by John Whiteman

About the author: John Whiteman is a partner in Whiteman and Taintor, a tourism and community-development consulting firm in Massachusetts and Colorado.

Ecotourism is often touted as an experience that allows us a rare opportunity to have our cake and eat it too. More precisely, ecotourism allows us to enjoy wilderness experiences without allowing those experiences to compromise the overall health of the natural environment.

When properly managed, ecotourism offers excellent wilderness experiences while contributing to the preservation of natural and historic places. It works this way: Controlled numbers of people pay for the opportunity to visit a sensitive environmental area. While there, they enjoy a sense of spiritual renewal. And they leave behind an intact ecosystem and increased wealth for the local community.

Defining Ecotourism

Ecotourism is a relatively new concept. As a result...