Soft tourism, another dimension of tourism, is environmentally and socially compatible tourism, i.e., close to nature, respecting the host culture and not relying on technology (intensive infrastructure).
The private sector is mainly responsible for delivering products and services to the tourist and, in turn, enjoys major chunk of economic benefits. Therefore, it is this sector which must take the onus for the protection of biosphere by minimizing the levels of pollution causing environmental damage (e.g. herbicides or golf courses, use or craft damaging reef structures and vehicles detrimental to sensitive ground cover) and sustaining the use of resources such as land, water and forests.
In addition, the sector ought to be responsible for reducing and disposing of waste through recycling; effective sewage treatment and waste disposal; adopting energy efficient practices; minimizing environmental and health risks; undertaking green marketing by promoting ‘soft tourism’ that minimizes adverse environmental impacts; providing complete and credible information for tourists incorporating environmental values in operation management; and conducting environmental audits.
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Soft tourism, specially adopted in developing countries, is a part of alternate tourism. It gained recognition in early 1980’s in Austria and Switzerland. Soft tourism is an answer to mass tourism.
Whilst in alternate tourism the focus is on the economic and social issues, in the soft tourism the emphasis is on environmental matters. According to Commission for International Protection Regulation Alpine (CIPRA, 1984), soft tourism can be generally defined as “a form of tourism which leads to mutual understanding between the local population and their guests which does not endeavour the cultural identity of the host region and which endeavours to take care of the environment as best as possible”.
However, soft tourism activities (cross country skiing, ski touring and hiking, etc.) can also have a considerable impact on environment when evolved from an individual activity to a mass sport, finally leading to ‘Hard’ tourism.