The idea of vacation spots that are a "paradise on earth" can sometimes overlook uncomfortable truths. Pexels, CC BY When the notion of “ecotourism” was introduced in the late 1970s, it was intended to be ecologically responsible, promote conservation, benefit local populations and help travellers foster a “reconnection with biocultural diversity”. It’s now more of a marketing term, used to give mass adventure-tourism packages a more “responsible” sheen. Visitors might get a nature walk, but interactions with local residents are limited to souvenir sellers at best, and international consortium ..read more

If South Africa wants to keep its tourism wheels turning, reliable, renewable energy is key. Xinhua News Agency For the past 16 years South Africans have dreaded rolling power cuts euphemistically dubbed “loadshedding”. These are caused by the ailing state power entity Eskom’s crumbling infrastructure and its over-reliance on ageing and poorly maintained coal-fired power stations. Loadshedding has worsened in 2023, with some areas experiencing power cuts for up to 10 hours a day. This crisis affects every aspect of the country’s economy, including its vibrant tourism sector. Tourism is a vital ..read more

Humpback whale breach at Ningaloo. Image: Kate Sprogis, Author provided Imagine … eco-tourists enjoying views of undisturbed whales and dolphins, watching them doing what comes naturally. This is ultimately what we all wish to see when spending time in nature watching animals. We can achieve this by using quieter boats. But why do we need quieter boats? Whales and dolphins primarily use hearing to sense their surroundings (rather than sight like humans do). Sound travels almost five times faster underwater than it does in the air, so it’s an important sense for whales. They rely on sounds to c ..read more

Benson Ibeabuchi/AFP via Getty Images When holidays roll around, many parents begin to appreciate just how tenacious teachers have to be to keep children engaged for weeks at a time. Some, faced with children they describe as “too playful”, “restless” or even “destructive”, may turn to home tutors, holiday lessons at schools or unregulated television viewing. But holidays should be a time for children to relax both their bodies and their brains. They spend long stretches of the year focused on cognitive-based activities and they, like adults, deserve a break. Here are some ideas for keeping yo ..read more

Shutterstock With each passing day, the grave future of Earth becomes more stark. The disruption of COVID-19 has not been enough to shift the trajectory, nor has it prompted polluting sectors of the economy to reconsider the harms they inflict on the planet. Nowhere is this clearer than in the global tourism sector. Before COVID-19, international aviation emissions - already a major contributor to global warming - were forecast to potentially triple between 2015 and 2050. Likewise, emissions from the cruise ship industry were also growing. The pandemic itself can be traced back to humanity’s ..read more

Cecil the lion, before he was a trophy. Shutterstock/paula french Killing animals for fun is an activity which divides opinion. It can also be a highly emotive issue, with high profile cases like the death of Cecil the lion sparking global media coverage and outcry. There were even calls for the American dentist who admitted killing Cecil to be charged with illegal hunting. But despite the strong feelings it occasionally provokes, many people may be unaware just how common trophy hunting is. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) reports that between 2004 and 2014, a total of 107 cou ..read more

The Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island. Each new luxury ecotourism development becomes a precedent to allow future incursions. Southern Ocean Lodge/AAP Kangaroo Island, less than 130 kilometres from Adelaide, is one of Australia’s ecological jewels. Tourism Australia describes it as a “pristine wilderness”, with cliffs, beaches, wetlands and dense bushland offering protection to native animals such as penguins, sea lions, pelicans, koalas and, of course, kangaroos. Kangaroo Island. Wikimedia, CC BY-SA It is a place “too good to spoil”. Many who agree fear that new developments will do ex ..read more

Participants in a virtual reality travel experience reported a sense of relaxation, similar to that gained from travel in real life. Shutterstock As virtual reality technology improves, it creates new opportunities for travellers seeking new experiences. This is the latest instalment of our series exploring how technology is changing tourism. Tourism is often about seeking deeper emotional and personal connections with the world around us. It’s a quintessential part of the “experience economy”, creating memories that can be recalled, re-lived and re-shared for a lifetime. But not all travel ex ..read more

Freycinet National Park, Tasmania Getty Australia’s national parks in several states are under siege from privatisation by stealth. Developers are using the lure of ecotourism to build posh private lodges with exclusive access deep inside many iconic parks. The problem is, not everyone can afford private lodges. There’s a real danger in letting developers take over precious parts of nature. We know nature is good for our mental health – and the wilder the better. One in five Australians report at least one episode of mental illness in the previous year. Our new research shows protected areas i ..read more

Despite its numerous benefits, biodiversity is still not well appreciated in Nigeria. Philippe Clement/Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Poachers recently killed an elephant in Ogun State, south-west Nigeria. This was the second in the area in two years. It raises concerns about Nigeria’s dwindling elephant population. This is important as Nigeria is now one of Africa’s primary export hubs for ivory. It also raises concerns about Nigerians’ attitude towards biodiversity conversation. Awareness and understanding of biological diversity determines the conservation of threatened spe ..read more