The World's Best Ecotourism Destinations

what is Ecotourism
Ecotourism, ecotravel, ecolodges and just generally being "eco" have become popular tourism sales pitches.  What is true ecotourism? What defines an ecolodge or an ecological company?  How is the surrounding community involved?  And finally, is ecotourism such a great thing anyways?In order to truly understand ecotourism and all of it's attendant pros and cons it is necessary to do some background research.  This page offers an introduction to the topic along with several links to more detailed information.

Sustainable Ecotourism 

Sustainable tourism encompasses the responsible use of natural resources for recreation. This includes eco-friendly boating, whale and dolphin watching, snorkeling and scuba diving, fishing, and other forms of tourism. A good ecotourism operation will strive to support the community and encourage travelers to be culturally sensitive by training and employing local people and by purchasing local supplies and services to further stimulate the economy. Increasingly, national governments such as Costa Rica and Australia are supporting the ecotourism trade for its benefit to both their country and their visitors. Tourist regions in many countries now rely on ecotourism as the primary source of revenue.

Best Ecotourism
As ecotourism garners interest among a growing number of travelers, eco resorts have popped up everywhere, from Florida to Fiji. In fact, the ecotourism industry is growing so quickly that it would be nearly impossible to map which countries have become the greatest eco-destinations, especially when the terms "eco" and "green" are thrown around so readily that it can be hard to tell what is genuine and what is simply a marketing ploy. Ecotourism at its heart not only preserves natural habitats and indigenous cultures and species, but actually works in favor of conservation by bringing additional resources that the local economy would otherwise not have, so the applications of the term can be quite different, which makes ranking such locations even more difficult—if not impossible.

National Parks and Around the World
The Daily Green looks at some of the best U.S. national parks, and the best ecotourism vacations anywhere in the world.Ecotourism and adventure travel are among the fastest growing segments of the global tourism trade, which is sometimes described as the world's biggest industry. Malawi Exclusive Cultural Tour While it is undeniable that travel uses resources and can harm the environment, it is also true that it can provide many benefits, such as supporting local economies, providing economic alternatives to exploititative practices, and spreading cross-cultural awareness. It is true that people are much more likely to protect the planet if they see it first hand. The key is to go gently, and authentic ecotourism offers just that.

Best Ecotourism Destinations
Are you Itching to travel and see the world and the great outdoors but tired of going to the same, old places? Don't fret! It's a big, big world and there are lots of places out there waiting for you to discover.Tourist spots abound, but visiting resorts and other tourist-packed sites may leave you feeling anxious and tired, both from the expenses and the hussle and bustle of tourists and locals alike.