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Tourism Should be Green
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Tourism in
Ontario is all about the outdoors. It just makes
sense it should be environment-friendly.
Although
tourism covers everything from a
trip to a baseball game to the annual Caribana parade in Toronto, much of
our multi-billion dollar tourist industry is based on getting back to
nature. Nature-based tourism depends on a healthy
environment, and therefore it should be a leader in promoting environmental awareness
and environmental responsibility.
There are
two basic approaches to environmentally-sound tourism:
Eco-tourism:
where the entire operation and experience is based on
respect for nature and the sustainable use of
renewable resources.
Environmental
Stewardship:
where best environmental management practices are
incorporated into tourist operations.
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Ontario has Canada's largest tourism industry accounting for 37% of national tourism revenues
and 44% of its visitors.
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Ontario's tourism industry provided 412,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs, representing almost
8% of Ontario's employment.
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In 1997, 101.2 million visitors accounted for $14.1 billion in tourism expenditures in Ontario.
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Tourism was Ontario's 6th largest export industry, bringing into the province $6.1 billion in
foreign exchange from outside Canada.
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Source: |
Ontario Ministry
of Tourism Ontario
Tourism Research Highlights (1999), 1997 data on the State of
Tourism |
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Code of Ethics for Tourists
The Tourism Industry Association of Canada, in cooperation with the National Round Table on the Environment and the
Economy, developed and adopted a Code of Ethics and Practices:
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Enjoy our diverse natural and cultural heritage and help us to protect and preserve it.
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Assist us in our conservation efforts through the efficient use of resources including energy and
water.
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Experience the friendliness of our people and the welcoming spirit of our communities. Help us to
preserve these attributes by respecting our traditions, customs and local regulations.
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Avoid activities which threaten wildlife or which may be potentially damaging to our natural
environment.
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Select tourism products and services which demonstrate social, cultural, and environmental
sensitivity.
No website was found for the Tourism Industry Association of
Canada, so if you want more information, you'll have to contact them directly
at 1016-130 Albert Street,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 5G4.
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There are two ways to approach
environmental responsibility in tourism:
Ecotourism -- Tourism
operations and activities that are designed around low-impact ecological
experiences and based on
environmental principles.
Environmental Management
-- ensuring
that conventional tourism operations tourism operations and activities
are carried out in an environmentally-responsible and sustainable fashion.
Ecotourism
Most ecotourism companies,
naturally enough, offer tours to exotic locations such as the Amazon
rainforest or Costa Rica. The
Eco Source Network is an international network of ecotourism tour
operators, ecolodges, travel agencies, and consultants. Although they do not
publish criteria for membership in the network, they have a good list of eco
suppliers are all individuals and companies who strive to decrease their
negative impacts on the planet, and increase their positive
impacts.
What is not addressed in
international ecotourism is the ecological impact of flying to exotic
locations around the world. For a truly environmental vacation, why not
try "bioregional ecotourism" -- exploring nature in our own
backyard.
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| Ecotourism and Recreation
in Ontario |
| Ecotourism
Associations and Operators |
Manitoulin
Ecotourism Co-ordinating Association
(MECCA): not much info on the
web site, but Manitoulin is one of the best locations in Ontario for
cycle touring and hiking.
Partners
in Eco-Adventure Tourism (PEAT):
an association of professional operators and outfitters in the Sudbury
region. PEAT's virtual catalogue of adventure outfitters, retreats and
educational organizations offers you the opportunity to develop an
exclusive first class Canadian Wilderness Experience.
Temagami
Eco-Tourism: a 4 day package tour, 3 full days with guide, to explore Ontario's oldest growth, virgin red and white pine forest.
Wabakimi
Wildwaters Nature Tours
ecotours, B+B, canoeing and other activities in the Wabakimi
Provincial Park, north of Thunder Bay and Lake Nipigon.
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| Nature
Clubs with Hikes and Trips |
The
Bruce Trail Association has an online
guide to hikes along the Bruce Trail and the Niagara
Escarpment.
Hike
Ontario is a non-profit organization which represents the interests
of walkers and hikers in Ontario. Twenty-one hiking clubs and trail
building associations are presently members of Hike Ontario,
representing over 12,000 individuals.
