Why Eco Tourism?

At Inch Hideaway, we are passionate about promoting eco-tourism and sustainable travel. Our commitment to environmental conservation, community engagement, and cultural respect shapes every aspect of our glamping experience in East Cork.

🌍 Principles of Eco and Low Impact Tourism

Eco-tourism aims to extend the positive impacts of tourism through a special focus on conservation, benefits for host populations, and the education of visitors. Sustainable tourism seeks to minimize negative impacts and optimize economic benefits, ensuring that tourism activities can be maintained over the long term without harming the environment or local communities.

♻️ What Does Sustainability Mean to Us?

When we talk about “sustainable” activities, we refer to practices that can be continued indefinitely without depleting resources or causing harm. This encompasses three main aspects:

• Environmental Sustainability: Minimizing damage to the environment (flora, fauna, water, soils, energy use, contamination) and ideally benefiting the environment through protection and conservation.
• Social and Cultural Sustainability: Ensuring that tourism activities do not harm and may revitalize the social structure or culture of the community where they are located.
• Economic Sustainability: Maintaining viable business practices that contribute to the economic well-being of the local community, benefiting owners, employees, and neighbors.

📜 The Twelve Aims for Sustainable Tourism

As outlined by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Tourism Organization, the twelve aims for making tourism sustainable are:

1. Economic Viability: Ensuring long-term prosperity of tourism destinations and enterprises.
2. Local Prosperity: Maximizing the contribution of tourism to the economic prosperity of the host destination.
3. Employment Quality: Strengthening the number and quality of local jobs created and supported by tourism.
4. Social Equity: Seeking a fair distribution of economic and social benefits from tourism throughout the recipient community.
5. Visitor Fulfillment: Providing a safe, satisfying, and fulfilling experience for visitors, available to all without discrimination.
6. Local Control: Engaging and empowering local communities in planning and decision-making about tourism development.
7. Community Wellbeing: Maintaining and strengthening the quality of life in local communities.
8. Cultural Richness: Respecting and enhancing the historic heritage, authentic culture, traditions, and distinctiveness of host communities.
9. Physical Integrity: Maintaining and enhancing the quality of landscapes, both urban and rural.
10. Biological Diversity: Supporting the conservation of natural areas, habitats, and wildlife.
11. Resource Efficiency: Minimizing the use of scarce and non-renewable resources in the development and operation of tourism facilities and services.
12. Environmental Purity: Minimizing the pollution of air, water, and land, and the generation of waste by tourism enterprises and visitors.

🌿 Our Commitment at Inch Hideaway

We integrate these principles into our daily operations by:

• Utilizing recycled and locally sourced materials in our constructions.
• Implementing waste reduction and composting practices.
• Supporting local businesses and sourcing food locally.
• Offering educational experiences like seashore foraging walks to connect guests with nature.
• Creating inclusive spaces that welcome all guests, including those with diverse backgrounds and needs.

📍 Visit Us

Inch Hideaway
Glanturkin, Whitegate,
Co. Cork, Ireland
Eircode: P25 ND37

Phone: +353 86 608 0766
Email: [email protected]

Join us in embracing eco-tourism and experience a sustainable getaway that nurtures both the environment and the soul.