ECOTOURISM: IS YOUR LODGE AUTHENTIC?

As with any marketable movement – “organic” food comes to mind – suppliers use the buzzword to sell their products. How can the public tell what adheres to the highest standard? Experts with experience and knowledge can set standards.

International Ecotourism Society spent the past twenty years working towards a goal of responsible travel in natural areas, which conserves the environment, and improves local well-being. Now, Hitesh Mehta has created a 275 page coffee table book that features 36 of the world’s most authentic ecolodges. Mehta has been a leader in the field of landscape architecture and physical planning for ecolodges, as well as natural parks that protect endangered species. He spent three year traveling to 46 countries across six continents in order to research Authentic Ecolodges. Along the way, he developed and applied a detailed list of eleven criteria to measure authenticity. This book contains a wealth of information about ecotourism, including accommodations and destinations. It also offers insights into how to measure an experience and facility against a standard.

Mehta has selected three lodges to represent each of the twelve facets. The “sustainable materials section” features lodges from China, Venezuela, and Jordan. “Community ownership” includes lodges from Canada, Bolivia, and Kenya. The lodges are described in a concise text, shown with a site plan and accompanied by dramatic photos. Mehta rates the lodges on a “butterfly” scale, indicating how much “ecological enlightenment” they have. He told HTB his scale directly correlates to his specific criteria. It is not only a beautiful reference book, but also a conversation piece. The payoff, however, is that the Foreword promises “the entire spectrum of resorts from budget to luxurious ($15-500/night), in which guests, locals and the environment come together to deliver positive returns on life.”

Readers who travel the world will be interested to know that Mehta also profiles ecolodges located in Australia, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. He also includes ecolodges found in Costa Rica, Vietnam. India, Mozambique. U.S. Virgin Islands. South Africa. Chile. Saba Island. Please let us know what you think of this resource.