Although people hear more about the negative aspects of tourism on the environment, there are a number of ways in which tourism helps local economies, raises awareness and contributes positively to countries around the world.

Tourism is one of the largest industries economically, worldwide. With people constantly globetrotting to new places, businesses have emerged and economies center around, the immense popularity of travel. In terms of a global economy, travel and tourism play a large role in both developing and first world economies. While the top ten most visited countries in 2007 were: the United States, Spain, France, Italy, China, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Austria and Turkey, the increase in travel to remote locations is increasing every year as well.

One of the ways in which tourism can help, especially in visiting remote locations or developing countries is in raising awareness on the issues in that country. As the values of green travel and ecotourism become more mainstream, visiting a poor country raises awareness on the political, economic and social problems that plague many developing nations. If you travel responsibly, use tour operators, travel companies and other businesses that are structured to give back to local economies and cultures, you are doing your part in helping the local people and environments in need. Because even on the most basic level, traveling to new places exposes issues that need attention in that part of the world. Poverty, health related issues, education and homelessness can all be impacted positively through tourism. And when tourism works for the greater good, action follows awareness. As people travel to developing nations, schools and education for local communities often follow – helping children and adults gain access to tools that will help them find jobs, combat local social issues and improve the quality of life.

Additionally, when structured properly local governments benefit from increased foreign exchange and tax revenues that travel brings to the area. In addition to this, as a result of an increase in world travel, many countries thrive on economies that revolve around tourism altogether. This is especially true for exotic locations like the Caribbean where life in the region is almost entirely sustained on tourism.


Although there are many debates surrounding whether this is positive or negative, travel to many regions of the world fuels local economies almost entirely.

Green travel is also doing its part to contribute to the positive effects of tourism. By educating travelers on ecotourism more companies and individuals are doing their part to make a positive effect on local and remote economies when they travel. As green travel becomes mainstream, any presence in a remote or exotic location will be pressured by local governments to be as green and eco-friendly as possible. This helps to preserve and maintain our world’s delicate ecosystems and also contributes to a more positive view of tourism overall.

As you travel, think about responsible traveler and how your presence will affect the place you are visiting. By adopting green travel ideals you will be doing your part in making a positive impact on tourism as opposed to a negative one.

With so many disadvantages of ecotourism, it is hard to see the advantages and benefits of ecotourism. However, if done right, the goals of ecotourism are to help the environment, preserve natural resources as well as help the local communities and economies.

Ecotourism is an industry that stands to make a lot of money from tourists that are seeking environmentally friendly vacations or ecologically friendly activities. The money from ecotourism could be used to preserve nature, wildlife, species and earth's natural resources as well as help local people with access to civilization and education.

For example, if a country is prime for ecotourism, the money could be used to preserve the environment in that country so that the natural resources would last longer. Local residents could also benefit from the growth in their economy and no longer have to live poorly. This, however, usually does not happen in reality because the locals rarely benefit from the growth of their economy. The investors and foreign corporations do. And the environment and natural resources rarely get preserved because they are worth more in a theme park attracting ecotourists.

Hi
Protection
# Ecotourism also helps to protect threatened wildlife and ensures that robust animal populations remain that way. Organizations such as the Nature Conservancy work with local resorts to help them build properties that will not harm the indigenous fauna. If you visit one of these eco-friendly lodges, you will know that your visit is not harming local animal populations. Furthermore, many ecotourism hotels will use some of your lodging funds to help better protect endangered and threatened animals.
Economic Advantages
# Ecotourism destinations are often in economically depressed regions of the world. Organizations like TIES and the Nature Conservancy ensure that the hotels and lodges are built in ways that will benefit the local community---i.e., with fair and sound hiring practices---and help lead to economic stabilization. In addition, these organizations train locals in hospitality, tourism marketing and other facets of tourism that will help locals to operate their properties better and maximize profit.
Cultural Advantages
# Ecotourism organizations always aim to respect indigenous people's cultures, customs and religions. Through dialogue with local leaders and community members, these organization seeks to quell any tensions that rise between the tourism industry and cultural tradition. Organizations encourage hotel and lodge operators to listen to the concerns of the local communities and community leaders and assist in strategies to deal with any issues that arise.

Thanks

Hi

1. Governments and economists: They want to boost the economy in general. They recognize the value of the tourist industry and just want it to keep growing. Because many of the people who benefit from tourism are not recognized, they are not usually particular about who are the winners and who are the losers as long as the overall economy grows a s a result.

2. Those who supply the ecotourism resources: These include the National Parks and the managers and the people who add new cultural dimensions. They want to be the beneficiaries but this does not always happen. In the area I come from while National Parks attract lots of people and make a huge contribution to the tourist industry, they are not properly rewarded by the Government to help them be better managed. I have also had some ecotourism experience in five continents but although it is almost always the ethnic minorities who add the most cultural interest to ecotourism, rarely do they fully benefit either.

