Cruising on a houseboat, a modern form of green tourism
Green tourism, or sustainable tourism, is based on the idea of visiting an area in a manner that respects the local population and preserves biodiversity, as opposed to mass tourism. According to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), ecotourism refers to "all nature-based forms of tourism in which the main motivation of the tourists is the observation and appreciation of nature as well as the traditional cultures prevailing in natural areas (...) It minimises negative impacts upon the natural and socio-cultural environment." In other words, ecotourism is a kind of responsible travel experience in natural areas that contributes both to the protection of the environment and the well-being of local populations.
River cruising is a form of tourism based on the discovery of a territory along its waterways, thus as close to nature as possible, with very little negative impact on the environment. Pleasure boaters are mainly interested in observing the landscapes they are passing through, and in discovering the cultural, historical and gastronomic points of interest of the region they are visiting. By admiring the natural beauty of a region and appreciating the richness of its heritage, boaters become aware of the need to preserve both of them.
River cruising also brings economic benefits to the towns and villages scatered by the waterways, as boaters often make stopovers during their cruise to discover the cultural, historical and gastronomic treasures of the visited area. Pleasure sailors truly are ecotourists as they show a strong interest in the local people and their culture, thus contributing to the health of local shops and cultural organisations.
In summary, river cruising is a type of tourism that contributes to the protection and valorisation of the natural areas crossed by the boaters. Moreover, these cruises generate economic activity that benefits directly to the local population. For these reasons, boating on canals and rivers with a licence-free houseboat fits perfectly into the current trend of green tourism.
Practising slow tourism during a boating holiday
Slow tourism is the art of travelling at one's own pace, while taking the time to embrace the beauty of the natural scenery that surrounds us and to appreciate the richness of the heritage that we discover. This is exactly the philosophy of boat trips. Boaters enjoy meeting new people, exploring new places, and admiring beautiful landscapes, without taking away the enjoyment of good food and drink.As a slow tourism activity, river cruising has one key word: respect - respect for your personal pace (as captain of your own boat, you are in control of your route and speed), respect for nature, respect for the land and its inhabitants.
Slow tourism opposes the frenetic mass tourism that has flourished along with industrialisation and globalisation. Travelling an a houseboat is one of those alternative ways of travelling that allows you to enjoy moments of relaxation with family or friends, to discover and consume local products, to reconnect with the land and nature, while favouring a low-polluting mode of transport.
If you are looking for a gentle way to travel through a region, away from the crowds and closer to nature, then a houseboat trip is an excellent option. Travelling serenely, taking your time to appreciate the view from the boat, disconnecting from your daily routine and the screens that surround you, and simply enjoying the present moment: this is the magic of river cruises.
New: electric houseboats !
You are concerned about the protection of the planet, and want to engage in a kind of tourism that has the least possible impact on the environment? We give you the possibility of making a river cruise on a fully electric houseboat ! Houseboat builders are developing innovative technologies in order to limit the pollution produced by modern houseboats. This has led to the design of fully electrically powered houseboats. These boats, which run solely on green energy, have three major advantages: they do not pollute their environment, do not produce any odours and are completely silent.
The CrisBoat fleet features 3 high-end electrically powered boats:
- The Péniche S, a large houseboat with 5 cabins that can accommodate 10 people
- The Estivale Sixto Green, a 3-cabin boat, perfect for 6 people
- The Estivale Quattro Fly C Green, a 2-cabin boat designed for 4 people
For the moment, in France, only the canals of Alsace are equipped with charging stations for electric boats. Don't hesitate to discover the different cruises that we offer in Alsace, and try out boating with a houseboat that is fully powered by electricity!