Ecotourism

Ecotourism, according to the Washington DC based International Ecotourism Society, is about uniting conservation, communities and sustainable travel. They advocate the following tenets. Ecotourism, it says, should:

Minimise impact
Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
Provide direct financial benefits for conservation
Provide financial benefits and empowerment for the local people
Raise sensitivity to a host country's political, environmental, and social climate
Support international human rights and labour agreements

There is a wide range of eco resorts and eco tour services to choose from. Luxury lodges in Africa and Australia, trekking in the Himalayas, vacations on idyllic islands, mountain climbing, deep sea diving and arctic circle tours.

What they all have in common is a desire to work positively with the local population and strengthen the local economy of the travel destination, promote cross cultural experiences, fully empower the indiginous peoples and create as little impact as possible on the natural habitat while promoting biodiversity and conservation.

Choosing your honeymoon destination can make a difference.