Ecotourism Attitudes, Adaptations and Impacts

Ecotourism or nature tourism is defined as travel to ecologically interesting places to support
conservation efforts and observe wilderness, wildlife, and local societies without causing any adverse
impacts. It is designed to stimulate an interest in, develop an understanding of, and create an
appreciation for the natural wonders of Earth while stressing environmental awareness, nature
interpretation, and wildlife conservation. Ecotourists tend to be mindful of the detrimental effects of
human visitation to wildlife habitats. However, they recognize the positive influence environmentally
sensitive tourism can have by creating a sustainable economic alternative to natural resource
exploitation. This study examines the attitudes toward ecotourism, the ways indigenous people have
adapted to ecotourism, as well as the positive and negative impacts of ecotourism.