Many people want to see the entire world. However, as pollution, industrialization, and global warming threaten unique locales, many Americans feel a sense of urgency to travel. They want to see the entire world before it’s gone.

People are making reservations to raft the Yangtze River in China before the government constructs a dam. Others would like to hike through the Amazonian rain forests while they are still standing.

Traveling is a way for people to not only see the world but also preserve its wonders.

Eco-tourism attracts eco-conscious travelers who are concerned about the environment and culture. According to a National Geographic Traveler report, over 55 million Americans are interested in sustainable travel.

Many travellers aren’t content to travel for a couple of days, but they want to help others travel green. Eco-enthusiasts, as tour directors, can arrange eco-friendly tours, work with local communities, and teach their travel groups.

Lee Burch, one of the tour directors, said that his career had been a success. “combines travel, which I have a passion for, with making a difference in people’s lives.”

Tour directors, which are not local tour guides, take on the full responsibility of a tour group for an extended time. They make tourists feel at home in the local community by arranging accommodation, activities and sharing local culture, history, food and art.

The International Tour Management Institute (ITMI), an American school that trains its students to manage tours, stresses the flexibility of this career. You can work as a tour director full-time, or part-time. They can also lead tours in the home country or abroad.

One in 12 jobs is provided by tourism worldwide. International tourism provides 46 of 49 countries with the lowest incomes, according to United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Ecotourism does not necessarily have to refer to jungles or deserts. You can be taken by tour directors to the Ozarks of America, or to a walking tour around New York City or to a San Francisco farmer’s market.

Ted Bravos is the co-founder and CEO of the International Tour Management Institute. “a vehicle for world citizenship.”

The world needs more ambassadors from around the globe, given today’s climate and political tensions.

For more information about the tour directing and travel industry, please visit www.itmisf.com.