The Ecotourism Society defines eco-tourism as ‘responsible travel to natural areas, which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people’. Essentially eco-tourism should unite conservation, communities and sustainable travel.
To determine if eco-tourism really is the form of travel on offer, ask the following questions:
is the environment being looked after?
is the local community being uplifted?
does the travel build environmental awareness?
are resources remaining for future generations?
does the travel respect local culture?
Bergwaters Eco Loge & Spa has adopted this philosophy and embarked on an eco-tourism program to ensure that we continuously reduce our impact on our natural surrounds and resources while providing visitors with a unique, but low impact experience.
This is what we do:
encourage and support eco-friendly tourism,
minimize our negative impacts – through waste recycling, composting, reduced energy consumption and carbon footprint,
provide training to all our staff on the implementation of sustainable eco-friendly tourism,
eradicate and manage the spread of invading and on indigenous vegetation,
use our water resources in a responsible and sustainable manner,
implement responsible use of cleaning chemicals,
give back – through direct involvement in conservation.
This is what you can do:
support eco-friendly accommodations, tourist destinations and organisations,
support sustainable tourism activities - wind surfing instead of jet-skiing, cycling or hiking instead of using bikes & quads,
add a “volunteer day” onto your holiday – help out and give back to the environment,
reduce your own individual carbon footprint – travel by train, hire a smaller car, choose low carbon emission airlines, don’t leave you room lights and air-conditioner on when you don’t need them,
support responsible waste management – find out where the recycling bins are, don’t litter, don’t reduce the efficiency of sewage systems by disposing of foreign materials,
use water resources responsibly – use less water by showering instead or bathing, don’t pollute waters systems, don’t leave the basin tap running unnecessarily,
adopt an eco friendly lifestyle at home, work and away.
