Ecotourism : aspects of its sustainability and compatibility with conservation, social and other objectives.

Considers the ecotourism market and its rate of growth and identifies important factors expected to influence the size of this market. Global threats to sustainable ecotourism are highlighted. Definitions of ecotourism are considered and doubts are expressed about the value of normative definitions. Factors likely to influence the sustainability of ecotourism are discussed. The most important are its economics, the extent to which ecotourism is consistent with conserving its resource-base, its social acceptability and its political feasibility. These compatibility aspects of ecotourism are closely linked to sustainability aspects and often call for government intervention in tourism management and development. Considerable attention is given to carrying capacity as a guide to sustainable ecotourism development as well as the difficulties in using the concept in practice. The management of ecotourism on the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha in Brazil provides an interesting example of attempts to manage ecotourism sustainably