Ecotourism

How to increase your business' profits and level of social responsibility with ecotourism

Ecotourism, or eco-tourism, is a rapidly growing industry in the United States and worldwide, not only because of the crowds that ecotourism attracts, but also because it is a socially responsible way of doing business. Today, ecotourism is much more than a fad, bringing in about $77 billion annually in the United States, or about 5% of the total market. This figure has grown 30% in recent years, and experts estimate that it will continue to increase in coming years.

Because ecotourism has no legal definitions, government regulations or certifications, it's up to private interests to set ecotourism management standards and carry them out. If you're interested in starting an ecotourism business, engaging in careful planning and obtaining knowledge of your area, in addition to getting some ecotourism advice from others in the industry, can help get you started. If you're thinking about getting involved in ecotourism, consider the following:

1. Get involved in the ecotourism community;

2. Reduce the impact visitors make on the environment;

3. Market your business through the best avenues for ecotourism.

 

Get started in eco-tourism by joining others in the field

As a business, you'll need to seek the help of an eco-tourism expert in your field. Ecotourism information is available from a number of national and international agencies and organizations--while there is no central governing body, these groups do help develop a consensus about how ecotourism should be conducted. You can use the eco-tourism advice to then write a business plan that's in accordance with current local, national and international environmental policies.
Try: Find ecotourism expert groups, like The International Ecotourism Society or Conservation International, to help you with ecotourism management. You can become a member, contribute or sponsor these groups to become more established and credible in the ecotourism industry.

Offer visitors a reduced environmental impact with your ecotourism business

When starting your ecotourism business, make the foundations of your venture environmentally friendly. Calculating your carbon footprint for all your business activities is a good first step to take; remember to include your visitors' transportation to the location, the shipping costs for anything delivered to your business and the operating resources used to run your business.
Try: The TerraPass carbon footprint calculator allows you to determine the environmental impact of ground and air transport, as well as building operations, so you can minimize the impact visitors to your ecotourism venture make on the environment. Kushtush Organics also sells organic cotton linens to ensure that fair practices were used to outfit your ecotourism accommodations.

Partner with a credible sponsor for ecotourism advertising

Not all advertising sources are considered equal for getting the word out about ecotourism. For the best investment of your marketing budget, find an established sponsor of ecotourism and natural attractions. Because ecotourism and adventure tourism are often related, adventure travel sites are also a good option.
Try: Gordon's Guide focuses on adventure tourism and ecotourism and has easy-to-navigate online information about travel options. Contact their advertising sales department to get the word out about your ecotourism business through advertising. National Geographic is an extremely well-known environmental interest resource, and also offers a range of avenues for ecotourism advertising, including several online options and a number of print sources.

 

• Get to know your local resources when starting an ecotourism business. Ecotourism means making very little impact on the environment, so using locally produced food, natural sources of water and alternative energy are all expected. Ecotourism ventures also typically try to educate visitors and offer gainful employment to the local community, which should be kept in mind when hiring and training employees.

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