Implications of alternative definitions of ecotourists

Ecotourists have become popular subjects for research. However, a lack of agreement on the defini-tion of ecotourists continues to challenge progress in research on this group. Different authors fre-quently use different criteria, often mixing both supply-side and demand-side concepts. This study examines the impact of two operational definitions, one using a mix of supply and demand variables, the other using an approach where tourists self-define their identity. These two approaches are tested with the visitors to Taroko National Park in Taiwan. Some significant differences in the profiles of the two groups are observed; the study concludes that any definition of ecotourism should include refer-ence to motivations, activities, benefits sought, and measures of environmental attitudes. Key words: Ecotourists; Tourist profiles; Nature tourism; Taiwan; National Park attitudes, and activities. This definitional confusion can generate controversy about which activities and operations should be deemed to be “true” ecotourism. It also constrains the consistent and comparable quantitative evaluation of the nature and magnitude of the ecotourism market in different lo