Eco-Responsible travel is a new way of travelling for those who’ve had enough of mass tourism.
It’s about respecting and benefiting local people and the environment – and it’s about far more than that.
If you travel for relaxation, fulfilment, discovery, adventure and to learn – rather than simply to tick off ’places and things’ – then responsible travel is for you.
Eco/Responsible travel is about bringing you closer to local cultures and environments by involving local people in tourism.
It’s about doing this in a fair way that helps ensure that they will give you an even warmer welcome.
The eco-responsible traveller prefers smaller groups, and to meet local people (as well as fellow travellers) rather than be surrounded by 1000’s of people from back home.
They don’t like being herded about in a large crowd like nameless faces and understand that travelling in smaller groups makes local people and cultures more accessible.
The eco-responsible traveller wants to get a little bit more out of their travels, and to give a little bit back to the special places and people that they encounter.
They want deeper and more real travel experiences.
The eco-responsible traveller values authenticity – experiences integral to local people’s traditions, cultures and rituals – rather than those created for tourism.
At the same time the eco-responsible traveller understands that some cultural experiences are best kept private, and that their visit would be an intrusion. They believe that travelling with respect earns them respect.
It’s also about rediscovering nature
Eco-responsible travel is about re-discovering how to experience nature and to be in it, feeling it, smelling it and learning about it rather than just looking at it.
Through this they replenish their souls, determined to leave no physical evidence of their visit but their footprints.
The eco-responsible traveller understands local peoples relationship with environments, and that income from tourism can be a powerful incentive for conservation.
The eco-responsible traveller values diversity – diversity of people, cultures and environments.
They believe that they can grow as individuals through these experiences, and that their trip can make a positive contribution towards conserving global diversity and enrich theyr own life.
The issues
Every year thousands of people travel to Egypt, like in many countries, tourism is the largest industry, impacting on both local communities and resources.
Over the last years, tourism as been developed around Nuweiba mainly for mass tourism.
This involves foreign tourism investments, which mainly means that profits from tourism go straight overseas, rather than to local communities. Locals can end up bearing all the costs of tourism (such as on their environment and culture) while receiving none of the financial benefits.
The big resort try generally to keep the guests around the swimming poll and inside the walls of the Hotel. They even make the guests afraid about going out in the streets, while the locals of Nuweiba are waiting patiently and hopefully for the foreigner to visit their shops, to invite them for the traditional tea or to simply have a fine conversation.
Locals recognise that tourism has the potential to bring huge social and economic benefits, but they are also concerned about some of the dangers associated with mass tourism.
Some fragile ecosystems as corals or desert life can be affected and even disappear. Visitors increase pollution in the region, which – unmanaged – has an adverse effect on the environment. This is all ready significantly affecting the coral; the very things that attract tourists in the first place may inadvertently be destroyed by them.
Kids 4 Kids and Ghannah Lodge are actively engaged in developing and researching ways in which they can meet the many challenges posed by tourism.
How can you ensure that your visit to Sinai is a positive experience for both you and the people in the region you visit?
Following the guidelines is just one way that travelling can support the efforts of local people to ensure that tourists bring benefits – not problems – when they visit.
Other things to think about
There are no universal standards for “eco-tourism”, “sustainable tourism” or “responsible tourism”.
While there are many tour operators promoting themselves under one of these slogans, others might just be jumping on the trendy eco-tourism bandwagon.
The term “eco-tourism”, for example, is common today and could refer to anything from benji-jumping in a rain-forest to a souvenir shop selling polished shells.
An “eco-tourism” operator might not necessarily be doing anything good for the environment. It’s up to you to see what they’re doing and decide for yourself.
