Go green, expand eco-tourism

Afra Afzal Sait | NT

Bengaluru: On the occasion of World Tourism Day today few green activists like Namita Gupta and Saba Poonawala made efforts to spread awareness about how to help ecology.

Namita,who was honored at an eco-tourism summit in Cairo, Egypt a week back emphasized the importance of eco and sustainable tourism.

She gave following ecosustainable travel tips; leave no trace by cleaning up and avoiding littering, choose eco-friendly accommodation, support local communities, preserve nature by staying on designated trails, avoiding disturbing wildlife, and protect natural habitats, and minimize waste by following the principles of the 4Rs -- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink.

She delved into how tourism and travel industry offers a plethora of career opportunities. From becoming scuba instructors to tour guides, tour operators, or trekking leaders, individuals can turn their passion for travel into a fulfilling profession.

“Many have left corporate jobs to pursue careers in adventure travel, trekking, and cultural exploration, enriching their lives in the process,” she said.

Green activist and the founder of Safari with Saba, Saba Poonawala advocated the importance of eco-sustainable safaris, where both tourists and tour companies share the responsibility for minimizing their environmental footprint.

She added, “One key aspect of eco-sustainable safaris is supporting local communities by purchasing souvenirs from local artisans and respecting their culture. She urged to avoid making loud noises when in wild life safaris because “deer depending on grass to giraffes relying on trees and tigers hunting deer, is all a part of delicate web of life. If one element of this web collapses, it threatens the entire ecosystem.” she said.

Meanwhile, Arjun Tours and Travels, a leading travel company in Karnataka, present on the occasion declared that they are celebrating World Tourism Day with a special trip to Hampi.