Discover how sustainable tourism can combine the need to protect our health and our environment during and after Covid. Let’s take a look at new ways to travel internationally, and remember to take out good travel insurance!
How to combine sustainable tourism and health insurance abroad?
The health crisis linked to Covid-19 has highlighted the need to combine safe travel with all the necessary health measures and respect for the environment when traveling abroad. Respect for the environment goes hand in hand with human health. To ensure the safety of your travels and your health abroad, Mondassur includes guarantees in most of its foreign health insurance policies to cover you in the event of epidemics such as Covid-19. We invite you to consult the details of these travel insurance policies that cover the Coronavirus. If you want to travel responsibly, there are a number of travel agencies specializing in this type of trip:
Ecotourism
Ecotourism focuses on the discovery of nature (ecosystems, agrosystems and rural tourism), and urban ecology (ecological gardens, ecological green spaces, urban nature reserves…). Landscapes and species can be observed, such as lions and elephants in Tanzania. The aim is to discover while respecting ecosystems, and even helping to restore them. What’s more, this type of tourism seeks to reduce its ecological footprint. Ecotourism is one of the world’s most popular sectors, in contrast to mass tourism, which degrades natural environments. Ecotourism has often been linked mainly to discovery or adventure tourism, with a strong focus on tropical countries rich in biodiversity. Today, the trend is towards local tourism, based on nearby natural resources (nature reserves, forests, etc.). The United States is reputed to be the main reservoir of ecotourists (over 5 million each year). The majority of other ecotourists come from Europe and the elite of certain southern countries. Ecotourism is not just for developing countries. It’s equally at home in developed countries such as France, the rest of Europe and Australia. There are several types of eco-accommodation:
– Éco-auberges de jeunesse
– Écocamping: type of campsite where the commitment can be certified by an ecolabel
– Écogîtes ou écolodges ou safari lodge (type of rural gîte)
– Ecohotels
– Éco-village de vacances: type of vacation village.
Where to go for ecotourism?
Ecotourism can be practised all over the world, and here are just a few examples of countries and trips where this type of tourism is practised:
– Costa Rica captivates visitors with its rich and varied ecosystem. Reserves and national parks account for over a quarter of its territory. More than 200 volcanoes, deserted beaches and sublime local wildlife make up its ecosystem. From a sustainable development point of view, Costa Rica is a top performer, with a huge number of zoos, over 12,000 species of plants, 850 species of birds and 160 species of free-ranging mammals.
– France is also developing ecotourism. There are many national parks, such as the Parc National des Ecrins and the Mercantour, home to numerous mammals such as chamois, ibex, bear, wolf and lynx. Sustainable tourism is a priority for France, with environmentally-friendly gites and outdoor activities.
– Canada is renowned for its countless mountains, lakes and rivers. Canada’s wildlife includes deer, caribou, wolves and bears. Nature-friendly activities abound: hiking, birdwatching, rafting, wildlife photography and more.
– Tanzania and Kenya place great emphasis on ecotourism to preserve their landscapes and wildlife. In the heart of national parks, ecolodges are designed to have minimal impact on the ecosystem, while involving local tribes (Masai, Samburu, Kikuyu).
– Brazil boasts over 50 ecological reserves and 7 UNESCO-listed natural sites. Ecotourism is practicable, if not essential, in the Amazon, the Atlantic Forest and the Pantanal. A wide range of accommodation options are available: jungle gites, eco-farms, chalets, tents, etc.
Fair tourism
Fair tourism is a form of tourism that corresponds to a set of service activities similar to fair trade. The main criteria of this form of tourism are the participation of host communities, the fair sharing of profits and respect for local communities and the environment. In other words, this form of tourism allows visitors to stay among local people in the knowledge that all or a large part of the money spent on the trip will go towards remunerating the local population. For example, L’ATES offers several solidarity destinations, including Morocco’s Amizmiz Valley, where you’ll stay with a Berber family, or Aït Ayoub, where you’ll immerse yourself in a village.
Solidarity tourism
Closely akin to fair tourism, solidarity tourism emphasizes encounters and exchanges between locals and travelers. It supports local development and encourages protection of the host country’s natural resources. Particularly developed in the countries of the South, solidarity tourism encourages small groups to foster exchanges during the trip. Local people can take the time to create real ties with the people they host, encouraging interculturality. Locals are the main contacts for travelers, who are welcomed, fed and housed by local people. The traveler is thus made aware of the traditions, customs and environment of these communities. Travelers participate in a social and solidarity-based economy. This type of tourism improves living conditions and creates jobs for the local population (cooks, guides, drivers, local coordinators, etc.). This job creation means fairer wages, often above the country’s national average. So, in addition to helping to protect local populations and their environment, solidarity tourism generates numerous positive social, economic and environmental spin-offs. For example, Double Sens offers 14-day solidarity trips to Colombia to meet the Arhuaco, Wayuu and Costenos peoples. Or a 16-day tour of Halong Bay in Vietnam.
Many associations and travel agencies offer sustainable trips and excursions. Whether you’re interested in ecotourism, fair tourism or solidarity tourism, here are a few sites of agencies that can offer you this type of excursion: Double Sens, Croq’Nature, L’arbre à voyages and Arvel Voyage. You can also visit the ATES (Association pour un Tourisme Equitable et Solidaire) and ATR (Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable) websites for ecotourism, fair tourism and tourism based on solidarity, with their numerous partner travel agencies.
