Tourism vs. Ecotourism

Eco-Tourism

The Definition:

Ecotourism is: "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."

Principles of Ecotourism:

Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following ecotourism principles:
• Minimize impact.
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
• Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
• Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.


Ecotourism Facts & Statistics:

Size of Global Tourism:
• As the largest business sector in the world economy, the Travel & Tourism industry is responsible for over 230 million jobs and over 10% of the gross domestic product worldwide.
• In 2006, Travel & Tourism (consumption, investment, government spending and exports) is expected to grow 4.6% and total US$6.5 trillion.

Importance to Tourism in Developing Countries:
• Tourism is a principle "export" (foreign exchange earner) for 83% of developing countries, and the leading export for 1/3 of poorest countries.
• For the world's 40 poorest countries, tourism is the second most important source of foreign exchange, after oil .

RAISE YOUR VOICE !

Renewable energy

The Power of Sun

We think that in Portugal should be more used the Solar power, like in schools, shoppings and judicial buildings.

In most of cases people don´t use this type of energy because there is very expensive and the Government don´t give insentives.

We also think that instead of do the biggest Solar park they should think about making small ones in all cities (for example).

Solar energy : Is the energy that provines from the sun. The radiations are collected on the PV painels and used to produce electrical energy.

Biomass: a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms, such as wood, waste, (hydrogen) gas, and alcohol fuels. Biomass is commonly plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce heat.

Geothermal energy: Is power extracted from heat stored in the earth. This geothermal energy originates from the original formation of the planet, from radioactive decay of minerals, from volcanic activity and from solar energy absorbed at the surface.

Wind power: is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, wind mills for mechanical power, wind pumps for pumping water or drainage, or sails to propel ships.

Hidroelectricity : electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy.