Ecoturism

However, several changes apparently have occurred in the last decade

First, there has been growth in visits to many natural areas, particularly in developing countries.

Second, many economic development professionals increasingly have viewed natural-area visitation as a tool for providing employment in regions that have experienced decline, or lack of development, in other industries

Third, many conservation and resource management professionals increasingly have viewed natural area visitation as an avenue for enhancing natural area finance and providing conservation-related benefits, particularly to residents living near natural areas

Fourth, there has been increasing attention paid to improving the sustainability of all tourism activities, including those occurring in natural areas

In the late 1980s, ecotourism was an unknown entity that was just beginning to emerge in the popular lexicon.

Its growth was spurred by the ongoing debate over tourism and the environment and as a direct result of the enthusiasm for ecologically sustainable development (ESDWG-Ecologically Sustainable Development Working Group 1991)

However, this niche concept changed in the early 1990s. The term ecotourism struck a chord with the tourism industry, the travelling public, and with private and public sector agencies charged with the promotion of tourism products. Ecotourism became a buzzword.

The explosion of interest in ecotourism led to the emergence of a lively debate among academics and industry leaders about the merits of the activity.