Accomodations

Ecotourism is not only about the eco-friendly activities one can partake in during their travels, but also the places in which they stay during this time. Staying in hotels and resorts that use solar panels for part of their electricity usage or that collect rainwater to water their lawns contribute to the ideal ecotourist vacation.

Many golf courses for example have really focused on going green. In Manitoba Clear Lake Golf Course at Riding Mountain National Park is a prime example. According to Travel Manitoba:

- Food waste is composted

- Lawn mowers are run on cooking oil from local restaurants

- Organic fertilizers are used on course

- Nearby Riding Mountain Guest Ranch serves organic foods and fair trade coffee to guests

(Travel Manitoba, 2010).

Other golf courses (some of which are sanctioned as wildlife sanctuaries) in places such as Arizona focus more on their water conservation, as water is a high commodity in the desert. It is vital that conservation efforts are focused on it, which is why many courses use a “desert-style” course instead of the normal green to play on.
This practice is also seen in many resorts as well. Since it takes an excessive amount of water to keep lawns lush and green some landowners have taken to using the natural desert landscape instead. Using accommodations like these allow people to help with water conservation while traveling (Frommers, 2013).

Some travel destinations have full hotels dedicated to ecotourism known as Ecotourism Hotels such as in Crete, Greece where their eco-hotels give easy access to many ecotourist activities the island provides (Ecotourism Greece, 2012). Or, in Switzerland, with Hotel Europa that sets the standard that many hotels are planning to follow. Located in St. Mortiz, the solar energy collected on the hotel’s roof feeds both the hot water and heating systems as well as the pool, counteracting high-energy costs and CO2 emissions (Frommers, 2013).

One place ecotourists can go to enjoy natural beauty and stay "green" is at Les Cerniers in the Swiss Alps. Modern style igloos provide accommodation, beds, living quarters and a bathroom made from natural materials (Whitepod, 2013). These accommodations have cowhide flooring, sheepskin rugs, wood burning stoves and a sit in bathtub which means less water is consumed. The site's owners have awesome green credentials and make sure they reduce their impact on the surrounding area as much as possible. There is a low water and electricity consumption policy, lots of recycling and use of renewable resources (Whitepod, 2013).

South of the equator you have places such as Costa Rica that really set the bar for ecotourism accomodations. The link below provides several places that a tourist may choose from when embarking on sustainable travel. For example, the Inn at Coyote Mountain uses wind energy, grows its own organic fruits and vegetables and hires its entire staff locally (Hutchinson, 2007).

Eco-friendly hotels in Costa Rica

Image acquired from: http://www.gizmag.com/plus-energy-hotel-alps/20924/

Image acquired from: http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/mb/riding/natcul/natcul2.aspx

Image acquired from: http://2costarica.com/images/hotels/laparios-01.jpg

How sustainable are our province's accommodations??

To our knowledge, we do not know of any hotels or cabins in this province that use alternative energy sources. However, there are various campgrounds that may be utilized if tourists are looking to minimize impact on their journey.

One step we have taken in the right direction involves local food use and sustainability. The Shorefast foundation in Fogo Island is focusing on cultural/tourism revival on the Island. As a result, Dr. Faye Murrin from the Department of Biology was contacted in 2009 to help chefs in a restaurant and Inn on the island search for local choice edible mushrooms. Five edibles were located in the area (Golden Chanterelle, King Bolete, Winter Chanterelle, Pine Mushroom and Hedgehog Mushrooms) and chefs whipped up delicious meals using such ingredients (Murrin, Personal comm. 2013).

This is just one example of how places in our province may become more eco-friendly and sustainable by using local sources rather than buying commercially harvested mushrooms elsewhere.