Ecological tourism seeks to minimize the footprint produced by tourist activity.
Ecological tourism is the tourist activity that takes place without affecting the relationship between living beings and the environment . In other words, this tourism aims to combine the traveler's leisure with respect for the environment that receives it.
It should be noted that the etymological origin of tourism is the Latin word tornus , which can be translated as "movement" . Ecological , on the other hand, comes from the Greek, from the union of the three parts: oikos , which means "house" ; logos, which is equivalent to "word or treaty" ; and the suffix – ico which is synonymous with “relative to” .
Tourism is what people do while on a trip and stay in a place other than their usual environment for a period of less than a year. Typically, tourist activity involves travel and a stay in a hotel , campsite or similar establishment.
Ecological , on the other hand, is that which is associated with ecology . This concept (ecology) refers to the link between living organisms and the environment in which they reside , taking into account biotic factors (organisms that share a habitat) and abiotic factors (climate, geology, etc.).
Characteristics of ecological tourism
Ecological tourism , also known as ecotourism , highlights the importance of preservation and sustainability or sustainability. That is why it tries to raise awareness among travelers about these issues and seeks a rapprochement between the tourist and the host community.
Among the activities that anyone who decides to stay in a rural accommodation can enjoy, in order to be in full contact with nature, are learning about and participating in the agricultural and livestock work of the place. That will mean everything from feeding the farm animals to milking the cows to watering the crops.
In the same way, ecological tourism also offers the opportunity to witness in situ how, in an absolutely natural and artisanal way, the local people use the raw materials they obtain from the aforementioned tasks to be able to produce exquisitely flavored foods. A clear example of this is the production of cheese from milk obtained from cows or goats.
Being able to enjoy horseback riding or practicing sports such as mountaineering are other attractions that this type of tourism has, which, likewise, has also become one of the best options for hiking lovers.
The use of bicycles as a means of transportation is common in ecological tourism.
Differences with traditional tourist activity
We can compare two hypothetical cases to understand the differences between conventional tourism and ecological tourism. A family plans to visit a forest that is three kilometers from the city. He travels there in his car and, once in the forest, decides to light a bonfire, collecting branches. The children, meanwhile, pluck flowers to take as souvenirs. These are all behaviors that leave a mark on nature.
Another family, adept at ecological tourism, acts differently. They travel the three kilometers between the city and the forest by bicycle to avoid polluting emissions . Instead of lighting a fire or picking flowers, they decide to go hiking and take photos. In this way, your stay in the forest does not harm the ecology.