Ecotourism Guidance for Tour Operator Book

Contents: Preface. 1. An introduction to ecotourism. 2. Growth and development of ecotourism. 3. Marketing and management of ecotourism. 4. Tourism, globalisation and sustainable development. 5. The economic impacts of ecotourism. 6. Guidelines for community-based ecotourism development. 7. Guidelines for nature-based tourism enterprises. 8. Wildlife tours in India. 9. Tourism marketing strategy: Cairngorms National Parks. 10. Perspectives on tourism and the environment. 11. Ecotourism in Northern Thailand. 12. Marine ecotourism. Bibliography. Index. 

"The concept of ecotourism is one of ambiguity and dispute. There is no universal definition for ecotourism, nor is there a certifying agency. A common misconception is that ecotourism is just nature based tourism, the act of surrounding yourself with natures little wonders. The truth is far more complex. Ecotourism has to be both ecologically and socially conscious. Its goal is to minimize the impact that tourism has on an area through cooperation and management and in some case it even encourages travelers to have a positive impact on their new surroundings. A commonly accepted definition of ecotourism is: Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people." (jacket)