Changes in lifestyle and values for those around the world have spawned new programs, new strategies and new policies designed to push ecotourism to the top of society's priority list. One sub-category of this new activity could be called educational ecotourism ? learning to protect and preserve what the environment has to offer and reclaiming some of the damaged areas for future use.



One of the key benefits to this path of ecotourism is improved quality of life for those who are local to the target area, such as natives of Pacific islands whose beaches have become playgrounds for a mass of tourists from around the world. Numerous approaches to this issue have been discussed and attempted in the past few years, with a goal of allowing tourists to relax on a great beach, while not forcing the local population to abandon their .

While many ecotourism proponents continue to work individually or in small groups, others have coalesced into a loosely framed group with ties to the Organization of American States. One result of this effort has been a "Comparative Study of Ecotourism Policy." This document will further the study of the field and help set the foundation for a stronger program. Included in the volume are analysis, definitions, conceptual models and some early conclusions, all meant to further the understanding of ecotourism by society in general.

Raw data and policy statements make up a good portion of this document as well. With emphasis on the areas of the Americas affected by mass tourism and ecotourism, the comparative study identifies "ecotourism hotspots." The ultimate goal is to define how ecotourism can work through government agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to settle on a workable definition of ecotourism and realistic policies for future effort.

This comparative study and similar work by individuals and groups seek to clarify how the governments of various countries define ecotourism. But the studies dig further, to try and determine what policies, if any, are already in place. One area of true concern for ecotourism proponents is how government agencies are already implementing policies, or if no policies exist, how agencies are affecting ecotourism in a "seat-of-the-pants" way.

Numerous individuals contributed to the study, through personal work on reports and through telephone interviews used to gather raw information. In some cases, individual ecotourists and environmentalists were able to report on experiences they had when in contact with a government agency. The World Wide Web and various libraries were also cited as sources for the study.

One of the key results from the study is the list of findings on who might be responsible, in the long term, for ecotourism in a particular country (where areas such as beaches and forests are impacted). This is key because it connects ecotourism philosophy with the actual government agency or agencies that must supervise environmental protection efforts. The study, and others like it, will be a map for the ecotourism journey ahead.