[00:02.34]It is in response to this problem
[00:04.36]that a new kind of tourismis rapidly developing
[00:07.47]-eco-tourism,as it's often known,
[00:10.08]and in today's programme we ask whether
[00:11.95]this is the future of the tourist industry.
[00:14.78]Gavin Allan is the director
[00:16.48]of a tour company which specializes
[00:18.35]in eco-tours.
[00:19.99]Gavin,what do we mean by eco-tourism?
[00:23.74]Eco-tourism is really about sustainable tourism
[00:27.34]The holiday and leisure industry too often
[00:29.43]is about exploiting our resources,
[00:31.50]erm going for the quick money if you like,
[00:33.24]and we've all seen the damage it
[00:34.40]can do to the local environment.
[00:36.55]We can all think of places
[00:37.28]where the local economy has gained
[00:39.62]in the short term through tourism,
[00:40.90]but in the end, the very things
[00:42.95]that attracted the tourists may be lost.
[00:45.48]Eco-tourism is really about preserving
[00:47.67]these assets for future generations.
[00:49.78]We've got to think in the longer term...
[00:51.72]the way forward must be to respect
[00:53.51]and maintain local environments.
[00:55.60]So, if you like the tourist has to adapt
[00:58.22]to the local lifestyle rather than vice-versa.
[01:00.73]I think this has got to be the way forward
[01:02.56]in the future.
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