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| Packages built around pristine beaches
and traditional sightseeing, while still favorite attractions, can't be
counted on to draw people so far from home, especially during times of international
tension and when the public can often find comparable substitutes within
their own borders at less cost. So, what is the next "big thing"? One emerging market trend that is ripe for development is nature-based travel or “eco-travel”. Thirty years ago, the term “ecotraveler” applied to a miniscule minority – the hard-core outdoorsman who would venture into the jungle with only a backpack and a compass. Today, however, eco-travel is accessible by a much broader demographic. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines “eco-travel” as "responsible travel to natural areas, which conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of the local people." It allows people to explore and enjoy the natural world, but in a way that is minimally intrusive. Simply put, it's about treading lightly. Consumer Preference • Surveys conducted amongst ecotourists identify 1) a wilderness setting, 2) wildlife viewing, and 3) hiking/trekking as the most important components of a nature-based vacation. Their primary motivators for undertaking a new excursion are a) to enjoy scenery / nature and b) to seek new experiences/explore new places. • Nature travel is growing at an annual rate between 10-30 %, whereas traditional travel has slowed to only 4%. • Of all international tourists, 40-60% engage in nature-based activities, while 20-40% seek out opportunities to observe wildlife in its natural habitats. • Experienced ecotourists commit more time and money to their excursions: • The majority of eco-travelers surveyed prefer trips lasting 8-14 days in duration, significantly longer than the one-week standard allotted to traditional travel. • Twenty-six percent of nature-conscious travelers stated that they were willing to spend $1,001- $1,500 per trip, more than the average traveler. • Since 1975, the tourism industry has grown 35% faster than the world economy as a whole. Countries with abundant natural resources, such as Costa Rica, Ecuador and South Africa, have grown even faster than the average due to public interest in visiting unspoiled natural environments. • 83% of US travelers are inclined to support "green" travel companies and are willing to spend, on average, 6.2% more for travel services and products provided by environmentally responsible travel suppliers. • Responding to demand and opportunity, the number of tour operators that specialize in natural experiences has increased 9-fold in less than 25 years. • Typical activities sought by eco-tourists include: camping, hiking, snorkeling and diving, canoeing/kayaking, visiting parks, observing local customs and wild animal viewing. • Bird watching is an especially popular activity, up 157% in just 12 years. • Wildlife viewing participants (birds, whales and dolphins) spend $9.4 billion USD annually on travel to pursue this interest. • North America travelers, in particular, expressed a preference for water sports, environmental/ecological sights, national parks and soaking in the native culture. • In a 1998 survey in mainland United States (not including Florida), more than 48% of respondents indicated that, regardless of their destination, chances were even that they would participate in some nature-based activity. And another 30% reported planning their vacations to revolve around such pursuits. • For U.S. citizens, visiting national parks is a favorite pastime. In 1997, 29 million adults traveled 100 miles or more, each way, to visit parks and nature reserves. Seventy-percent of these participated in some type of outdoor recreation. • The preferred destinations of North American eco-travelers are the Caribbean and Latin America, especially Central America.
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