Ecotourism started in the early 90s with small businesses that offered green eco-lodges and eco-tours. EnviroCitizen.org found that these early eco-tour accommodation providers and operators were driven by their passions and interests in preserving the natural environment. Through the years, ecotourism has become an emerging opportunity for developing countries. In fact, at the rapid rate at which these countries develop ecotourism plans and projects, it is quickly becoming a worldwide trend.
With the high demand, growth in ecotourism is inevitable. This market demand has actually led to more ecotourism businesses starting up and more ecotourism destinations re-branding themselves. Moreover, these places are now re-assessing newer strategies to align with fresher ecotourism opportunities. Since multiple countries have joined the movement to develop ecotourism, there are now national associations and even government offices that offer support as well as assistance for ecotourism research and development.
Years after the inception of ecotourism, the market demand still exists and continues to rise. The demand is due to supply-driven forces. As both big and small businesses enter the ecotourism industry, it is definitely fast developing. This allows people to watch polar bears in the Arctic, swim and play with the Pacific dolphins, view life from the high treetops in the rainforests of Central America and to visit indigenous or remote communities in many different countries. There is also green tourism and urban ecotourism in large towns and cities.
The International Year of Ecotourism has brought businesses, government offices and conservation associations as well as organizations from different parts of the world together. Policies and strategies concerning ecotourism have finally found a way to both national and international socio-cultural as well as economic agendas.
Today, ecotourism has spread throughout the travel and tourism sectors, usually as nature tourism, cultural and heritage tourism, community-based tourism or Indigenous tourism. Information about ecotourism now appears in financial and business pages of national newspapers - not only in the travel pages.
Making decisions while looking to the future can be a hard and tedious task, but it's simple to support a healthier tomorrow by participating in ecotourism. Ecotourism never ceases to stop offering a great variety of travel experiences due to the far-reaching diversity of what is available in the natural world in conjunction with the varying cultures found across the globe. Looking to the future, we will definitely see a plethora of more nature-based experiences that ranges from opulent luxury to adrenaline-filled adventure. |
