For some, there is one question that is uncomfortable when asked. For a few, this question is even disturbing because it threatens the positive impact that ecotourism can have on the tourism industry and on the world environment. But some have asked the question nonetheless: Is ecotourism becoming a problem, or is it almost entirely beneficial?

There is a large segment of the population that knows little or nothing about the concept of ecotourism. The members of this segment of society generally participate in more traditional mass/recreation tourism, basing their travels in a city and giving no thought to the natural resources that are being exploited. There is, however, a portion of the world population that is quite aware of the ecotourism concept and they want to understand the idea more fully so they can decide for themselves if this segment of the tourism industry is a good thing or a bad thing.

It might be wise to begin with a fundamental understanding of ecotourism. Only then can the thought process move on to whether it is a good influence or a negative influence on the resources and cultures of the planet.

Those who take part in ecotourism travel to a selected destination so that they can experience the culture, wildlife and scenery the site has to offer. I took one such trip to last summer. Most ecotourism participants are committed, socially conscious individuals who want an adventure that involves preserving resources and even restoring some of the areas to their natural state. Ecotourism gives travelers the opportunity to grow personally, through an experience that cannot be duplicated.

Ecotourism has its roots in the idea of individual travelers being socially, culturally and environmentally informed so that they can avoid having a negative impact on their surroundings. In addition, these travelers try to enhance the integrity of destinations and encourage the traditional cultures of local populations.

With this type of individual involved, can ecotourism really be a problem for the globe and its inhabitants? Some would say that this is not the case, because the vision of ecotourism is to help eliminate pollution and to celebrate diversity in nature and culture. Such actions can only be good for tourism as a whole, some would argue. If tourists walk, with backpacks, instead of driving, ecotourists would ask, isn't that a positive impact?

There are some, however, who find that ecotourism is becoming a problem for others who enjoy nature. For example, some lifelong scuba divers are encountering a growing number of beginning divers who take to the sea because they feel they should enjoy and celebrate the magnificent aquatic life in our oceans. These experienced divers sometimes draw criticism from ecotourism proponents who believe that human beings should not scuba dive because it disturbs the natural flow and rhythm of the ocean dwellers.

Most clear-thinking individuals will come to their own conclusions, based on experiences within the ecotourism or mass tourism fields. For most, however, ecotourism is not a problem, because these individuals believe the activity is beneficial. There may be no clear-cut answer in this ongoing debate.