What is Eco-Tourism? The New Travel Concept for Families and Groups

As travel activity has grown significantly in recent years, eco-tourism has become a new concept emerging in the tourism field. Eco-tourism is a form of responsible travel to natural areas, conserving the environment and sustaining local people’s well-being. 

The concept is centered on the idea that travelling should be a tool to protect nature rather than a cause of destruction. This concept is implemented by Ini Vie Hospitality and Stay at SOLO through their architectural design. To understand the whole concept of this type of tourism, you can dive deeper into “What is eco-tourism” through the explanation below!

Defining Eco-Tourism: Beyond Just "Nature Travel”

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In recent years, many people have wondered, ‘What is eco-tourism?’ It is defined as a purpose driven way of traveling where the key goal is to minimize tourism’s negative impact while actively contributing to the protection of destinations.

To truly be defined as eco-tourism, these are three examples of eco tourism, including:

• Conservation: The trip should help to protect the landscape and wildlife, such as paying entry fees to a beach to view the sunset or even visiting a national park in Bali.
• Community: The money should stay in the local economy and respect local culture, for instance, staying in a villa run by the locals, not a foreign-owned resort.
• Education: The travellers have to learn something about the ecosystem, such as a guided tour explaining the importance of mangrove forests.

Eco friendly tourism moves toward regenerative travel, meaning the destinations should be better because travellers have visited, which includes:

• Resort Management: Prioritizing the water and food needs of local communities rather than the luxury demand of guests, like Stay at SOLO does.
• Cultural Exchange: Locals share their knowledge as experts with tourists.
• Carbon Offsetting: Using solar power or even biodigesters in a cottage.

This definition of eco-tourism helps to understand this hot, emerging concept in tourism. It is important to know the significance of eco-friendly to tourism field.

The Important Things of Eco-Friendly

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At its core, being eco-friendly means to live or operate in a way that is not harmful to the environment. Truly eco friendly tourism practices focus more on sustainability, meeting the daily needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

The importance of eco tourism has four pillars strengthening the concept in today’s tourism, including:

1. Resource Conservation

The importance of eco tourism includes how the resort will be utilizing the planet’s resources economically. Resorts usually use LED bulbs, solar power, or high-efficiency appliances to reduce the load on the powerhouse. Also, the resort will reduce the consumption of water through low-flow fixtures and rainwater harvesting. Furthermore, the resort chooses materials growing back quickly, like bamboo, which is implemented by Equipoise. 

2. Waste Mitigation

Since eco friendly tourism aims for a circular economy where nothing is ‘thrown away’, the resort will take several steps to prevent waste from piling up uselessly through the 5 R’s, including refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle. In addition, the resort will use a product that easily breaks down naturally without leaving any toxic microplastics behind, or compostable and recyclable materials like glass and aluminium.

3. Toxicity and Pollution Control

Eco tourism important also includes the toxicity and pollution control through the use of non-toxic chemicals; utilizing natural and organic fertilizers will not cause ‘run-off’ pollution in local rivers. Moreover, the resorts also prioritize local goods to reduce the ‘food miles’ for the guests to get their needs.

4. Biodiversity and Habitat Protection

The meaning of eco tourism is to recognize that humans share the earth with millions of other species. Therefore, resorts will avoid utilizing a product linked to deforestation. Also, they will choose activities and products that will not disrupt the natural environment of animals’ habitats.

The importance of eco-tourism is linked to several activities for a large group of people or even a family to do during a trip in Bali.

Top Eco-Friendly Activities for Large Groups and Families

Organizing a trip for a large group and families can be challenging, but eco-friendly activities are suitable for it. Eco-tourism frequently involves outdoor spaces and community-based projects, naturally accommodating different ages and energy levels while providing “teachable moments’.

There are at least three parts of eco tourism activities to enjoy during the trip in Bali, including:

1. Regenerative Farming

This example of eco tourism activity is excellent for families because it offers an educational experience for children, providing a communal dining experience. Here are two activities to do during the trip in Bali:

• Astungkara Way: They offer ‘Future for Food’ experiences for big groups through building compost piles, preparing rice seedlings, and learning subak (Bali’s irrigation system).
• Organic Cooking Classes: Several villages in Bali offer workshops as part of an eco-friendly tourism agenda, with visits to local markets and organic farms to pick natural ingredients before cooking a traditional Balinese dish.

