? If I had to put a number on it, and I am going to, I’d say at least 50% of it is simply greenwashing. The Marriott or other resorts might talk about their commitment to reducing waste by using recycled toilet paper and low flow shower heads but they have huge mega-hotels. The nature of their hotels means they will never been truly environmentally friendly, unless they rebuilt the place from scratch. And most of their customers wouldn’t put up with higher prices to help offset the capital costs of upgrading to be eco-friendly. You can offset your carbon emissions with Qantas but, if you really want to reduce your footprint, you wouldn’t fly.
Companies tout how they are going green to save the environment but they make incremental changes designed to make us feel good. Few companies make the capital investment to truly change their business model, especially those in the tourism industry.
And the commitment to local cultures? With the exception of a few tour operators like Gap Adventures rarely do you see companies trying to help the local communities in any significant way. They operate big tours with underpaid local staff and expatriate lots of money to headquarters instead of keeping it in the local economy. Ask most of the porters on the Inca Trail how they are treated and you won’t find a favorable response.
Eco-tours market themselves as a low impact, environmental, and community friendly way to see the world. See the Amazon or Patagonia without making a big environmental impact. See Antarctica without making an impact. Tourists come, learn a bit about the local culture, and then leave, content with the knowledge they “helped” the environment. But the reality is that big companies bring you in, make you feel good, and take all the profit back home.
I see promise and hope in sustainable tourism. To me this is different than eco-tourism. Eco-tourism to me is about not damaging the environment and providing a little education but sustainable tourism is about living and growing with the environment and the local cultures. You don’t find this with the big companies. They may change a light bulb and reduce waste but would you really consider that sustainable? Sustainable tourism requires new thinking and you find this mostly with small scale operators. These operators change their business structure as to have as minimal an impact on the environment as possible. They buy local goods, use local services, treat their employees well, use few resources, and try hard to help rebuild the environment and educate tourists.
This is a much more promising side to the eco-tourism trend. By participating in local initiatives that better the environment instead of just a feel good, greenwashed tour, you contribute more substantially to protecting the environment. I believe the eco-tourism trend is here to stay and that is for sure a good thing. However, in order for it to have a much greater impact, there needs to be a focus not only on “using less toilet paper” but also on sustainable, local initiatives that help business growth with and heal the environment.
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Even though most of the tourist destinations and agents speak a lot about green tourism there is nothing much done on behalf of it. Well as you said money dosent even help or even stay in the local economies. Nothing works well as it is supposed to be in eco-tourism.
Well, all I can say is that I have seen this happening but on a very lower scale. At least in India, the things have to be forced besides advertising.
And I really don’t know how feasible it is to be fully eco-friendly which looks quite impractical at present.
Great post Matt. I agree with you that eco-tourism isn’t necessarily eco-friendly. What’s even more challenging is that many places label themselves as “green” or “eco” just because they want the label but don’t actually do anything to this extent.
Small, locally, owned businesses are actually a lot more green because they are sustainable than those labeled “eco”.
I think a lot of people jump on the ‘eco’ band wagon for sheer ‘greed’ at earning extra $$$ – unfortunate but true
http://www.islandreefjob.com Maybe something for you Matt
? At least you would have to update your blog a little bit more frequently.
The consensus seems to be that there is a lot of greenwashing going on. What do you all think should be done?
@Jurn: I am going to start updating more!
Matt;
I agree, there’s abuse of the ‘green theme’ out there and that ’s just part of life.
One day ‘eco-tourism’ will be the norm and everyone will get to know those with high standards both environmentally and morally.
I like what you wrote, ” there is promise and hope in sustainable tourism. To me this is different than eco-tourism. Eco-tourism to me is about not damaging the environment and providing a little education but sustainable tourism is about living and growing with the environment and the local cultures.”
Excellant article, keep them coming…
Sandy
Hey Matt,
You can’t really tell, can you? I mean, one can’t really be sure where the money is channeled to. At the end of the day, it’s really the notion of buying into the eco-friendly idea of a holiday that makes one’s vacation a bit more enjoyable. It’s like “hey, I’ve done my part!” sort of thing.
Also, we have to consider the alternative of not having these tour operators operating in the area – there might be less employment to go around in the local population. That is similar to the argument for child labour.
Cheers,
C K
great post. i think everything is relative…
Hey Matt,
Please don’t take this comment as a negative jab at you – it really is simply a comment on all of us.
Ecotourism and sustainable tourism are certainly great ideas, but like all ideas man has ever come up with, there are those who PRACTICE them and those who ABUSE them. So, yes, greenwashing is all around. And, yes, it is easy to point the finger at the mega hotels, how they suck all the water from a community, how they underpay native / local staff, how they pollute, etc.
