Ecotourism

Ecotourism is the fastest growing sector in the tourism industry business today, and is still without a standard industry definition. In the analysis of ecotourism, I would like to look at the following areas: (1) varying definitions, principles, and marketing of ecotourism, (2) distinguishing between ecotourism and tourism, (3) trying to draw some conceptual links between ecotourism and other areas of recreation and conservation, and (4) the future of ecotourism as it relates to Texas and wildlife and fisheries …

…the next century will only be realized if our vision includes sustainability along with profitability. Agencies, NGOs, and communities in Texas will be forced to look at concept of ecotourism as it applies to consumptive and non-consumptive recreational activities differently in the future. What is disturbing is that although ecotourism is founded upon respect for plants and animals, somewhere along the way they have been forgotten in our best attempts to define the concept (Fennell 2000).