Eco-tourism some time back existed merely in dictionaries. But with the changing times, environment has changed drastically and so, the importance of the very word eco-tourism. Now, everyone tries to do something that encompasses the word eco-tourism. Why not, who doesn’t fear the melting glaciers, the rising temperatures...and so the very idea of getting wiped from the face of the earth due to a environmental catastrophe.
Eco-tourism, which is defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people” has been the most practiced thing these days. With its importance it ahs been practicing increasingly. As per The International Eco-tourism Society (TIES) the eco-tourism has grown three times faster than the tourism industry on a global level. However, people still don’t understand the actual meaning of this term. But what is still concerning is that as according to the National Geographic Traveler about three quarters of tourist are worried about the environment of the place they visit, it is hardly known that if they practice that too. The problem arises because of the fact that people usually don’t practice, what they preach.
Not only the environment, even the wild life suffers due to concentration of human life around them. For instance, Yellow-eyed penguin chicks in New Zealand weigh less where there are tourists all around the year as compared to their species living in fewer tourists’ prone areas. Whales have also suffered as the whale lovers often go to watch them but many of them don’t know when whales loose life because of being struck by the boats. Also the researchers in Africa have accounted that meerkats and mongoose are catching tourist-borne diseases. However, abolishing eco-tourism is not the answer at all.
Eco-tourism will have to be practiced within its literary meaning and then only we can expect it to work. Tharaniselvam Balakrishnan, a wildlife specialist from India, says that eco-tourism being a new practice will work with time but initially the mistakes are bound to occur. Travelers should also take care of the environment. If everyone takes an oath to contribute just a little to the cause of global warming, I am sure the situation will soon improve.
Source: Thestar
