Green Safari Lodge Ecotourism Index

Ecotourism has become a buzz word enabling travel industry marketing departments to brand themselves as responsible and get into the fastest developing sector of the travel industry. It seems that this is about as far as it gets; with no index or grading system to judge tourist spots by, it has been hard to travelers to compare how eco-friendly hotels and resorts actually are. There has been much discussion by academics but little has been done beyond putting ideas to paper and asking the industry to take up a standard by which they can be compared. This article seeks to clarify the way Safari Guide Africa interprets the definition of ecotourism and how we implement the characteristics of the definition in a grading scale of lodges that claim to be eco-friendly. With the aid of this index, we hope to provide travelers and those seeking eco-friendly safari lodges and reserves with the information they require before committing to a decision.

Common and factors of accepted definitions of ecotourism is where conservation, company profits (and sustainability) and the local population are all taken into account. Our Ecotourism index is built from thirteen components we believe to be essential to satisfying this definition.

Conservation relates to how a company takes care of the plants and land on which it operates. In taking on this commitment to conservation of the land, the business will develop strong sustainability and a solid role model for future development in the surrounding community.

Alternative energy & energy conservation
Gray water recycling & water conservation
Composting and recycle bins
Cotton towels and linens & sheet and towel re-use programs
Eco-friendly and organic food served
Educate staff and guests about green practices
Maintenance for conservation – voluntarily replacing infrastructure that is causing environmental harm, like leaking toilets or broken taps
Environmentally friendly transportation

Benefiting the local population and the community relates to building community relationships. To be truly eco-friendly a company interacts and becomes a member of the local community, bringing with it social-economic development, prosperity and benefits to the local people.

Donating to local charity
Hiring local staff
Participating in local programs
Participating in local green programs

Finally, ecotourism has to be profitable and be able to sustain itself; making it a foundation for future developments in the surrounding areas as well as providing job security to the locals it employs and promoting itself as a green. With this stability other business, physical infrastructure like schools and municipal buildings, along with other prosperous eco-friendly activity will come to the area allowing it to grow to meet its full economic and development potential.

Promote green in the PR

Documents read prior to this writing: Karen Lewis – Speech - "Sustainable Certification: A Key to Improving the Community and Guest Experience" May 15th 2007, Oslo – Norway

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