Introduction

Ecotourism is an effort by environmentally friendly organisations and individuals to minimise the drastic effects other regular forms of tourism are causing on the planet. The growing concern over the well-being of our planet is driving environmentalists and tourism and hospitality management systems to care about the outcomes of their businesses. Changing patterns in rainfall, snowfall, summer, heat waves, wildfires, and storms are fuelling the thriving of the environmentally friendly concept of Ecotourism. Without destroying the highly lucrative businesses or losing on the adventures of tourism, ecotourism seems to be a great solution to the modern consumerism-based tourism problems.

There are still challenges that need to be overcome. Without addressing the challenges, Ecotourism will become just another fancy name under which nature gets exploited in different ways. Here are the current trends in the Ecotourism sector, which point us toward the future of the tourism industry in general.

The Effects of Traditional Tourism

Source: Antoine GIRET Unsplash

The tourism industry generates over 10 per cent of the world’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The tourism industry is one of the top five sources of foreign exchange for 83% of the countries in the world (Source: Green Money). However, traditional tourism, as it is today, is harming the environment in several ways.

• Firstly, it is causing the overuse of water resources. Luxury tourists literally waste water, creating water scarcity. It is estimated that just 100 tourists in luxury hotels use the same amount of water in 55 days as 100 residents from developing nations use in 3 years (Source: Tourism Concern)!

• Along with water, large amounts of food are wasted every year in luxury tourism. This creates imbalances in food supply chains, snatching food away from underprivileged communities.

• Tourism is a major contributor to environmental pollution. Popular tourist spots receive trash cans, water bottles, food containers, and other waste along with the visitors. This is a major concern for local trash management systems.

• The profit-oriented tourism leads to the introduction of hotel chains. This leads to the degradation of local culture and economy as it will force local businesses and individuals to go out of business.

• According to Scientific American, the Tourism industry is responsible for 8% of the Earth's carbon emissions. The inevitable higher carbon emissions from flights take up a large portion of these emissions. This in turn leads to climate change and its disastrous effects on the environment.

• Even the oceans and sea life are threatened due to the uncontrolled development of tourism. Coral reefs and beaches are being destroyed by thousands of boats and plastic trash. This is straining the local trash management systems.

Ecotourism

For all these reasons, ecotourism was conceptualised in the 1980s. Saving the environment and local culture without sacrificing the adventurous and educative element of tourism was what led to the development of the concept of Ecotourism. As the effects of climate change began to be publicised, Ecotourism gained momentum. More tourists started looking for alternative solutions in travel, lodging, and dining. The United Nations declared 2002 as the Year of Ecotourism. Ecotourism has been growing economically ever since. It was worth only 181.1 Billion USD in 2019 but is expected to reach 333.8 Billion USD by 2027 (Source: Allied Market Research)

Ecotourism was defined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990 as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people.

Present and future of ecotourism

As an environmentally friendly branch of tourism, Ecotourism is steadily gaining popularity. According to several surveys, 1 in 3 individuals prefer eco-friendly products. The future will be more eco-friendly than it is today. Environmental friendly products, accommodations, and travel habits will all have a positive impact on this branch of tourism. Hence, it is a wiser decision for tourism and hospitality managers to look for opportunities and invest in ecotourism for the greater good.

Can Ecotourism be the answer?

Here are some ways in which ecotourism is sustaining the environment, minimising the damage of tourism, and helping economic growth. The future of ecotourism can be tracked through these trends and their relevance. Adaptability to the changing times is crucial for the survival of every human being on this planet. Before climate change disrupts normal environmental conditions to the extreme, tourism and hospitality managers can make these travelling and lodging trends work for their profits without sacrificing the well-being of their surroundings.

1. Eco Lodging

Source: Glen Jackson

Responsible tourists are searching for new experiences in lodging. As a result, alternative lodging solutions are gaining popularity. Instead of the same old brick and mortar AC rooms, there is an increasing demand for camps, tents, heritage homes, and nature-friendly lodgings. These environmentally friendly structures cause less pollution, take less space, and are more easily affordable than luxury hotels. These structures are built using naturally occurring building materials like bamboo, mud, and wood, or using recycled plastic, bricks, and recycled wood. Recycled products offer more flexible, cost-effective, and eco-friendly solutions to industry management.

1. Travelling trends

Travel trends have been changing steadily over the years. Tourism is no longer only about international travel. The typical western traveller's lodging in the woods of a third-world country is no longer the norm. Tourism has gone through a surge with the invention and popularity of the internet and social media. Younger generations are travelling deeper into unexplored territories than going far and wide over the earth. Local trekking trails, beaches, and rivers have become the hot favourites of the younger generation. People like to explore their own localities rather than visit other countries and continents. This could be a step forward for eco-friendly travel as distances are shorter and emissions are scarcer.

2. Local accommodations

Vietnam - Source: Oanh MJ

There has been a surge in the demand for local accommodations over hotel chains' luxury accommodations (Source: Economics.org). Remote tourist destinations are opening up to new opportunities with local accommodations like homestays and heritage homes. These places are far away from the teaching and profit requirements of luxury hotel chains. Apart from this, local accommodations are cheaper, safer, more beneficial, and allow you to meet local people and experience their culture.

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Local accommodations are also an economically sound decision for both parties. This can bring money to poorer parts of the world, thus leveraging the economic differences within certain regions.

1. Ecotourism influences people to choose Eco-friendly travel

Bicycling is rising in popularity for local, short-distance travel. Along with the physical benefits, and riding thrill, Cycling is an eco-friendly travel method. Using public transportation is also a new experience for backpackers as they explore modern metros, cable cars, Maglev trains, and bullet trains. Apart from this, rafting, paddle boating and canoeing are also being preferred for water travel over motorboats. Indeed, in a recent study, 87% of travellers intended to travel sustainably (Source: Travel Agent Central), shedding light on the increasing trend in eco-friendly travel.

