Ecotourism

Basically, the definition of eco-tourism involves appreciation, conservation, admiration, enjoyment, and benefiting from local culture and environment.

Many global environmental organizations favor ecotourism.

It must satisfy several criteria, such as

• conservation (and justification for conservation) of biological diversity and cultural diversity, through ecosystems protection
• promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity, by providing jobs to local populations
• sharing of socio-economical benefits with local communities and indigenous people by having their informed consent and participation in management of ecotourism business.

For many countries, ecotourism is not so much seen as a marginal activity intended to finance protection of the environment than as a major sector of national economy and as a means of getting currencies. For example, in countries such as Kenya, Ecuador, Nepal, Costa Rica and Madagascar, ecotourism represents a significant chunk of foreign revenue.

Some are not convinced by the rather flexible definition of ecotourism. They claim that the ecotourism often consists in placing a hotel in a splendid landscape, to the detriment of the ecosystem. According to them, ecotourism must above all sensitize people with the beauty and the fragility of nature. They condemn some operators as "green-washing" their operations--that is, using the label of "ecotourism" and "green-friendly", while behaving in environmentally irresponsible ways.

More than five million ecotourists--the majority of the worldwide population--come from the United States. The majority of the other ecotourists come from Europe. Wealthy or high-ranking individuals of other nations also engage in ecotourism.

See also

• Agritourism
• Convention on Biological Diversity
• List of Conservation topics
• ecoregion

Referenced By