This year has been designated the Year of Ecotourism by the United Nations. But what does that mean exactly?
"As a general goal," explained Klaus Toepfer, executive director of the UN's environment programme, "it should provide an opportunity to develop tourism in ways that minimise the industry's negative impacts and actively promote the conservation of Earth's unique biodiversity. If handled properly, ecotourism can be a valuable tool for financing the protection of ecologically sensitive areas and the socioeconomic development of populations living in or close to them."
Ecotourism, he said, was "far from being a fringe activity" and should not be regarded as "a passing fad or a gimmick, or even as a secondary market niche, but rather as one of the trump cards of the tourist industry of the future".
Perfect ecotourism would ensure a good living for local inhabitants while not detracting from their traditional lifestyles, encroaching on their customs or spoiling in some way the area in which they live. Perfect ecotourism, however, probably doesn't exist. But many companies are making an effort to ensure that the benefits of their holidays - both to local people and the area visited - outweigh their negative impact.
A growing number of travel companies, for instance, now use local transport and locally owned hotels. Some have been able to prove economic benefits, too. More than 5.5m people worldwide, for example, go whale-watching annually; and that provides a far better income than hunting them.
How, though, do you find a holiday company that is eco-friendly? Well, you can start by reading this issue - where most of the holidays have an eco element - or by tapping "ecotourism" into a search engine. Another avenue is to contact the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) who represent the smaller specialists of the travel industry. It has been involved in green issues since 1989, and has gradually encouraged similar interest on the part of its members. Last year, AITO issued its first Responsible Tourism Guidelines - voluntary at present, but moving towards mandatory compliance in the next couple of years. Check out AITO or ring 0870 7518080 for a free directory of member companies, with useful holiday ideas including eco-friendly trips.
AITO operators organise beach cleans and support charities at their destinations, with the aim of teaching local children the importance of keeping their part of the world free from rubbish - both for the good of wildlife and for the commercial benefits it can bring to their home village or town.
You can play your part by encouraging the tour operator you use to have an environmental policy and to consider the impact on the environment of everything they do.
Of course, the point of a holiday is to have a good time. But if it's guilt-free as well, it is even better.
