REAL-LIFE TASKS 13 Read the text and prepare a map to summarise it. Ecotourism and staycation Both ecotourism and staycation represent an idea of a holiday with a reduced ecological impact. According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), ecotourism can be defined as responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education . Staycation is a holiday spent at home or near home rather than travelling to distant places. The benefits of ecotourism From a traveller s point of view, ecotourism: provides the opportunity for immersion into the natural world in an enjoyable and effective manner; is about building a culture of environmental respect and protection; is more interesting, educative and challenging than traditional tourism destinations and activities. On the host s side, ecotourism: minimises physical, social, behavioural, and psychological impacts; raises awareness on local environmental and social delicate issues; generates income opportunities for local people, providing social and economic benefits to destinations and communities throughout the globe. 100 The negative aspects of ecotourism Despite the goal of protecting the environment, ecotourism can, even if unintentionally, create environmental harm because: ecotourists often go to environmentally fragile areas; wildlife can be disturbed, and vegetation removed; garbage generation increases; there is the risk of ecotourism turning into mass tourism; off-site impacts such as clearing lands to build infrastructures (roads, hotels) may be relevant. Staycation Staycation has the potential to cause less environmental harm as less fuel is spent. It also means more money spent at a local or national level and this consumption helps to strengthen the economy and supports existing or new jobs. It was conceived at the time of the 2008 market crisis in the US. Because of it, many households were forced to restrict their expenses