Since 2005, Eco Adventures Travel has been working to develop Ecotourism in a sustainable way within its true principles. For this purpose we received assistance from a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality and several partners involved with tourism and the environment, as well as NGOs, Universities, local community, government departments, etc.

The information presented below is an integral part of the graduation project: PROPOSAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECOTOURISM IN THE PASSO DO LONTRA REGION – MS. Balneário Camboriú (SC): UNIVALI, 2000.

Ecology and preservation of the environment, from the 1970s, became a widely discussed subject in developed countries, “(…) which started a process of discussions and meetings that culminated in documents such as the Declaration of Stockholm (1972), the Cocoyoc Declaration (1974), the Bruntland Report (1987), ECO 92 and finally RIO-95. All with the aim of opening spaces to discuss alternative styles of development that reconcile the basic premises of sustainable development.” (Andres, 1998, p. 42).

For the World Commission on Environment and Development, Sustainable Development is a “Model of economic and social development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

Sustainable development thus emerges as a way of reconciling economic development, environmental preservation and cultural appreciation of the communities that practice it.

In this context, sustainable tourism emerges as one of the ways to achieve sustainable development, in order to avoid damage to the tourist environment, minimizing the social costs that affect local residents, optimizing the benefits of tourism development.

For Pearce apud Beni (1998, p. 61), sustainable tourism is the “maximization and optimization of the distribution of benefits from economic development based on the establishment and consolidation of security conditions under which tourist services are offered, so that resources natural resources are maintained, restored and improved”.

According to MICT/MMA (1994), ecotourism emerges as one of the most intelligent instruments of economic viability for the correct management of natural resources, offering Brazilians a worthy alternative to earn their livelihood and a better life, while ensuring future generations, access to nature’s legacies.

According to Pires (1998), ecotourism expresses a segment of tourism that presents itself today as one of the main alternatives for sustained development in tourist destinations in the world, especially in regions and countries with a depressed economy.

For Lindberg, Hawkins (1995), ecotourism is considered as a new and promising instrument to preserve fragile and threatened natural areas as a means to provide opportunities for the development of communities in developing countries.

Next, some definitions for ecotourism activity will be presented, taking into account the different sectors interested in the development of the activity.

For the environmentalist Lascurain apud Pires (1998 p. 79), Ecotourism is: “the realization of a trip to natural areas that are relatively undisturbed or contaminated with the specific objective of studying, admiring and enjoying the landscape together with its plants and wild animals, as well as any cultural manifestation (past or present) that occurs in these areas”.

Government bodies in charge of planning and managing policies in this area define ecotourism as:
“a segment of tourist activity that uses, in a sustainable way, the natural and cultural heritage, encourages its conservation and seeks an environmental conscience through the interpretation of the environment, promoting the well-being of the populations involved”. (MICT/MMA, 1994 p. 19).

The Ecotourism Institute of Brazil – IEB, as a representative entity of the trade, defines ecotourism as:
“the practice of leisure, sports or educational tourism, in natural areas, which uses the natural and cultural heritage in a sustainable way, encourages its conservation, promotes the formation of environmental awareness and guarantees the well-being of the populations involved”. (IEB, apud Pires, 1998 p. 83).

Ruschmann apud Pires (1998 p. 84), defines ecotourism as: “being trips carried out by specialized companies with the objective of providing the tourist with direct interaction with nature, respecting the principles of socioeconomic development of destinations, promoting environmental education and the sustainability of the environments visited”.

In all the definitions cited above, it is noted that it is common to all of them, the use of the environment, whether natural or cultural, conserved or little altered for the realization of the e

 

Responsible Tourism

With the popularization of ecotourism, thousands of people seek natural environments to practice leisure activities ranging from a simple walk to the practice of nature sports.

Nature needs to be treated with care and respect, it is not possible to carry out cleaning and recovery work in the same way as it happens in cities. Therefore, the protection and conservation of the visited destinations depends a lot on their behavior.

As a visitor, you can and should help to avoid and/or minimize the impacts that tourism can bring to a given location, just follow the recommendations presented below:

• Make sure you have a way to pack your rubbish in plastic bags to bring it back. Learn to reduce the amount of garbage, leaving unnecessary packaging at home;
• Rescue in natural environments is expensive and complex, and can take days and cause great damage to the environment. So, first of all, don’t risk yourself unnecessarily;
• Make sure you have the appropriate equipment for each situation. Most accidents and attacks on nature are caused by improvisations, negligence and inappropriate use of equipment;
• Use the sanitary facilities that exist. If there are no sanitary facilities (bathrooms) in the area, dig a hole six centimeters deep at least 60 meters from any water source, trails or camping sites, in a place where it is not necessary to remove vegetation;
• Do not build any kind of structure, such as benches, tables, bridges, etc. Do not break or cut tree branches, even if they are dead or fallen, as they may be serving as shelter for birds or other animals;
• Resist the temptation to take “souvenirs” home. Leave rocks, artifacts, flowers, shells, etc. where you found them, so others can enjoy them too;
• Take only photographs, leave only your footprints, and take only your memories;
  Observe animals from a distance. Proximity can be interpreted as a threat and provoke an attack, even by small animals. In addition, wild animals can transmit serious diseases;
• Do not feed animals. Animals can end up getting used to the food we offer and start invading the camps in search of food, damaging tents, backpacks and other camps;
• Do not remove flowers and wild plants. Enjoy its beauty on site, without harming nature and giving the same opportunity to other visitors;
• Walk and camp in silence, preserving the tranquility and sense of harmony that nature offers. Leave radios and sound instruments at home;
• Treat area residents with courtesy and respect. Keep the gates the way you found them and do not enter houses and sheds without asking permission;
• Be polite and behave as if you were visiting someone else’s house. Take the opportunity to learn something about the local habits and culture;
• Avoid using strong colors that can be seen for miles and break the harmony of natural environments. Use clothes and equipment in neutral colors to avoid visual pollution in crowded places. To call the attention of a rescue team, have a brightly colored plastic or fabric in your backpack in case of an emergency.
  Encourage and practice positive coexistence between visitors, drivers / guides, owners of private areas and administrators of protected areas and conservation units, obeying the regulations that apply to each location;
• Support organizations that defend the environment and give prestige to their programs, projects and actions with contributions, volunteer work, or by associating with them, when applicable. Ethics and minimum impact practices are being adopted across the planet. By following these principles of minimum impact and disseminating them, you will be helping to preserve tourist attractions, whether natural or not, always keeping them in the best condition for you and other visitors.