EcoTourism Services
Our specialist ecotourism services, review and recommendation process has been developed to meet the need for a system to encourage best practice ecotourism within tourism operators and associated service providers in the Victoria Falls region.
Our service will provide business and consumers with an assurance that a nature tourism or ecotourism product or service is managed with a commitment to environmental, economic and social sustainability. Our aim is to encourage sound environmental business management and operational procedures, best practice eco-tourism and the development and delivery of quality tourism experiences to clients.
The process is based on an initial eco-audit followed by an extended review, recommendation and monitoring period.
A product or service will be assessed within two levels or categories of environmental tourism:
A) Nature tourism, which is defined as:
Ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas.
It includes wilderness exploration, adventure and adrenalin tourism activities.
B) Ecotourism is defined as:
Ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing natural areas and fostering environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.
Who is eligible?
Our services have been developed for three main types of nature and eco-tourism products:
1) Accommodation
Includes all infrastructure and services designed to offer over-night accommodation to visitors. Examples include lodges, resorts, standing camps and camping/caravan areas. Tours and services offered as additional products are assessed separately.
2) Tours and transport providers
Tours are activities in which one or more guides take an individual or group of people on an excursion to one or several places. Tours typically combine activities such as walking, driving or riding. Note that tours may offer activities or services provided by third parties (for example admission to an attraction), and these are not assessed as part of the product.
3) Attractions and Activities
Facilities which combine a natural area (or natural area focus) with infrastructure designed to help visitors explore and learn – for example wildlife parks, sanctuaries and other visitor centres. Specialist activity providers within a natural areas, for example adventure and adrenalin activities.
Benefits of EcoTourism
Ecotourism is designed to provide a range of benefits to nature tourism and eco-tourism operators and consumers, and also encourage benefits for conservation and local communities.
Benefits to nature tourism and ecotourism operators include:
- Guidelines to assist operators plan and develop their nature tourism and/or ecotourism products and services.
- An opportunity to promote products and services as genuine nature or eco-tourism.
- An opportunity for operators to continually improve environmental performance to recognised best practice.
- Competitive advantage in marketing and promotion.
- Operators who achieve eco-rating will be invited to join a select portfolio of best practice nature and eco-tourism providers.
Benefits to clients and consumers:
- Recognised means to identify genuine nature and eco-tourism operators.
- Method for land owners and managers to encourage improved practices that lead to more efficient use of natural resources and less environmental impact.
- Method to help local communities develop tourism activities that maximise social and economic benefits and minimise negative environmental impacts.
- Environmental awareness, information and education.