The Rough guide to Rough guides

Ecotourism is a term that is used very loosely and inaccurately. Ideally it means that travel is environmentally friendly and local peoples, reassuring vacationers that their presence is actually helping the country they are visiting.

Unfortunately pseudoenvironmentalists have learned to “talk the talk” but rarely walk the green mile of ecotourism. When tour companies and guides pose as something they are not they can actually endanger not only the environment but tourists as well.

Proper guides are formally educated, usually local and have a connection and concern for their country and will not exploit it. By protecting it they ensure it will be there for others.

Wherever the tourist demand for guides arise many others will also pretend to be guides. These poachers take away from the efforts of the true guide.

Unqualified guides besides giving unauthentic experiences, cut corners, which may lead to illnesses and accidents.

I have unfortunately heard many stories from travelers who were allowed to harass wildlife with nighttime flash photography endangering their entire group.

Not long ago an Elk in the US did trample a man, He had just entered a street where an enraged elk attacked him with no warning. Several teenagers had been throwing rocks at the animal 30 minutes earlier.  The effects our actions take are not always immediate and often it is bystanders who suffer.

A good guide has already thought through these safety concerns and has active plans for injured clients and emergencies.

Recently a poisonous snake while impressing some female tourists bit a Costa Rican man. He survived but he failed to impress them.

In many countries it us a full year to become a guide and a 4 year course to be a Forester (and work in a National Park). This amount of commitment requires love and respect for nature. Supporting the right people ensures that those right people remain in control of Natural resources.

Travelers also benefit by getting the right facts and kept safe while viewing nature.

In poor countries there will always be people dong their own tours. You can support local people by using local restaurants, lodgings and businesses but use-licensed guides, as they are the one who support the environment.

Finding a good guide may be done through a museum, preserve, or educational institution whereas hotels and tour operators are more likely to supply outside guides.

When choosing a guided tour consider:

Is the tour destructive to the environment?

What is the guide's qualification? Are they evasive about training or credentials?

Does their tour support any institution or preserve or is being run by a hotel that has other interests (casino, bar, jet ski rentals)

Several organizations have formed to also protect the working conditions and fair wages of guides

International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) is a volunteer organization, which has as its aim the improvement of conditions, particularly in relation to health and safety, of mountain porters in the tourism industry. www.ippg.net