This definition of
eco-tourism,
first adopted by the founding board of
directors in 1991, states that:
Eco-tourism
is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and
sustains the well-being of local people.
While
this
concise
statement
has
become
one
of
the
most
widely
quoted
and
accepted
definitions
of
ecotourism,
MM
Adventure
Services
recognizes
that
there
are
today
dozens
of
other
definitions,
almost
all
of
which
incorporate
the
core
meaning
of
the
below
definition
of
conserving
the
environment
and
sustaining
the
well-being
of
local
people.
At
MM
Adventure
Services,
we
believe
we
should
focus
on
analyzing
and
promoting
a
clear
understanding
of
the
basic
principals
of
ecotourism
and
examining
ways
to
ensure
they
are
implemented.
We
believe,
as
is
implicit
in
TIES’
definition,
that
successful
characteristics
of
ecotourism
include:
Minimizing the negative
impacts on nature and culture that can damage a destination.
Educating the traveller on
the importance of conservation.
Stressing the importance of
responsible business that works in cooperation with local authorities
and people to meet local needs and deliver conservation benefits.
Directing revenues to the
conservation and management of natural and protected areas and
biological diversity.
Emphasizing the need for
both regional tourism zoning and visitor management plans designed for
either regions or natural areas that are slated to become
ecodestinations.
Emphasizing use of
environmental and social base-line studies, as well as long-term
monitoring programs, to assess and minimize impacts.
Maximizing economic benefit
for the host country, local business and communities, particularly
peoples living in and adjacent to natural and protected areas.
Supporting the economic
empowerment of communities through training and hiring local people,
paying fair wages and benefits, buying supplies locally, and supporting
local ownership or joint ventures with outside business or NGO partners
of tourist facilities and concessions.
Ensuring that tourism
development does not exceed the social and environmental limits of
acceptable change as determined by researchers in cooperation with local
residents.
Relying on infrastructure
that has been developed in harmony with the environment: minimizing use
of fossil fuels, conserving local plant and wildlife, and blending with
the natural and cultural environment
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