Eco-friendly tourist spots are environmentally conscious and they encourage responsible tourism.
They are not harmful to the environment. Their primary role is to minimise the adverse effects on the natural surroundings and preserve the resident ecosystems. They therefore promote the well-being of the nearby communities. Sustainable infrastructure development is a crucial priority for eco-friendly destinations. These places often feature lodging selections designed with environmental deliberations. These accommodations harness renewable energy sources and strive to reduce waste generation.
There are several eco-friendly building principles that encompass various aspects of building design, construction, and operation with the aim of reducing resource consumption, energy use, and environmental pollution. These include; water conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction, indoor air quality, adaptive reuse, passive design, life cycle assessment, LEED certification and green roof and wall system (Nag, 2017).
Ol Jogi Conservancy, Kenya
Ol Jogi Conservancy, located in Kenya, is an exemplary eco-friendly sightseer destination that sets the standard for responsible and sustainable tourism practices. This pristine nature area, nestled within the heart of Africa, places a consummate emphasis on the conservation of its rich biodiversity and the well- being of local communities. The sustentation’s commitment to sustainable structure is apparent in its eco-conscious lodgment, which harness renewable energy sources, cleave to green structure principles, and laboriously reduce waste generation. It’s a place where trippers can immerse themselves in the splendour of nature while leaving a positive impact on the ecosystem and the people who call this remarkable part of Kenya home (Pelorus ltd;, 2023).
Skyline of Ol Jogi Conservancy, Kenya
Costa Rica
Costa Rica showcases a melodious blend of magnificent landscapes and progressive conservation initiatives. Costa Rica’s dedication to being carbon-neutral by 2050 is exemplified through its thriving rainforests, abundant biodiversity, and renewable energy projects. Costa Rica actively endorses responsible tourism through low-impact activities such as hiking, birdwatching, and eco-tours, consenting visitors to connect with nature without causing destruction. On a brief trail leading down from the white- beach strands and into the hills, you can spot three- toed inertia among the cecropia trees, while colours of squirrel monkeys are bulging about, busy with their feeding on multitudinous green and black grasshoppers (Jacobson, 2017).
Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica
Poas volcano is one of the world’s largest active volcanoes, with sulfuric emissions, active fumaroles, and two crater lakes. The northern lake, called the Laguna Caliente (hot tidal pond) is one of the world’s most acidic lakes, in coordination with Lake Botos, the southern, which is cold, clear, and encompassed by the magnificence of the cloud woodland (Jacobson, 2017).
Poas volcano
Svartifoss Waterfall, Iceland
Svartifoss cascade, nestled within Iceland’s stirring Skaftafell National Park, embodies the substance of an eco-friendly sightseer destination. This natural wonder, known for its dramatic background of dark basalt columns, showcases the delicate balance between admiration- inspiring beauty and environmental preservation. Skaftafell National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage point, takes sustainability seriously, emphasising responsible tourism practices. Callers to Svartifoss can pierce the point through well- maintained hiking trails, reducing the impact on the girding ecosystem. The demesne promotes minimum waste generation, encourages wildlife protection, and educates trippers about the fragile Arctic terrain. It’s a place where nature’s majesty and ecological knowledge harmonise, inviting callers to witness the splendour of Iceland while icing its pristine geographies remain complete for generations to come (Nag, 2017).
Reynisfjara Beach at Vik in Iceland
Reynisfjara is a world celebrated black-sand shoreline found on the south coast of Iceland. With its enormous basalt heaps, roaring Atlantic swells, and stunning vistas, Reynisfjara is extensively considered to be the most beautiful illustration of Iceland’s black beach strands. In 1991, National Geographic recommended Reynisfjara as one of the top ten non-tropical strands to visit on the earth (Guide to Iceland;, 2023).
Lake Malawi in Malawi
Lake Malawi, 600 km long and 60 km wide, is the southernmost receptacle of the African Great Rift Lakes system. The lake hosts some of the topmost diversity of brackish fish in the world, especially cichlid fish. To cover exemplifications of the lake’s submarine communities as well as their territories, Lake Malawi National Park (LMNP) was established in 1981 and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. As part of a conservation and development design by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Finland, the socio- profitable eventuality of ecotourism was studied in LMNP. Primary results show that though the quantum of foreign callers in LMNP has dropped explosively during the last ten times, presumably due to profitable insecurity in the Southern African key, tourism still provides important profitable inputs for original livelihoods. Dialogue between traditional authorities, demesne authorities and businesses should affect the distribution of income from ecotourism to the original community. The geographic position and cost base alone circumscribe marketing LMNP for the millions; thus, tourism stylish suitable for the area can be defined as ecotourism (African Parks;, 2023).
Mumbo Island Camp, Lake Malawi
Majete Wildlife Reserve, Malawi
While Majete’s success is palpable and married to the ongoing operation strive towards long- term sustainability of the ecosystem and enduring benefits for girding communities. Majete Reserve is financially tone- sustaining and has developed the tourism product as well as better the wealth of the people around it. Majete Wildlife Reserve has community- run enterprise, similar as beekeeping and fish husbandry which profit hundreds of community members (African Parks;, 2023).
References:
African Parks;, 2023. African Parks. [Online]
Available at: https://www.africanparks.org/the-parks/majete
Guide to Iceland;2023. Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Travel Guide. [Online]
Available at: https://guidetoiceland.is/travel-iceland/drive/reynisfjara
Jacobson, D., 2017. Poás Volcano near San Jose, Costa Rica, reawakens. [Online]
Available at: https://temblor.net/volcano-insights/poas-volcano-near-san-jose-costa-rica-reawakens-4437/
Nag, O. S., 2017. WorldAtlas. [Online]
Available at: https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-10-most-visited-tourist-destinations-in-iceland.html
Pelorusx ltd;, 2023. Pelorus. [Online]
Available at: https://pelorusx.com/accommodation/ol-jogi-wildlife-conservancy/
Team Africa Geographic;, 2021. Africa Geographic Stories. [Online]
Available at: https://africageographic.com/stories/lake-malawi/
