Eco-tourism

Eco-tourism, green tourism or ecotourism is a rapidly growing practice that aims to minimise the environmental impact of tourism activities. This form of eco-tourism encourages visitors to explore natural destinations using sustainable transport, eco-friendly accommodation and outdoor activities. It aims to protect local ecosystems, encourages tourists to discover and understand their importance, and to adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. This approach is increasingly being adopted by visitors who have become aware of the importance of their behaviour whilst travelling and who wish to continue travelling whilst reducing their carbon footprint.

Definition

Ecotourism is a form of sustainable tourism centred on the three pillars of sustainable development: the environment, the economy and social issues. According to the definition provided by the World Tourism Organisation, ecotourism is a form of tourism centred on the environment,in which the tourist’s main motivation is to observe and appreciate nature. It is accompanied by education and awareness-raising to encourage travellers to minimise the negative impacts of tourism on the natural and socio-cultural environment. This form of tourism can be practised in groups on organised trips or independently. It is a good way to learn best practices, the aim being to explore the destination whilst behaving in a way that promotes environmental protection and conservation.

Key issues

The growth in popularity of ecotourism is of paramount importance. As tourism is the world’s leading industry, it is essential to implement sustainable solutions to drastically reduce the CO₂ emissions it generates and to innovate in order to protect and preserve the planet. There is therefore a key challenge in the implementation of ecotourism by those involved in the tourism sector (travellers, accommodation providers, restaurant owners, leisure companies): to promote the protection of natural areas used as ecotourism attractions and destinations. The protection of these areas benefits both the environment and local communities. The initiative’s approach is to raise awareness amongst both local residents and visitors of the need to preserve natural and cultural heritage, whilst also providing economic benefits to host communities, organisations and authorities responsible for the conservation of natural areas.

Actions

It is essential to protectnatural ecosystems by taking action right from the start when planning your next trip. Preservingbiodiversity means minimising the impact of tourism on flora and fauna. To do this, choose destinations off the beaten track, away from mass tourism, to discover surprising places and enjoy a unique experience in the heart of nature. You don’t need to travel far to feel a world away; sometimes all it takes is crossing a region or simply driving a few kilometres before reaching the nearest natural area and letting yourself be swept away by what nature has to offer. Book accommodation certified as eco-friendly by schemes such as Écogite, Green Globe, Clef Verte or Éco Panda. Built using eco-friendly materials, these properties can be unusual, traditional or more conventional. The Marseille Tourist, Leisure and Conference Board supports establishments that are working towards obtaining such certification.

Regions such as the PACA region, and in particular the city of Marseille, have introduced public transport schemes to make it easy for you to travel using sustainable modes of transport such as trains, buses and car-sharing, which obviously serve as alternatives to flying.

This can also be achieved by ensuring that tourist activities are carried out in a responsible andenvironmentallyfriendly manner, for example through walking or cycling tours led by a local resident to explore the region, an introduction to local craft activities, taking part in water sports such as kayaking or canoeing on rivers, lakes or at sea, or simply observing the surrounding or underwater flora and fauna. The revenue generated by these activities can contribute to the conservation of natural areas by enabling investment in new solutions and scientific research.

You can also get directly involved on the ground by taking part ineco-volunteering initiatives. These may involve environmental restoration work, such as planting trees or restoring natural habitats, or awareness-raising, de-pollution or clean-up initiatives in nature reserves, organised by organisations committed to environmental protection such as Clean my Calanques in Marseille or France Nature Environnement. Eco-volunteers work with local organisations, national parks or associations; the main aim is to raise travellers’ awareness of the importance of protecting the environment and to promote sustainable practices. That, too, is what eco-tourism is all about: discovering a destination and, in return, helping to preserve it.