The environmental crisis facing the global society stems primarily from a faulty worldview.  This blue and silver speck of dust that appears so alluring and fragile from outer space cannot carry on with the present-day irresponsible inhabitants for too long.  The dominant worldview of 21st century hi-tech, fast paced, instant fulfilment society is ecologically destructive because it views the earth as a “collection of natural resources” with no value other than use for human exploitation.  This utilitarian or resourcist view of nature is arrogantly anthropocentric and needs to be replaced by a bio-centric view in which other forms of life are seen as having intrinsic value.  What is needed is an “ecological consciousness” – an inward transformation that alters our perception of being separate from and above the rest of nature.  There is no better way to address the subject of eco friendly tourism.  This planet is our common homeland.  For too long we have neglected its well being to those who only believed in taking for themselves as much as possible and exploiting its finite resources without any concern for replenishment or regeneration.
Tourism is one the world’s biggest industry.  More than two billion people criss-cross the planet by road, sea and air and the number keeps increasing despite situations like the attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, and the abortive attempt on the Parliament House in India.   Much damage has already been done to our global habitat but thanks to the United Nations and other world bodies struggling to prevent an “ecocide”, there is a lot that can be done and needs to be done.  Urgently! 
In the search for common ground between the highest aims of civilisation and the beauty, complexity and mystery of nature, an ecology that draws on a diversity of philosophical, cultural and spiritual traditions as well as latest advances in the world of science and technology is called for.  How should we then promote eco friendly tourism? It implies an organic change in present-day lifestyles, and demands a new mindset that values natures as having intrinsic worth, tolerance for diversity, decentralised, non-hierarchical, self-regulating social structures, small-scale, community-based technologies and economies, simplicity of life, and acceptance of that the nature of man and the potentialities he or she must fulfil to be happy will be determined by one’s spiritual quotient.