About Ecotourism
The 9 Ecotourism Prerequisites
According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and The International Ecotourism Society
(TIES), the businesses that project ecotourism should keep the following 9 prerequisites:
- To organize trips to parks, guided tours and entertainment in places of natural
beauty.
- To take part in protecting non-renewable resources and other environmental sources.
- To create environmental knowledge.
- To provide direct advantages for the characteristics of traditional sites and maintenance
other regions.
- To offer advantages to empower the indigenous population.
- To respect the local culture.
- To support the human rights and other demographic movements.
- To contribute to the education and knowledge of the visitor to the local culture, customs
and other local habits.
- To provide the "return to the nature" philosophy and its unique characteristics.
The 10 orders of Ecotourism
- Respect the fragility of the earth. Realize that everyone should have the desire to help
to protect unique and beautiful destinations for future generations to enjoy.
- Leave only footsteps. Take only pictures. No graffiti. No trash. Do not take reminders from historical sites and areas of natural beauty.
- To make your trip more interesting, learn about geography, customs, ways and
cultures of the areas you visit. Encourage efforts to conserve the local culture.
- Respect the privacy of the locals. Ask before you take any photographs.
- Do not buy products from endangered plants and animals, for example
ivy, turtle shell, animal skins and feathers. Study and look for products that you cannot take with you.
- Always follow the default path. Do not disturb animals, plants or their natural
environment.
- Learn about maintenance programs and organizations aimed at maintaining
environment.
- Try to walk or use environmental methods wherever and
whenever possible. Encourage drivers of public vehicles to switch off engines while
parking.
- Show understanding to those who contribute to the improvement of energy and environmental
maintenance (air quality, water recycling, safe management of waste and toxic
products, pollution, etc.) and promote a skilled and trained personnel.
- Encourage a variety of organizations to become members in environmental organizations. For
example, ASTA urges companies to adopt their own environmental
codes, which include specific historical sites and ecosystems.