2. Volunteering

Volunteering is a trend in Ecotourism being embraced by many eco tourists. Often, travellers volunteer to help locals with education, skills development, the introduction of new technologies, and scientific methods. They often help locals with daily endeavours and learn about tradition, customs, and culture.

3. Women's empowerment

Ecotourism helps in women's empowerment. Ecotourism creates opportunities for locals to sell local valuables and natural substances. Women are employed in local shops, and businesses related to tourism and hospitality. They can also be employed as chefs, hospitality managers, and event managers. These opportunities result in a higher income for the family and thus increase the Standard of living in many poor countries of the world.

4. Ecotourism provides a platform for teaching and talent exhibition

Airbnb is a pioneer in introducing local talents to the tourism world. The Airbnb Host an experience that utilises local individuals to teach, entertain, or showcase their skills or talents to tourists. All kinds of activities are being experienced by tourists, like cooking classes, shooting, painting, and adventure sports. These not only give personal experience and connection but also are more environmentally friendly than other events or gatherings.

5. Ecotourism will create demand for local crafts and homemade items

Exclusive, limited Ecotourism can provide additional earning opportunities for local communities. Despite the popularity of digitalization, e-commerce, and globalisation, many art forms, delicacies, and cultural experiences are largely hidden from the prying eyes of modernization. These can only be found through a personal experience where crowds and profit-oriented tourism are still not a concern. For those that appreciate these, Ecotourism can build a platform that will strengthen the local economy and change the living standards of many poor populations around the world.

6. Restrictions on petting and riding of animals

Petting, feeding, and riding on animals have always been a part of natural tourist destinations. Somehow, these ideas have crept into Ecotourism too. However, recently after the COVID19, these endeavours are severely restricted in many parts of the world. Though such actions are enjoyable to the visiting population, they can lead to food poisoning, overfeeding, and changed lifestyles for the wild animals in captivity. The future might release such captive animals and let them where they should be - in the wild.

7. Plastic ban

Of all the inventions of mankind, plastic seems to be the toughest to get rid of. Even with all the awareness campaigns and stricter laws, plastic usage is nowhere near where it should have been a long time ago. The growing population of Eco-friendly travellers are well aware of the drastic effects of plastic on the environment. New eco-friendly travel agencies, lodging facilities, and activists are also taking strides in making plastic-free locations a reality. Hence, plastic use will decrease with the increase in popularity of ecotourism.

8. Organic food

Many individuals are looking for alternatives to factory-made processed foods. Organic farming and food are the best alternatives that are free from chemical treatments, preservatives, and artificial colours or flavours. Ecotourism has an alternative to this problem by organically growing and serving one's own food. Several eco-lodge facilities are growing their own food organically. Many of these even have crash courses in organic farming for tourists. Even solar and wind electricity are popular among such ventures. 

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Challenges

Source: Elizeu Dias

Even with all the positive impacts of Ecotourism, there are still several major challenges that make ecotourism stand in a negative light. Most of these challenges are due to a lack of planning, awareness, or mind set. The future might be more of these if eco-friendly travellers, lawmakers, and managers are not careful enough.

1. Traveller overload: Tourism destinations are seeing a surge in visits. This is especially true in popular tourist destinations and on long vacations. This is causing a strain on local resources like food and water. Due to the higher popularity of automobiles, cars and bikes cause roadblocks, air and noise pollution, and severely disrupt natural patterns.

Using a pass or limited ticket system can solve the overload problem. However, such a step needs strong leadership with the environmental aspects in mind.

2. Objectification of the local culture: Several tourism guides and agencies have jumped into the tour guide industry. In the name of cultural tours, tourists visit local populations, villages, and colonies. Such multiple tours can disrupt cultural norms and gradually degrade them. Local individuals are seen as tourist guides. Individuals become mere photographable objects. In most cases, photos are taken without asking for permission from the individuals and are shared over social media. This is a privacy risk and objectification of human beings that can move into a downward spiral of superiority or inferiority complex for the two parties involved.

3. Lack of planning and responsibilities causes the same old problems as traditional tourism: Ecotourism without responsibilities can cause the same consequences as traditional tourism, but under a fancy name. Also, it causes overcrowding, thus resulting in food and water scarcity. It can ruin natural flora and fauna with increased foot traffic (Source: USA Today) and destroy the hunting patterns of carnivores. Without responsible planning, it can scare off nesting birds, fish, and change migration patterns. Ecotourism can be ulteriorly motivated for the sole purpose of making money under the banner of Ecotourism. It can still cause large amounts of food wastage and put a strain on local waste management. Finally, it can also cause the development of the locality and result in the relocation of the local populations due to a growing threat to the conservation of natural habitats.

Conclusion

Ecotourism is not just a buzzword that will go out of trend after some time. It has been here for over 30 years and will be more relevant in the future. Climate change will play a major role in reinventing the tourism industry through ecotourism. Being in nature and solitude are two of the most sought after remedies for the busy city lives of the modern era. Ecotourism can offer those to the stressed generation. However, the challenge remains in the responsibility of creating and maintaining the true scope of Ecotourism. In many instances, in the name of Ecotourism, luxury hotels and hotel chains are exploiting nature and local culture. Creating awareness about the true spirit of the ecotourism industry with the younger population, in general, will have the right impact.

Whatever the odds are, ecotourism will be a lucrative alternative to traditional, consumerist tourism and its negative effects. With better planning and execution, tourism and hospitality managers can make ecotourism both environmentally friendly and lucrative without sacrificing the scope of tourism.

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