It benefits the local community.
To offer not just employment opportunities to local residents but through non- profits, has created a market where people want to contribute and visit locally owned businesses that give back to the community. This will lead to long term profit for businesses and local communities.
It helps conserve precious natural resources.
Majority of the earth’s unique ecosystems are not renewable. Whatever costs it may take to preserve it, we should take.
It gives tourists a more honest look into the local area.
By supporting locally-run tour guides and businesses, this will result in your customers learning about the truth about their culture and environment, from locals who reside there.
You won’t be fed the traditional scripted tourist-friendly information, but rather will get a first-hand glimpse into life as a local and learn to love the community for what it is.
Sustainable Tourism isn’t just about creating better places to visit, it’s about creating better places to live.
Traditional tourist-heavy areas rely on tourist money pouring into their hospitality and services to keep their local economy afloat. There are two possibilities as to how that scenario plays out which are namely:
Heavy tourist traffic will deplete the natural beauty and culture of the area, leaving a ghost town for locals to live in. The tourism industry helps to maintain the natural land and culture of the area, while also employing and empowering locals who get to live in their community year-round without having to change it all for tourists.
It can help avoid the displacement and resettlement of local communities.
Unfortunately, often the consequence of tourism coming to a location previously untouched by major businesses, leads to displacement and resettlements of local communities. For example, when a new beach town is “discovered” by tourists — typically from the First World — major hotel and food companies come in to benefit from the influx of potential customers. They don’t tend to care about the survival of local life that was there before. Sustainable tourism does, and it advocates for finding the best combination of exciting and profitable tourism and the continued existence of indigenous communities.
It prepares us for the future.
The traditional tourism industry, with its very large eco-footprint (supporting heavy vehicle traffic, traveling and construction of large hotels, misuse of water and electricity) is not sustainable. Travel will become more expensive, and rarer. Every major tourist destination may start to conform and look the same, contorting themselves to offer the same services and experiences. Therefore, if the tourism industry adapts to sustainability and inclusiveness from today, there will be a better tomorrow.
Supporting sustainable tourism is simply a responsible.
You lose nothing by taking part in it, and you get a guarantee that the beautiful forest, mountain town or pristine beach you spent a few delightful days in will still be thriving far into your future. And when you return in the future it will be there waiting for you in a way that has enhanced your quality of life.
