Ecotourism: Just Another Green Thing?

It's a big thing right now to be green. Upcycling, hybrid cars, solar energy - it's what's hot. It's hot due to global warming. Get it? Ok, enough with the trying to be funny.

The interest in helping the environment and protecting this planet has even reached into the travel circles, with ecotourism. Ecotourism is defined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." The basic foundations of ecotourism include the minimization of global impact, raising environmental and cultural awareness, and providing financial benefits for conservation while benefiting the tourism site. So the bottom line is that ecotourism should positively affect both the natural area and local community.

Ecotourism is a huge topic with many layers. Especially when you consider that ecotourism is just a small part of a larger movement known as sustainable tourism. So instead of trying to explain what it all means exactly, and giving you a travel and tourism 101 crash course...I'm just going to give you some examples and focus in on a small part of ecotourism; ecolodges.

You can find ecolodges around the world in settings from mountains to the tropics. What they all have in common is their dedication to preserving nature, helping the livelihood of the local community, and offering a fulfilling experience for travelers.

Turtle Inn

There are many things that set an ecolodge apart, starting with their menus. Many ecolodges stand on a vegetarian and/or organic diet. The freshest of foods, possibly grown on the premises, is what travelers can expect to dine upon - including meat and fish. At the Turtle Inn in Belize, fresh seafood is delivered by local fishermen and many lodges produce their own wine.

The lodges themselves can be environmentally and economically friendly. Locals built the roof of the Three Camel Lodge's main building in Mongolia. And they did it without using a single nail. Jicaro Island Ecolodge in Nicaragua was constructed from salvaged hardwood trees that fell during a hurricane. Ecolodge expert, Hitesh Mehta, predicts that the next big thing will be using discarded shipping containers as lodging.

Damaraland Camp

Supporting the local economy is as easy as bringing in tourists, but ecolodges go a step further. Locals are employed by these lodges, provide food for guests, and lead activities for lodge guests. In Jordan at the Feynan Ecolodge local hosts teach how to make flatbread over an open fire.Guides and staff at Namibia's Damaraland Camp share stories and knowledge of the local area during under-the-stars dining.

Ecolodges most obviously work to create an environment that is good for...the environment. This can be as simple as planting a new tree for every couple visiting as they do in Resurgence located in New Zealand. Six Senses Con Dao in Vietnam only uses nontoxic biodegradable cleaning supplies and amenities. Back at the Turtle Inn breezes from the ocean replace air conditioners and stainless steal water bottles replace all plastic. Chumbe Island Coral Park in Zanzibar collects rainwater for daily water needs, the sun provides their energy, and composting toilets keep the local marine park clean.

Great Ocean Ecolodge

Many ecolodges are located on nature reserves, such as Chumbe Island Coral Park.Great Ocean Ecolodge of Australia is located on the grounds of the Conservation Ecology Centre where guests can actually help care for injured wildlife. Even if a nature reserve isn't the surroundings, ecolodges are committed to the welfare of local flora and fauna. Turtle Inn partners with SEA Belize and Rainforest Alliance for local marine conservation.

You can see that while posh resorts might be more focused on the comforts and amenities they can offer their guests, ecolodges are focused on the local community and environment as well as their guests. Activities at ecolodges tend to be more on the nature and cultural side, instead of afternoons at the spa and 5 star restaurants.

If you like the spas and restaurants and 5 stars (there's nothing wrong with that!) be sure to see what preservation programs your resort is taking part in. Many hotels now offer to only wash towels and linens when requested to cut down on water use. Others might make a point to use green cleaners.

Ecotraveling might not be for everyone - but I think we can all agree that the efforts to better our planet and preserve it for future travel is a great idea!

China...not as scary as I think.

There are millions of places on this planet that I would love to see and explore - but not China. At least that's what I've said in the past. And I don't even really know why, just that I've "heard" bad things about it. Now I can't even remember specifically what it is I heard. Maybe that they'll detain your for no reason, throw you in prison, and then forget that they put you there. Or that they don't like Americans. Whatever I heard, I doubt it was true.

