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What Is Responsible Tourism and Ecotourism
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8/15/2022
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Responsible Tourism and Ecotourism
Tourism has emerged as one of the most revered economic sector around the globe. Travel
both inside and outside nations has expanded, and only global threats like the Covid-19
pandemic can stop it. Contextually, tourism generates a variety of opportunities such as
employment and increases global awareness.
Despite its advantages, tourism has the potential to be harmful to natural habitat; hence,
policies must be put in place to make sure it is both socially and economically beneficial.
Responsible tourism and ecotourism are common themes in guiding sustainable and
environmentally friendly tourism industry. Although their definitions and themes differ, they all
have the same fundamental objectives. In general, responsible tourism extends beyond simply
visiting a location to include caring about the impact of one's behavior on the neighborhood.
Mihalic et al. (2021) defined responsible tourism as protecting the environment, supporting local
communities, and improving locations for the people who live there. Usually, the main motive
individuals travel the world is for aesthetic reasons. Enjoying the view, having fun, and taking
pictures have been popular. Some travelers also engage in economic tourism, such as visiting a
location to transact business while learning about a different culture. Responsible tourism
requires travelers to enhance the destinations they visit.
On the other hand, an aspect of tourism known as ecotourism emphasizes responsible
travel in undeveloped areas. According to Dangi and Gribb, (2018) locals come first, and the
environment is continually respected in an ecotourism context. Ecotourism emphasizes visiting
natural regions and places a high value on environmental knowledge. The purpose of ecotourism
is to lessen harmful environmental consequences. Responsible tourism and ecotourism are forms
of travel where travelers observe and appreciate nature and its inhabitants. Additionally, an
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educational component is supposed to be achieved. Locals should learn from tourists as they do
from them. Another significant issue is the preservation of both human and natural surroundings.
It is a scenario where tourism tries to foster social and economic advantages for the host regions
while ensuring that tourism is mutually beneficial (Duplaisir et al., 2018).
In conclusion, travelers must put others before themselves and consider how their behavior
may affect the destinations they visit. Emotions should play a significant role in a person's site-
seeing experience. In such circumstances, it is necessary to safeguard the environment and
people from harm while simultaneously including them in tourism in a way advantageous to
both.
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References
Dangi, T. B., & Gribb, W. J. (2018). Sustainable ecotourism management and visitor
experiences: Managing conflicting perspectives in Rocky Mountain National Park,
USA.?Journal of Ecotourism,?17(3), 338-358.
Duplaisir, H., Latkova, P., Wilson, J., & Everette, M. (2018). Impacts of participation in socially
responsible tourism on tourist's attitudes and future behavior.?Journal of Tourism and
Leisure Studies,?3(3/4), 1-19.
Mihalic, T., Mohamadi, S., Abbasi, A., & Dávid, L. D. (2021). Mapping a sustainable and
responsible tourism paradigm: A bibliometric and citation network
analysis.?Sustainability,?13(2), 853.
