Promoting Responsible Tourism

When you hear about Ecotourism or Responsible Tourism, it usually pertains to countries like Costa Rica or Kenya having a fragile environment that needs preserving. Sure, France doesn�t have a rainforest. And no matter how you go around it, if one travels far, one will leave his share of pollution in the air by getting on a plane. Nonetheless, there are solutions for damage control and we can still be eco-conscious wherever we travel, may it be an industrialized or a third world country. Here are a few tips and ideas on how you can do your part:

Carbon Offsetting:
Ever heard of it? It is a way of making up for some damage that you have to inflict by traveling in a vehicle that releases CO2, such as a plane or a car. We calculate for you the amount of carbon released in the air depending on how many miles you fly. Then we calculate what it would cost to balance it. For example, say you fly from San Francisco to Paris, that�s 11,130 miles and 4,341 lbs of CO2 released on your part. A donation of $35 to a renewable energy company is proved to repair some of the harm. Even though the idea may be controversial, there is no way yet to replace airplanes or make them more eco-friendly, so it is always better than doing nothing. The money you donate goes towards a tree farm or a renewable energy project. If you think that this is a cool idea, let us know you want to participate or visit www.terrapass.com.

Green car rentals:
If you have been to France in the last few years, you might have noticed the extensive number of Colza fields, these vivid yellow, sweet smelling flowers that brighten up the landscapes? These are broadly cultivated to replace fuel nowadays. Europe is definitely a step ahead when it comes to ecology and Hybrid and biodiesel car rentals are already widely available for rental. We want to encourage our clients to take advantage of this amazing opportunity. Just let us know that you would like a green car and we will arrange it for you.

We hire locally:
Ecotourism is also about benefiting local communities while preserving their culture and traditional activities. When you travel with BellaTerra, you can be sure that it will be the case as we use locally owned hotels and guest houses and hire native qualified and licensed guides. For our self-guided tours, we will provide you with the addresses of the local attractions and activities typical of the area as well as authentic restaurants in order to provide financial benefits for the local economy.

We are committed to promoting responsible tourism in France while providing unique experiences that will exceed your expectations. We pride ourselves into doing our part to fight against global warming and that our activities will benefit the local communities that welcome you. No, France is not a poor country, but it is a country dedicated to ecology and we shall take advantage of the alternatives it offers to be responsible tourists.