What is the ecotourism? This is a question that many people ask and it is not easy to answer. The definition continues to evolve, which means it continues to grow and change. In a nutshell, it could be described as a responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of the local population. But it's much more than that. Keep reading this post to discover everything you need to know about ecotourism.
What is ecotourism?
The first thing we must do is define this term to better understand everything we talk about it during this article.
Conventional tourism is based on the exploitation of natural resources without any consideration for the environment or the people who live in these areas. This way of doing tourism is no longer viable or sustainable, which has led to the emergence of ecotourism.
Ecotourism is based on the opposite premise: it seeks minimize the negative impact that tourism can in local communities, while maximizing the positive impact.
In other words, ecotourism is a form of tourism that has a low impact on the environment and a high social and economic impact on local communities.
What are the main characteristics of ecotourism?
Ecotourism is based on four pillars: environmental protection, education, social responsibility and economic viability. The ultimate goal of ecotourism is to create a model of sustainable development that can be replicated in other areas.
To achieve this, the ecotourism must meet the following criteria:
– Must have a low impact on the environment.
- Must be based on conservation principles.
- Must be socially and economically viable.
- Must offer educational opportunities to local communities.
– Must have the participation of local communities.
Advantages of this type of sustainable tourism
The main advantages of ecotourism are:
- It is a more sustainable form of tourism, as we have already mentioned.
- It generates new jobs and business opportunities for local communities.
- Promotes the conservation of natural spaces.
- It raises awareness about the importance of protecting the environment.
- Provides educational opportunities to local communities.
Places for ecotourism in Spain
Spain is a country with a great variety of landscapes and natural ecosystems. That is why it has been gaining more and more followers in recent years.
Some of the most popular ecotourism destinations in Spain are:
- The Sierra de Gredos Natural Park, in the province of Ávila.
- Cabañeros National Park, in the province of Toledo.
- Doñana National Park, in the province of Huelva.
- Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park, in the province of Huesca.
- Sierra Nevada National Park, in the province of Granada.
- Sa Canal d'en Martí, in Ibiza. It is one of the best hiking trails in the country.
Now that you know what it is and what places you can visit to enjoy it, what do you think of ecotourism?