3. The tourist operators: These are the people who most want to capitalize on the ecotourism resource for their own profit. They want to be the principal beneficiaries also but they usually achieve that objective. They manouvre to ensure they do. They have even changed the definition of "ecotourism" until is has become unrecognizable. I have seen almost every tour on Fraser Island advertised as an "ecotour" but rarely do those running them do so with the idea of protecting the environment. However, there are some very committed ecotour operators who are doing much to try to protect the environment. GO BUSH Safaris is trying to set a standard in this regard.

4. Environmentalists: They see ecotourism as a means to protect the environment. They expect that ecotourism to be a sustainable industry which will take advantage of natural areas to attract people as an alternative to destroying or damaging those natural areas through other industries such as the mining, agricultural or timber industries. They rarely see their objective met either because the tour operators are more committed to making profits than they are to ensuring that their impact on the environment is sustainable. They are the watchdogs on ecotourism trying to make governments ensure that sustainable standards are enforced.

5. Ecotourists themselves: Mostly they are on the side of the environmentalists but sometimes they don't have the option of choosing a tour operator who practices sustainability. There are several characteristics of ecotourists which I shall examine later. The most important thing to remember is that ecotourists want to experience natural areas and different cultures. They also want not to just look at a natural area or a different culture, they want to learn as much as they can about it and they want people to explain more so that they can get the best appreciation.

Thanks

The International Eco-tourism Society (TIES) defines eco-tourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." Thus, eco-tourism is a form of travel dedicated to sustainable travel destinations. Eco-tourism advocacy groups such as TIES or the Nature Conservancy help certify and promote sustainable lodges and raise worldwide awareness about the challenges a particular region faces. With eco-tourism, operators and venues reduce their negative impact on the environment, increase funds for conservation and protection, and improve local economies.

Conservation
Eco-tourism does more than bring local and worldwide awareness to threatened regions of the world; groups such as TIES use funds generated from ecotourism to establish and maintain national parks and nature reserves. In areas where tourism has damaged ecosystems or polluted rivers, ecotourism relies on region-wide sustainability strategies, fee-entry systems for national parks, and minimally invasive tourism alternatives to reduce travelers' negative impact. For example, entry fees are used to protect neglected regions of the parks and implement better techniques to offset or repair damage caused by tourists.

Protection
Ecotourism also helps to protect threatened wildlife and ensures that robust animal populations remain that way. Organizations such as the Nature Conservancy work with local resorts to help them build properties that will not harm the indigenous fauna. If you visit one of these eco-friendly lodges, you will know that your visit is not harming local animal populations. Furthermore, many ecotourism hotels will use some of your lodging funds to help better protect endangered and threatened animals.

Economic Advantages
Ecotourism destinations are often in economically depressed regions of the world. Organizations like TIES and the Nature Conservancy ensure that the hotels and lodges are built in ways that will benefit the local community---i.e., with fair and sound hiring practices---and help lead to economic stabilization. In addition, these organizations train locals in hospitality, tourism marketing and other facets of tourism that will help locals to operate their properties better and maximize profit.

Hi

Ecotourism may appeal to ecologically and socially conscious individuals. Generally it focuses on volunteering, personal growth and environmental responsibility. Ecotourism typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. One of the goals of ecotourism is to offer tourists insight into the impact of human beings on the environment, and to foster a greater appreciation of our natural habitats.

Thanks

Hi

Protection : E-cotourism also helps to protect threatened wildlife and ensures that robust animal populations remain that way. Organizations such as the Nature Conservancy work with local resorts to help them build properties that will not harm the indigenous fauna. If you visit one of these eco-friendly lodges, you will know that your visit is not harming local animal populations. Furthermore, many ecotourism hotels will use some of your lodging funds to help better protect endangered and threatened animals.
Economic Advantages : Ecotourism destinations are often in economically depressed regions of the world. Organizations like TIES and the Nature Conservancy ensure that the hotels and lodges are built in ways that will benefit the local community---i.e., with fair and sound hiring practices---and help lead to economic stabilization. In addition, these organizations train locals in hospitality, tourism marketing and other facets of tourism that will help locals to operate their properties better and maximize profit.
Cultural Advantages : Ecotourism organizations always aim to respect indigenous people's cultures, customs and religions. Through dialogue with local leaders and community members, these organization seeks to quell any tensions that rise between the tourism industry and cultural tradition. Organizations encourage hotel and lodge operators to listen to the concerns of the local communities and community leaders and assist in strategies to deal with any issues that arise.

Thanks