Woman ziplining, Aventuras del Sarapiqui, Costa Rica. Kevin Schafer / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: ddpphotos228988.
It seems like ecotourism is the current buzzword in conservation these days. Is this relatively new industry the secret balm for all of our environmental woes? It’s an issue that I at least think is worth taking a closer look at, if for no other reason than that some of the pictures are quite stunning.
Even though they might not classify themselves as such, nearly everyone has been an ecotourist at some point in their lives. Broadly defined, ecotourism is the act of touring a location just to enjoy the environment. It can be as exciting as ziplining through the forest, as expensive as an exotic African safari, or as simple as visiting the nearest National/State park. Another type of ecotourism, whale watching, has been gaining in popularity over the years. Looking at pictures like the one below, its easy to see why!
A group (MR) on a whale watching boat out of Lahaina, Maui, get a close look at a breaching humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, Hawaii. David Fleetham /VWPICS/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: dbcstock060388.
Aside from just being really exciting and cool, ecotourism also has several potential benefits. The biggest one being that it is a huge boon for conservation in some countries. This is because ecotourism can be a great help to the local economy. People come in from all over the world and stay in local establishments and eat local food. Not only that, but local people make lots of money as tour guides since they know the area so well.
James Lekalaile, a Samburu guide, gestures from the top of a safari vehicle as he shows lions in the conservancy area near Shompole, a luxury eco-tourism lodge situated at some 110 miles south of Nairobi, near the border with Tanzania, in this October 25, 2007 file photo. /RTR/Newscom. Find it at Newscom.com: rtrukonworld040984
Camel Safari in Kenya. Chris Caldicott / Axiom Photographic/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: axiphotos013374
Africa, Botswana, Okavango Delta. Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) on tourist Land Rover. Pete Oxford / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ddpphotos000856
Antarctica, South Georgia Island (UK), Tourists photographs Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) on tundra above Stromness Bay. Paul Souders / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ddpphotos025847
Antarctica, Petermann Island, Lone Adelie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) leaps from iceberg along Antarctic Peninsula. Paul Souders / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ddpphotos027205
South America, Argentina; Brazil, Iguazu Falls National Park; Iguazu Falls. View of entire Iguazu Falls from sightseeing helicopter. The Hotel Das Cataratas is at the lower left. Darius Panahpour / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ddpphotos185603
Costa Rica, hikers in Chirripo National Park. Kevin Schafer / DanitaDelimont.com "Danita Delimont Photography"/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ddpphotos228958
Tourists board a flight at Puerto Jimenez airport outside Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica. Jim Goldstein / DanitaDelimont.com Danita Delimont Photography/Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ddpphotos366672
ECO-TOURISTS on walkway in canopy of rainforest. Danum Valley; Sabah; Malaysia. Martin Harvey/Balance/Photoshot./Newscom. Find it on Newscom.com: ptsstock034192