Federation
of Ontario Naturalists: offers wilderness
trips in Ontario and young
naturalist camps. Check also their list of Ontario
nature groups for a club near you.
Ontario
Trails Council: a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the creation, development, preservation, management, and use of recreational trails in Ontario.
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| Cycle
Touring |
Ontario
Cycling Association: more of a racing association, the OCA has a links
page to many other clubs across Ontario. See also the Toronto
Bicycling Network's links to local, provincial and national clubs.
These are some of the province's local
cycling clubs:
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Environmental
Management
Within Ontario, the members of
the Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters
Association offers a wide range of activities, including ecotours along
with the traditional fishing and hunting operations.
The Northern
Ontario Native Tourism Association offers fishing, Native Culture Experiences, snowshoeing & dog
sledding, soft adventure, polar bear & beluga whale watching, and river trips in freighter canoes.
Internationally, Green
Globe 21 is a worldwide certification
program dedicated to helping the Travel & Tourism industry around the world develop in sustainable ways - ways that improve the environment, well being and the way of
life for local people and for visitors.
From the Green Globe 21 website, here are some tips for international travel:
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Choose Green Globe 21 member companies and destinations whenever you can - we guarantee they care as much about creating sustainable tourism as you do.
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Buy locally made food, drink and other items in preference to expensively packaged imported goods. Fresh food from local markets is best of all.
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Respect the fragility of some paths, countryside, buildings and ancient monuments. Treat them with care.
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Ask hotels to change your bedding & towels only when
really needed - cutting laundry pollution.
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Use local public transport if you can or better still, hire a bike - it can be fun!
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Find the genuinely local-made souvenirs if you can.
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Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints.
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Observe any local rules requiring wildlife to be left undisturbed.
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Use all local recycling facilities to dispose of waste responsibly.
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Be
one
with
nature!
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Get outside!
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See Ontario first.
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Experience Ecotourism
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| Provincial
Government
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Ministry
of Tourism: the Ministry's mandate is to stimulate investment in
tourism products and infrastructure and to market Ontario a
world-class destination. The website contains research
information and business plans. No information is provided on
Ecotourism or environmental policy.
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| Provincial
Agencies |
Ontario
Parks: Ontario Parks is an agency within the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Through Ontario Parks, the ministry plans, manages and operates the
provincial parks system. The web site includes an online
registration service for campsites in provincial parks
Conservation Ontario (CO) is a network of 38
Conservation Authorities of Ontario, community-based environmental organizations dedicated to conserving, restoring, developing, and
managing natural resources on a watershed basis. No website is
available. |
| Federal
Government |
Environment
Canada: manages Canada's national parks.
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| Ecotourism Associations |
Canada
Campnet: a listing of northern hunting lodges, fishing camps and campgrounds in Northern Ontario and Canada.
Eco
Source: an international network and guide to ecotourism: what's hot-what's not, destinations, tours and operators, lodges and resorts, activities,
publications, how to's and how not to's, definitions, and
more.
Partners
in Eco-Adventure Tourism (PEAT):
an
association of professional operators and outfitters in the Sudbury
region.
Toronto Green Tourism Association:
Urban Green Tourism; Ecotourism with an urban twist. The Green Tourism Association is turning Ecotourism urban by helping to green both the tourism industry and the tourism experience, reducing the related environmental impact and pursuing the development of a sustainable tourism industry.
The GTA is committed to establishing an economically sustainable green
tourism industry in Toronto. It works collaboratively with a network of
businesses, community and environmental groups, government agencies, heritage and cultural organizations and individuals.
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| Business
Associations |
Northern Ontario
Tourism Outfitters Association (NOTO) is a non-profit association with nearly 650 members.
Its members operate lodges, resorts, camps, camping/trailer parks, canoe outfitters, and fly-in services located in the heart of the Canadian wilderness.
Northern
Ontario Native Tourism Association (NONTA) was formed in 1987 as a non-profit organization which helps to promote native entrepreneurs outpost camps/lodges up in Northern Ontario.
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| Other
Organizations |
Ontario
Tourism Network Here you'll find the latest information about group tour products in Ontario.
Virtual
North: highlighting outdoor adventures and wilderness recreation
in Ontario's north.
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The
Conservation Council of Ontario