What is Ecotourism?

• Tourism involving visiting relatively undisturbed natural areas, intended as a low-impact and often small scale alternative to mass tourism

The 7 Characteristics of Ecotourism

1. Involves travel to natural destinations 2. Minimizes impact 3. Teaches environmental awareness 4. Financially supports conservation 5. Provides money and empowerment for local

people 6. Respects local culture 7. Supports human rights and democratic

movements

Top 13 Ecotourism Destinations

PalauWhat Is It• A small island nation in the South

PacificWhy Is It Special• Is one of the world's best diving

destinations• Has a “Jellyfish Lake” where you can

snorkel with millions of harmless jellyfish

How Has It Been Preserved• Its remoteness has helped to shield

both it from mass tourism• About 460 miles of reefs and

shoreline are dedicated no-fishing zones, which has allowed many endangered species of fish to repopulate the area

Norwegian FjordsWhat Is It• Long, narrow inlets with steep

sidesWhy Is It Special• Visitors can go hiking, biking, take

a scenic boat ride • The climate is mild due to a warm

ocean current nearbyHow Has It Been Preserved• Their remote location and strict

environmental regulations have helped preserve their pristine beauty

• Norway has taken care to protect its unique coastline by regulating the fishing, whaling, sealing and petroleum industries.

Costa RicaWhat Is It• A beautiful Central American country• It is the most famous ecotourist locationWhy Is It Special• Its famous ‘Cloud Forests’, black sand

beaches, river rapids, active volcanos• Has incredible biodiversity, everything

from monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, jaguars, sea turtles and poison dart frogs

• Lots of adventure tourism like rafting, ziplining, horseback riding, rock climbing

How Has It Been Preserved• It has many national parks, covering over

12% of their land• There are many eco-friendly

accommodations

KeralaWhat Is It• A state in India on the SW coastWhy Is It Special• Beautiful beaches and virgin

forests• Lots of wildlife like elephants,

buffalo and wild boarHow Has It Been Preserved• In the past Kerala's ecosystems

were threatened by excessive forest clearing, but these days many of the state's forests are now protected, and tourist officials are encouraging environmentally responsible travel to the area.

Blue MountainsWhat Is It• A mountain range in Australia,

a World Heritage SiteWhy Is It Special• Lots of adventure tourism like

rock climbing, rappelling, canoeing, and mountain biking

• Koalas live hereHow Has It Been Preserved• Several national parks cover

the area, hosting dozens of trails

• Many eco-lodges to stay in

BorneoWhat Is It• An island in SE Asia that belongs

to 3 countries – Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei

Why Is It Special• New species are being discovered

every year• Mountains and jungles for hiking• Orangutans live hereHow Has It Been Preserved• Award-winning eco-hotels such

as the Sukau Rainforest Lodge, a completely self-sufficient hotel that uses rainwater and solar energy

KenyaWhat Is It• A country in eastern AfricaWhy Is It Special• Its savannas are teeming with

lions, wildebeest and elephants• Its beautiful mountains, rain

forests and beachesHow Has It Been Preserved• Over 50 national parks and

reserves• The government works with the

locals to use ecotourism as a way to boost their economy

DominicaWhat Is It• A small island in the

Caribbean• Called “the Nature Island of

the Caribbean”Why Is It Special• Is the “Whale Watching

Capital” of the Caribbean• It has a naturally boiling lakeHow Has It Been Preserved• Lots of secluded rainforest

eco-lodges• Not many people go there

The AmazonWhat Is It• The biggest rainforest in the

world, is mostly in BrazilWhy Is It Special• Contains 1/10th of all known

species , such as jaguars, piranhas, pink dolphins, marmosets, sloths

• Called “the lungs of the world”, makes 20% of world’s oxygen

How Has It Been Preserved• Lots of eco-lodges• The government works with

locals to preserve the area

AlaskaWhat Is It• The largest state in the USAWhy Is It Special• It has snow-capped mountains,

tundra, glaciers• A wide range of endangered

wildlife like humpback whales, brown bears, lynx, sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, and blue whales

How Has It Been Preserved• Over 100 state parks to explore• Not many people go there since

it’s remote and cold

The GalapagosWhat Is It• A set of islands off the coast of S.

AmericaWhy Is It Special• Here is where Charles Darwin was

inspired to write about his theory of evolution

• Home to unique species like komodo dragons, penguins, and giant tortoises

How Has It Been Preserved• The government is very restrictive

about how many people they let in and what they are allowed to do there

• 97% is protected as a the first natural World Heritage Site

• Not allowed activities like jet-skiing or flash photography

BotswanaWhat Is It• A country in southern Africa• Called the ‘Jewel of Africa’Why Is It Special• It has tons of wildlife like

elephant herds, leopards, lions, zebras, hippos, white rhinos, and baboons

How Has It Been Preserved• Lots of eco-resorts, most

are quite pricey so not as many tourists go there

The HimalayasWhat Is It• The tallest mountain range

in the world, between India and Nepal

Why Is It Special• Snow-covered mountains

and glaciers and valleys• Wildlife like snow leopards,

black bears, red pandas, yaks

How Has It Been Preserved• Is a difficult trip, so not

many people go there

Ecotourist Hotels

What Makes a Hotel an “Eco-Hotel”?

• Housekeeping uses non-toxic cleaning agents and detergent

• 100% organic cotton sheets, towels and mattresses• Non-smoking environment• Renewable energy sources like solar or wind energy• Towel and sheet re-use policies• Energy-efficient lighting• On-site transportation with green vehicles• Serve organic and local-grown food• Graywater recycling, which is the reuse of kitchen, bath

and laundry water for garden and landscaping

Examples of Eco-Hotels

Bucuti Beach Resort - Aruba• Your water is heated with

solar panels• The rooms are built from

recycled materials with furniture made of sustainably farmed wood and recycled plastic.

• A local charity works with the resort to preserve turtle nesting habitat and lets guests watch turtle hatchlings crawl to the ocean

Chumbe Island Coral Park - Tanzania

• Tanzania’s first coral reef sanctuary

• Seven self-sustaining eco-bungalows built using local mangrove poles with palm-thatched roofs, each with its own rainwater catchment and composting toilets.

• Shower water is recycled through the garden.

• With almost 400 species of fish, every day of snorkeling is a good day!

Baghvan Pench Jungle Lodge - India

• Your money goes to help fund sustainable local agriculture

• You can see Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and striped hyenas

• The lodge recycles its water and teaches about conservation

Selva Verde Lodge – Costa Rica• Of the country’s many

eco-lodges promoting sustainable tourism, this one stands out

• The lodge works to promote conservation and environmental education

• Birders, naturalists and zipliners will love the 500 acre preserve

Tassia Lodge - Kenya• Part of the Lekurruki

Community Conservation Ranch, it helps the ecosystem but also the local Maasi people

• The rooms are built not on, but into the edge of a cliff overlooking a vast African plain.

• Walking safaris are a welcome change. You’re likely to see giraffes, gazelles, zebras, and maybe a troop of baboons.

Cotton Tree Lodge - Belize

• Is located between the river and the rainforest

• You can scuba dive in the second largest reef system in the world

• Their restaurant serves Belizean food prepared with the freshest ingredients from local farmers and their own organic garden

Laguna Lodge - Guatemala• On the shore of Lake Atitlán• It only has six suites made

of local materials• The food is organic, fresh,

and meat free and the coffee comes from the lodge’s own gardens

• A hundred-acre nature reserve established by the lodge reaches from the shore up the mountain.

• Adrenaline buffs can jump from high rock faces into the deep water