Young Roots
Dreaming to be an eco-traveler
By Johanne Macob
I AM doing my part to help our environment; I am disposing my trash properly, I always try to save energy and other resources, and I help keep our place clean. But looking at the lives of the people who actually work to clean the environment, I ask myself, “What more can I do to help?” More importantly, what can I do to help the environment while at the same time earning from it, like those people? I do not necessarily mean money though; it could be the sheer idea that I am doing myself a favour by pursuing my interests.
Back in my high school days, I wanted to become a traveler, explore various places in our country and beyond. Well, I have seen many tourist spots of the Philippines and the rest of the world already – in my dreams and fantasies. The fact is I had only been to a few in our country and I have never actually landed foot on any foreign land. As a student, I still don’t have the means to fulfill those dreams, but I believe in the near future, I will be a traveler.
For now, I travel through the wonderful world of the Internet.
Browsing the Internet about “environment-friendly” traveling brought me to different links on ecotourism that really got my interest. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.” It is not merely “going to a place and having your pictures taken alongside beautiful backgrounds” activity, which is why I think ‘eco’ preceded tourism- to give importance to environment first before one’s personal leisure.
Therefore, one’s exploration of an island is not ecotourism unless one provides some benefit to the environment as well as the people living in that area.
At the moment, Untamed Path website’s article on ecotourism cited several terms that are likened to ecotourism which have been used by travel companies to attract tourists, these include “Adventure Travel”, “Sustainable Tourism”, “Responsible Tourism”, “Nature Based Travel”, “Green Travel”, etc., but these terms do not promote the environment per se but the travel operators. A tourist, therefore, should discern which travel program really cares for the environment.
In the Philippines, tourism has always been included as an important part of the economic development plan. The government has always aspired to attract more people to visit our exquisite destinations such as Ilocos, Pangasinan, Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, and Boracay to boost the nation’s economy. And, while the country has adopted the concept of ecotourism for sometime, according to treehugger.com, however, it was only in 1999 “that an executive order was passed that helped structure the development of ecotourism.”
The executive order, directing the State to “ensure the sustainable use, development, management, protection and conservation of the country’s environment and natural resources and cultural heritage for the enjoyment of the present and future generations,” paved the way for the development of the National Ecotourism Strategy.
As a policy, ecotourism is expected to raise the economy, the government envisions the activity to benefit the impoverished rural areas, lead to the conservation of cultural sites, promotion of conservation awareness and educational programs. Hence, tourists that patronize the services and products of a tourisms destination, actually help finance socially significant programs. More importantly, eco-tourists, by being sensitive towards the environment and the natives through their words and deeds, greatly augment the condition of the ecology – both the environment and the humanity.
After reading about ecotourism, I had a change of heart. I no longer want to be a mere traveler. Instead I want to be an eco-traveler. I don’t want simply to visit unfamiliar and lovely places; I want to share something good to that place and to the people of that place. I will be an ECO-TRAVELER!
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