Ecotourism; A label given to travelling across the planet, treading lightly and not disturbing the people and other creatures that are living there.

Incorporating your ‘truths’ into making a living can often lead a person to choose his area of work in something he enjoys. Ecotourism offers a niche for those who wish to share an appreciation of other cultures, places and people, and the freedom of spirit that travelling can create. It must be a position of great responsability, and caution not to cross that fine line into the degradation of an area, the lifestyle of its’ inhabitants and its’ natural resources.

There are eco companies that carefully plan excursions and holidays to beautiful, interesting far flung places, enabling you to become part of the community at both ends of the journey – developing relationships with local inhabitants that are mutually satisfying. Rather than feel like an unwanted outsider and contracting into oneself resulting in all sorts of stand offish behaviour, the traveller can feel comfortable that he is accepted, even welcome at his destination, and expand into it, to develop a deeper connection there, and enjoy a much fuller experience.

We are all brothers and sisters sharing mother earth, and exploring each others cultures can remind us just how much or how little an impact different cultures have on our immediate environment and the planet as a whole, and may be an important part of the process of reconnecting with our more natural state of being as an integral part of life on earth.

Eco tourism is a wonderful way to travel the globe for a holiday or adventure, and eco friendly sustainable tourism can be experienced at both ends of the scale. It is strange but true that some of the simplest and most ancient of pleasures; saunas, massage, yoga, swimming, fine cooking with fine organic produce, meditation and relaxation, have become the main components of some of the most exclusive luxury resorts in trend, where these ‘simple pleasures are provided for you wrapped in exclusivity. For those who prefer a more down to earth adventure, there are plenty of opportunities for low impact back packing and trekking in some of the wildest places. Ultimately, the level of eco appreciation is down to, or up to the person doing the appreciating , for many these days that level is increased when they know that nothing has suffered so that they may enjoy.
How ‘green’ the eco tourism you are prepared to accept is of course your personal decision. A little greener is better than not green at all, and completely green is hard to find, although not impossible and a bit of research will uncover some travel destination options that are being as green as they can, avoiding green washing by not telling green marketing fibs, and aiming to grow greener as they evolve.