Give Something Back on Your Cambodia Vacation
Before you go on your Cambodia vacation, consider this…
Did you know that tourism is responsible for about 83% of a developing country’s foreign exchange earner?
After oil, tourism is also the second most important source of foreign revenue for the 40 poorest countries in the world.
In developing countries, international tourism is increasing by around twice the speed of other countries in the world.
These facts are good indications that tourism is a very important revenue factor in developing countries.
However, did you also know that tourism is responsible for coral reefs being damaged by cruise ships, their anchors and sewage? It is estimated that curise ships in the Caribbean produce more than 70,000 tons of waste every year.
There are around 109 countries that have coral reefs. These reefs get broken off by tourists that just have to have that chunk when diving and exploring the underwater world. And if they didn’t take any, they can buy commercially harvested coral reef in the shops.
If you play golf, you may not know that an average golf course with 18 holes needs at least 525,000 gallons of water EVERY DAY. This is enough to irrigate the farms of at least one or two Malaysian villages.
Wouldn’t it make sense to travel in a way that conserves the environment and supports the local populations and their livelihoods?
Ecotourism is all about minimizing environmental impact, building cultural and evironmental awareness, providing financial benefits for conservation and local people, and being sensitive to the countries’ environmental, political and social circumstances.
What’s more, ecotourism provides positive experiences for the tourists and the local people.
Take for example the 14 Day Cultural Immersion trip to Cambodia, offered by Carpe Diem Travel, a social enterprise and not-for-profit business. On this tour you get a real understanding of the culture and history of the Khmer people. You not only visit Cambodia’s tourist attractions such as Angkor Wat or the Royal Palace, you also experience the country’s people away from the tourist trail and learn more about their way of life.
The package includes handwritten travel guides that you can use to prepare yourself for your trip. You can also sign up here for a Responsible Travel Fact Sheet.
Ecotourism is getting big. People are starting to feel more responsible for our earth. According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is increasing 30% every year. There are three times as many eco vacations than traditional ones.
Make your next vacation an eco vacation.