ECO-TOURISM

TEN COMMANDMENTS ON ECO-TOURISM 

 

• Respect the frailty of the earth. Realize that unless all are willing to help in its preservation, unique and beautiful destinations may not be here for future generations to enjoy.  

  

• Leave only footprints. Take only photographs. No graffiti! No litter! Do not take away souvenirs from historical sites and natural areas.  

  

• To make your travels more meaningful, educate yourself about the geography, customs, manners and cultures of the region you visit. Take time to listen to the people. Encourage local conservation efforts.  

  

• Respect the privacy and dignity of others. Inquire before photographing people.

  

• Do not buy products made from endangered plants or animals, such as ivory, tortoise shell, animal skins, and feathers. Read now before You Go, your Country Customs list of products which cannot be imported.

  

• Always follow designated trails. Do not disturb animals, plants or their natural habitats.

  

• Learn about and support conservation-oriented programs and organizations working to preserve the environment.

  

• Whenever possible, walk or use environmentally-sound methods of transportation. Encourage drivers of public vehicles to stop engines when parked.

  

• Patronize those (hotels, airlines, resorts, cruise lines, tour operators and suppliers) who advance energy and environmental conservation; water and air quality; recycling; safe management of waste and toxic materials; noise abatement, community involvement; and which provide experienced, well-trained staff dedicated to strong principles of conservation.

  

• Encourage organizations to subscribe to environmental guidelines. To urge organizations to adopt their own environmental codes to cover special sites and ecosystems.


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Travel is a natural right of all people and is a crucial ingredient of world peace and understanding. With that right comes responsibilities. Therefore, we should encourage the growth of peaceful tourism and environmentally responsible travel.

Environmental Guidelines for EcoTourism

A clean, healthy environment is essential to future growth - it is core of the Travel & Tourism product.

These guidelines are recommended  to EcoTourism companies and to governments and they should be taken into account in policy formation:

• EcoTourism companies should state their commitment to environmentally compatible development.
 

• Targets for improvements should be established and monitored.
 

• Environmental commitment should be company-wide.
 

• Education and research into improved environmental programs should be encouraged.
 

• EcoTourism companies should seek to implement sound environmental principles through self-regulation, recognizing that national and international regulation may be inevitable that preparation is vital. 

 

Environmental improvement programs should be systematic and comprehensive.
They should aim to:

• Identify and continue to reduce environmental impact, paying particular attention to new projects.
 

• Pay due regard to environmental concern in design, planning, construction and implementation.
 

• Be sensitive to conservation of environmentally protected or threatened areas, species and scenic aesthetics, achieving natural landscape enhancement where possible.
 

• Practice energy conservation.
 

• Reduce and recycle waste.
 

• Practice fresh-water management and control sewage disposal.
 

• Control and diminish air emissions and pollutants.
 

• Monitor, control and reduce noise levels. Control and reduce environmentally unfriendly products, such as asbestos, CFCs, pesticides and toxic, corrosive, infectious, explosive or flammable materials.
 

• Respect and support historic or religious objects and sites.
 

• Exercise due regard for the interests of local populations, including their history, traditions and culture and future development.
 

• Consider environmental issues as a key factor in the overall development of EcoTourism destinations.