An example would be to spend big $$$ (I am personally willing to do it) and go to Uganda/Congo/Rwanda border to help save the 800 gorillas left in the whole world! I repeat there are only 800 gorillas left in the whole world! The tourist will pay to get to see the lush forest and the gorillas from far and learn more about them and their habitat and the profits generated will go to build protection and increase patrol in the area as well as awarness.
see also: travel industry trends
On the edge of a boom
Space tourism is taking shape as an emerging industry that will be cutting edge in 5-10 years and main stream in 20. The Middle East is host to one of the first few space ports for suborbital tourism. While this is about $30 million a year in 2007, it rates to be more than $1 billion/year in 2027 in current dollars. There is a Futron Study on this which was from 2004, later revised in a white paper. While $300 million/year is small beer for the Middle East, if the site chosen is viable for orbital launches, it will become the new port city to a major growth zone for the latter half of the 21st century.
The sub -orbital space flight. which is spending some time in the edge of the envolepe for 5-10 minutes. there are various firms competing for this and there is also the famous X-prize for the same. by 2009 it should be a reality. the major contendor for this is Sir richard brasnon's virgin atlantic and AIRBUS- astrium. so by 2011 when the traffic picks up the prices will come down and it will be a huge potential space for companies to cash upon.
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Responsible tourism is travelling so that the sites are left as they were before visit. This includes considering the side effects that our actions cause and trying to minimize all effects, both long-term and short-term. It is minimizing our footprints of carbon, money and trash, that is, effects on local economy and environment. Quite often things that sound good in the beginning turn against everyone on the long run. When you for example give money to children who are begging, it is likely to end up in an adult's pocket to quite another purpose than buying, for example, food. We monitored a group of begging children in Fortaleza, Brazil, and found out that children delivered all money, food, and cigarettes to a shady guy who gave them some glue to sniff in return. Those tourists who were thinking they help little children ended up supporting an adult criminal and addicting children with sniffing glue. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. We might not have to face the problems if we did not visit the same site twice, but it is definitely our responsibility towards all other tourists who come after us that we leave everything as it was, not to mention locals whose home we are visiting. And when we do this, we can expect the same from others who visit our homes. Responsible tourism is a win-win for both tourists and locals. In fact, it seems to be the only sustainable way to travel the world.
In practise, responsible tourism can mean e.g. the following things:
- avoiding travelling to countries that suppress their citizens, tourists, or act against your values.
- sharing your experiences, both positive and negative. If you paint overly positive images you end up disappointing others who go to the same destination after you. It is always better to have a pleasant surprise that the place was better than advertised, than disappointments.
- trying to minimize your impact on local environment
- trying to avoid major sites and discover local people, nature, and everyday life instead
- avoid being fooled by eco-labelled products and services, the label gives you no guarantee of anything
- spending money money like locals and living like locals
- reacting immediately when you feel cheated, find wrongs or get short-changed, protesting openly and not giving up for the sake of comfort and avoiding confrontation
- buy the same products that locals buy, follow the local culture with bargaining and tips, and avoid buying souvenirs, just like you do at home
- respecting local people and their economy like your own by travelling as a conscious consumer tourism industry
We would also love to hear your view and receive feedback on this matter as we are currently writing a book about responsible tourism.
Previously we have written two articles related to tourism: Critical Eye on Tourism and Are we guests or tourists? Those articles are also available in our travel blog (link below).
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