The business of green tourism
Governments are increasingly considering ecotourism as a lesser evil than, or alternative to, mass tourism (Holden 2008) which usually has major repercussions to the landscape and culture – their original assets. It is about setting standards and guidelines for the sustainable management of tourism (Wood 2002). In business terms it is about the protection of assets for long-term utilisation.
Foreign developers, local communities, tour operators, the World Bank, NGO's, businesses, and others are promoting or have some hand in the ecotourism movement. Their reasons for involvement are financial and personal. Governments are marketing their natural beauty because it provides opportunities for local economic development , it does not require much infrastructure, and it has less potential for damaging the environment. It is also suitable for both urban and particularly rural locations and is an industry that has consistently demonstrated annual growth (Coria and Calfucura 2011).
As a result this niche element of the industry has the potential to distribute economic impacts into areas where few other opportunities exist, although according to Lindberg et al, (1997) this depends on how well it is managed and planned.