Our definition

Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and creates knowledge and understanding through interpretation and education of all involved: visitors, staff and the visited”

<Global Ecotourism Network, 2016>

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Of course a definition is just a beginning and must be further translated into principles, guidelines and criteria (see also Certification).

Those who implement, participate in and market ecotourism activities should abide by the following authentic ecotourism principles:

• Produce direct financial benefits for conservation.
• Generate financial benefits for both local people and private industry.
• Deliver memorable interpretative experiences to visitors that help raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climate.
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Design, construct and operate low-impact facilities.
• Minimize physical, social, behavioral and psychological impacts on fauna and flora.
• Recognize the rights and spiritual beliefs of indigenous and local peoples and work in partnership to create empowerment.

Ecotourism integrity:

• Holds eco- & socio-centric values and ETHICS.
• Creates an ecological and social CONSCIENCE.
• Is NON-CONSUMPTIVE in relation to nature.

Non-consumptive means that ecotourism is not associated with activities like logging, mining, 4 culling, recreational hunting including fishing.

The Mohonk Agreement (2000), a proposal for International Certification of Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism saw ecotourism as sustainable tourism with a natural area focus and this adds the following criteria to the sustainable tourism base:

• Focus on personal experiences of natureleading to greater appreciation and understanding.
• Interpretation and environmental awarenessof nature, local society and culture.
• Positive and active contributions to conservationof natural areas and biodiversity.
• Economic, social and cultural benefitsof local communities.
• Fostering community involvement, where appropriate.

To be able to deliver its promises ecotourism is small scale, especially in fragile areas.