2. Marine Conservation and Coastal Protection

Bali has a lot of coastlines offering impactful group activities, providing a clear sense of accomplishment. Several activities to do from this kind of eco tourism activity are:

• Coral Reef Restoration: This activity allows groups to participate in coral preservation and planting.
• Turtle Release Programs: Big groups and families can go to the Turtle Conservation and Education Center (TCEC) to learn about sea turtle rescue and participate in releasing hatchlings into the sea, depending on the season.
• Beach Clean-up Programs: Groups or families will join up to clean up the beach to directly improve the coastlines.

3. Community-Based Cultural Immersion

Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is not a standard tour experience; it helps large groups and families to ensure their money stays within the village. The activity itself includes:

• Togetherness Project (Traditional Villages): This activity involves gentle walks through rice fields, visits to an elementary school, and a workshop to make traditional clay pottery or ikat weaving.
• Undisan Village: Large groups and families will enjoy a fun activity as they stay with locals, learn traditional ceremonies, and visit a hidden waterfall, making them feel like a whole local community.

To enjoy all the eco-tourism activities above, tourists can choose to stay in an area near the activities, which helps them save much time instead of getting jammed in traffic.

How to Be a Responsible Traveler: Simple Steps for Your Group

Being a responsible traveler during eco-tourism is not about being a perfect person, but it is more like being intentional. Positive contributions from travellers will have a big impact; however, the wrong ‘footprint’ can also grow quickly if they step in the wrong way.

After reviewing the importance of eco tourism, it is essential to understand the steps of being a responsible traveler, including:

1. ‘Pre-Trip’ Mindset: Travelers can book villas through local tour operators because it will ensure all dollars pay for a neighborhood school or a park ranger’s salary. Then, do not forget to bring a reusable water bottle, a set of bamboo utensils, and a cloth bag to avoid plastic litter. And, choosing an airline that uses Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) can also help preserve the natural environment.
2. Respect People and Place: Travel will become a micro-community upon arrival in the destinations. It is important to respect people and the place; ask permission before taking beautiful photos. Also, researching the local dress code is important because in Bali, covering shoulders and knees is a part of respecting the sacred places.
3. Support Local Economy: To enjoy the local culture, travelers can avoid the restaurants flying in ‘Western’ ingredients. Local ingredients are fresher and tastier, and have a much lower carbon footprint. Moreover, do not fight over pennies when bargaining for a local art object because extra dollars mean a lot to the artisans after they spent much time making it.

Understanding all the tips will help travelers to stay respectful to Balinese culture. It won’t make them step out of the cultural policy, making them save to travel around Dewata island during eco-tourism.

Choosing the Right Accommodation: What Makes a Villa "Eco-Friendly"?

Choosing an accommodation for a large group of people might be challenging, but travelers can look for these specific ‘Gold Standard’ first to ensure the villa is truly eco-friendly for tourism. Here are things that make a villa become ‘eco-friendly’:

1. Design Architecture

Since Bali is located in a tropical country, the room is designed with high ceilings and open-air living rooms using cross-ventilation. It helps travelers to rarely use air conditioning that is harmful to the environment. There is also a biophilic integration as the architect uses “living wall” and rooftop gardens to partition the building naturally and manage stormwater runoff.

2. Net-Zero Energy

Advanced eco-friendly villas are paired with Solar PV panels with battery storage andcan be up to 3–4 times more energy-efficient than conventional heating systems. It also uses ‘invisible tech’, helping to shut off all non-essential electricity when the room is already empty.

3. Water Systems

Responsible villas will manage the water system by treating it to irrigate the gardens. Eco-friendly tourism villas frequently use biodigesters, turning organic waste into compost or cooking gas for the kitchen. These systems reduce landfill waste and support a circular economy. 

Stay at SOLO: Eco-Friendly Accommodation in Bali 

Stay at SOLO appears as an accommodation provider for you who are trying to find eco-friendly villas and hotels in Bali. We offer you various types of family accommodation that guarantee you a comfortable place to stay with people you love during your trip, even to the furthest destination in Bali.

With the perfect balance of value and quality, Stay at SOLO is more than just an affordable place to stay. It’s a smart choice for travelers who want comfort, style, and purpose in one experience.