Ecotourism in Africa

Many people think that the prefix “eco” in the word eco-tourism comes from the words ecosystem or ecology – and therefore consider the concepts of natural tourism and eco-tourism to be equivalent. However, despite the fact that the roots of eco-tourism can be found in nature tourism, this word has a broader meaning.
The International Society of Ecological Tourism (TIES) defines ecotourism as “a responsible journey to natural areas where the environment remains unchanged and where the lifestyle of the local population is maintained.”

This is the main difference between nature and ecotourism: Aboriginal tribes, their lives benefit from tourism, however, it does not invade their life and does not change it. The UN considers ecotourism not only a segment of the tourism market, but also a whole philosophy. “Ecological” – means oriented towards the environment and society. Continue reading →