Blue Amazom - Ecotourism Checklist

As a consultant for those who wish to be involved in ecotourism, I have tried to compile on these pages some information about developing ecotourism facilities and activities. This information is just as important to the ecotourist as well - the informed and prepared traveler is a happy adventurer.

Obviously - one size does not fit all. Ecotourism travel involves many levels of risk and hardship. For some the idea of this kind of vacation entails 'extreme sports' that test your physical and mental limits. For others, they want their experience to involve pristine nature at a minimum of personal physical challenge or hardship. All of these travelers do have one thing in common - the love of untamed nature. So each tour operator and each vacationer needs to define for themselves what to expect of their vacation.

Many people claim to be pioneers of today's idea of ecotourism. Having been involved with this tourism concept since the 60's and working with many others interested in the development of ecotourism - I would have to give a great deal of the pioneering credit to one individual, Lars-Eric Lindblad. His fine company demonstrated ecotourism in the 60's and 70's with his 'Lindblad Tours' that took the traveler into the most interesting and remote corners of the globe. I had the opportunity of being their local guide ('HOST' - Honduras Safari Tours) in Central America when their ship, the Lindblad Explorer, was the first 'tourist ship' to call on the Western Caribbean in 1974.

As for coining the word 'ecotourism' - credit is given to Hector Ceballos-Lascurian for first using that word in 1983. His definition of the word is still considered the best by many in this trade;

"Environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas in order to enjoy, study and appreciate nature and any accompanying cultural features that promote conservation, has a negative visitation impact and provides for substantial beneficial active socio-economic involvement of local populations."

With that in mind, let us try to list the particular interest groups that would participate in ecotourism.

ECOTOURISM CHECKLIST