Ecotourism

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Could the ‘real’ ecotourist please stand up!

A new group of tourism clients has emerged who are demanding different activities, experiences and approaches to tourism from the industry: ‘these are the ecotourists – people who require environmentally compatible recreational opportunities … where nature rather than humanity predominates’ (Kerr, 1991: 248). They are ‘shrugging off the shackles of traditional tourism’ in search of knowledge and experience. Their interest is not in ‘lounging by hotel pools or hectic sightseeing schedules’ (Collins, 1993:7). They are, however, ‘interested in visiting wilderness, national parks, and tropical forests, and in viewing birds, mammals, trees and wildflowers’, they want to ‘experience new lifestyles and ...