Hard to get in, and never allowed to leave?

While you probably won't be detained to rot in prison for years upon years, you do need to be sure you have all documents in order before even stepping foot into an American airport. China has different requirements than most countries. In addition to needing a valid passport with at least six months of validity left, you need a visa. Not the credit card, although that could help eventually. To bail you out of jail. No, no, no. You need a valid visa both to enter and leave China. And you must have your passport and visa on your person at all times while in the country.

If you plan on leaving China (or even visiting certain areas within China - namely Hong Kong and Macau), and then returning you need a multiple entry visa. If traveling directly to Hong Kong or Macau for 90 days or less, and not traveling outside the cities, only a passport is required. Some areas such as the Tibet Autonomous Region and areas around the Nepal border require special permits, that may not even be granted. So you need to know exactly where you want to travel in China, if travel there is possible, and what documents you need.

Lastly upon arriving in China you have 24 hours to register with the police. If you're in China, they all want to know about it. Good news is, most hotels will register for you. Just make sure one way or another that the police know you are there.

English? Anyone?

English is not exactly China's forte. Although children are taught English in school, it doesn't seem to stick. More than other places throughout the world you probably want to make an effort to learn a few key phrases in Mandarin. It's also a good idea to carry a business card from your hotel or other places you want to visit so that you can show it to taxi drivers and the like if you get lost. Keep a phrase book with you, or download a phone app that can help you translate as well. The app, Taxi-Book, is just to help you tell a taxi driver where you want to go.

Signs in English are going to be a toss up. Populated areas in major cities will probably display some English, smaller towns might not. It's also a toss up at to whether a sign that is translated will make any sense. China is somewhat famous for their interesting signage translations.

There's no reason not to try English if you need to communicate though. Some people will appreciate the opportunity to practice their own English. Just be patient, and have other forms of communication ready just in case.

Were you raised in a barn?

Go ahead and Google search the terms Chinese and rude. Now take a step back and realize that that is one huge generalization. While it's certainly arguable as to whether or not the Chinese are rude, it really seems to come down to a culture thing. Shoving, spitting, peeing in the street, cutting in line, talking loudly...these things aren't rude in China - they're commonplace.

I always glare menacingly at that person in the restaurant booth beside me who's talking on a cell phone loudly enough for the deaf person down the street to hear. And lines are created for a reason. As were public restrooms. But that's here, and not there. There, it's a pushing match to see who gets to the front of a would-be line first (lines are a fairly new concept in China altogether) and when you gotta go, you gotta go. 'Thank you' also isn't a term commonly used. Chinese don't see a need to thank someone for doing their job, i.e. a waitress bringing food or a refill. But the thing is, the waitress wouldn't think it rude to not thank her.

The bottom line is - you might be appalled at some of the things you see or hear. But just because you find it rude or gross, doesn't mean anyone else around you is even going to give it a second glance.

Standing on formality.

The Chinese as a people very much stand on tradition, honor, and formality. Which can make it extremely easy for a tourist to offend someone. There are many things we do every day in America, that you should be careful to avoid in China.

Some basics - Never allow someone to pay the bill without first 'arguing' over it and offering to pay the entire thing yourself. Don't brag. If an offer you make is first refused, offer again. Don't accept a compliment graciously, you must be humble and modest to the point of denying a compliment. Don't show anger in public. Don't embarrass someone else publicly. And soooo many more. It'd be a good idea to peruse the internet for examples of all the faux pas holes you can stumble into in China.

Wow - all that being said I'm not sure how much of an advocate for China I really seem. But, I actually would like to travel there some day. If the above things scare you into not wanting to leave your back porch then consider Hong Kong. There aren't as many travel restrictions, English is more prevalent, and it's a more modern city than other areas. As for me, hopefully some day I'll take on the crowds and spitting and pushing and shoving and language barriers and visa requirements just to enjoy some time in China.