Sustainable Tourism Definitions

SUSTAINABLE or GREEN TOURISM

Sustainable tourism creates economic growth in a manner that does not deplete the natural and built environment, while preserving the culture, history, heritage and arts of the local community.

CULTURAL TOURISM

Cultural tourism involves experiencing or having contact with the unique social fabric, heritage, and special character of places. It is an exchange of information on lifeways, customs, beliefs, values, language, views of the environment, and other cultural resources. The challenge in planning for cultural tourism is to ensure that the exchange takes place as equitably as possible, in a manner seen as appropriate by members of the host community.

CREATIVE TOURISM

Creative Tourism is tourism directed toward an engaged and authentic experience, with participative learning in the arts, heritage or special character of a place. Creative tourism can be a powerful economic development tool for cities, provinces, states, and countries.

ECOTOURISM

Ecotourism is a form of “responsible travel” that offers an authentic, engaging and educational experiences to travelers who want an off-the-beaten-path adventure that connects them with natural beauty and indigenous traditions. For the local communities it provides a rewarding and sustainable business model and enterprise. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.

VOLUNTOURISM

Voluntourism is a form of ecotourism that is undertaken in support of things such as environmental restoration or to improve the well-being of a local community. People also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and for a variety of other reasons.

AGRITOURISM

Agricultural tourism is a commercial enterprise at a working farm, ranch or agricultural plant conducted for the enjoyment or education of visitors. This can include farm stands, farmers’ markets, U-pick, farm stays, tours, on-farm classes, fairs, festivals, pumpkin patches, orchard dinners, youth camps, barn dances, guest ranches and more. Agritourism is rapidly becoming a way to supplement farm income. NM has a special niche of combining agritourism with bio-cultural foods, Native American and Hispanic food events, traditional gardening demonstrations, and nature guiding.

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