But you know what – we need to first of all look at ourselves. Look at your own ‘About Matt’ page and the places you want to visit. That kind of travelling the world in jet aircraft is not sustainable. As I say, I’m not picking on you at all. I too travel in aircraft every year to my holidays in France and my nature walking trips in Poland.
So change starts at home.
Yes, let’s all keep a watchful eye out for greenwashing. Yes, let’s laud all the very best ecotourism businesses we patronise. But also, let’s become more sustainable ourselves – reduce electricity consumption, stop burning fossil fuels, increase recycling, drive smaller more environmentally friendly cars, do more conservation work and education, education, education …
Barry.
I did a post on eco tours in mexico a while back and i didn’t really think about the fact that they could not really be promoting environmentally-friendliness as much as they seem. however promoting awareness in this way is better than nothing i think!
Good article, but for me sustainable tourism is the same or a part of ecotourism. But I agree with you, there is lots of greenwashing out there and that’s why ecotourism needs more international standards and labels.
very well expressed..,my posts on Bandipur wildlife sanctuary refers to the trend of eco tourism vs green washing ..I recently did a story on this trend
Hi there eco-tourists! Nice article!
By the way, we are working on NaturCert+, which is our very own blog where we share our news and articles, and where visitors have the opportunity to share their activities and ideas with the rest of the world.
Our aim for NaturCert+, is to develop a public platform that will address a variety of issues related to responsible and/or sustainable travel & tourism and become a daily reading resource for a broad spectrum of visitors.
We aim to give the opportunity to bloggers to contribute and share their content relevant to responsible and/or sustainable travel & tourism on our blog and gain new readers and followers, more visibility and publicity, as well as better promotion while generating added value for the submitted content.
Please contact us on plus@naturcert.com if you are interested.
Know what I hate? When companies give YOU the customer opportunities to donate (for example, toward off-setting global warming pollution a la Cathway Pacific or like our electric company in Boston) and then claim all the glory, that they are green companies, for themselves! They didn’t donate a dime, they just handed your dimes over. No thanks, I’ll donate in my own name and take the credit for myself!
I wish there was a watch dog for green washing.
To me ecotourism is educating people especially in developing countries that will make more money from their wildlife in the long run by promoting it as a tourist destination, than killing the forests and jungle for quick profits.
It is easy to criticise others (greenwashing, especially by large companies annoys me too) but I do think it important that we all take our own small steps to helping a little. It is relatively easy (and probably more enjoyable and fulfilling) when we travel to use local transport, support small local businesses, discuss issues such as conservation and respect cultures. As more businesses realise that this is the required standard for travellers, then they will move their businesses to a more sustainable tourism model as otherwise they will not get any patronage. It is a long journey but all journeys start with a single step.
Sometimes I even think it feels hopeless, that we never get anywhere in this matter, but I guess we must have some stamina. And yes, we all have to do our part of it otherwise it will never be. As in every matter, the key is education – it’s such an important part of it. To highlight all the aspects.
I agree Lifecruiser. Sometimes it’s like your banging your head against a brick wall, it seems that the gas guzzlers are just missing the point completely.
Education is definitely important and hopefully through differentiation between short term and long term efforts we can arrive at some sort of feasible solution. I hear more and more that people are moving away from the big gas guzzling hotel chains and are opting for staying amongst the locals and using local produce. I just hope this trend continues…
Obviously, by the very nature of my website, I believe wholeheartedly in the concept of green travel. And, yes, the concept is a complete oxymoron. Unless you’re shuffling along on foot or peddling a bicycle, no travel mode is completely green. Just as no big corporate hotel chain will ever be blind to the bottom line when taking green measures. Hey, it’s a screwed up, imperfect world out there. Greenwashing has become this boogy man — another excuse to say, ah, what the hell, what difference does it make? It does make a difference. Collectively, it make a BIG difference. Who cares why a hotel decides to recycle and conserve energy and take steps to be connected to its local community? The point is, it’s doing it! And as travelers we make all kinds of personal choices every day on the road. So support the greener options! You’ll feel good for having done so, stay healthier on the road, and vote with your dollars for greener travel. Like reading the label on your box of breakfast cereal, it takes a little more effort to figure out the best thing for you. But it can be done, and it’s worth it, in the long run.
Hi Matt,
I agree with you on the green washing. I am a strong beleiver in Sustainable Tourism, and hopefully world will go that way. The government needs to make a stronger call for each country to make things better.
Vineeta