Ecotourism as a new vacation/holiday concept is founded on traveling in a responsible manner, using as little of the natural resources as possible to get from home to preferred destinations. With the proper ecotourism plans in place and the correct type of transportation the long-term benefits can be significant. While airplane flight and driving may still be necessary to make the ecotourism industry operate, alternatives will be investigated.



Benefits from following a well-planned ecotourism program fall into several categories, including social, economic and physical (nature/environment). Resorts may focus on fitting into a sensitive environment, generating enough interest to stand by themselves as industry fixtures. Even in the fledgling ecotourism field, a number of destinations are already spreading the word that they can offer a desirable holiday destination that reduces harm to the environment and provides plenty of enjoyment for the visitor.

Design is an important factor in the development of this industry, as architects, developers and builders focus on environmentally friendly buildings and utilities. Methods that have minimal impact on the environment are spreading among tourism professionals and some of the building materials and designs have spawned a completely new industry. One good example of this focus is the use of elevated walkways and structures in some Caribbean locations (elevated to avoid negative effects on vegetation).

Success in the ecotourism field will come from a combination of traditional tourism locations that attempt to be environmentally friendly and newer destinations designed and built with ecotourism in mind. Both of these paths can yield such benefits as stopping soil erosion and loss, in addition to preservation of the pristine beaches and reefs still to be found. For ecotourism proponents, protecting bio-diversity, managing resources and providing desirable holiday destinations can work hand in hand.

As tourists find a way to locations, by air, by sea or a ride in ground transportation, many will devote time and effort to directing traditional tourism to ecotourism destinations. The benefits to local populations would show in new jobs, revenue from foreign sources and rejuvenation or preservation of local culture (music, literature, agriculture etc.). Of course, the key benefit from a focus on environmentally friendly tourism is protection of natural resources in the form of animals, plants, geological formations and so on. But local populations may also see significant benefits such as stimulation of community activity and personal interaction. These local communities, which have existed in the vicinity of natural treasures for centuries, may begin to play a larger role in planning and design of the ecotourism industry.

Economic benefits should be the most readily identifiable, with a larger number of jobs and more money circulating through the economy. Physical benefits should manifest themselves over the course of months or even years, as damage to the environment is lessened and natural resources remain at current levels. In essence, ecotourism may provide a nice compromise between the need for conservation and the need for relaxation.