UK Ecotourism

Over a quarter of the U.K.'s vacationers are ecotourists.

Ecotourism is a growing section of the travel and tourism industry, with more people interested in traveling to natural or wilderness areas with a focus on preserving the environment and contributing to the local culture.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism involves travel to natural, often remote, destinations, and often contains an education component about the environment. Often ecotourism results in financial benefits for local people and for conservation causes. In addition, ecotourism tends to show respect for local culture and for human rights, and tries to have a minimal ecological impact on the environment.

Ecotourists in the United Kingdom

According to Tourism Queensland, 26 percent of tourists within the United Kingdom participate in ecotourism, with part of their vacation focused on wilderness and wildlife. Ecotourists are spread fairly evenly across genders and age groups; most are married with no children living at home. They are motivated by wanting to see new things, see more of the world and explore scenery and landscapes.

Promoting Ecotourism

Word of mouth is one of the strongest ways to promote ecotourism, with 78 percent of ecotourists in the U.K. choosing their destinations based on what they've heard from family and friends. U.K. ecotourists are also inspired by travel programs on television, and tend to do their vacation research on the Internet.

References

• U.K. Ecotourism
• Eco Holidaying U.K.: Campaign for Eco-Tourism
• Tourism Queensland: The U.K. Ecotourism Market