Perhaps the key benefits for an ecotourism destination are increased economic activity and additional employment opportunities that result from an increase in visitors. But in order to realize these benefits, local populations must have planned well and marketed well, to attract the tourist who will spend money while helping to preserve local culture and environment.
In spite of the best efforts to the contrary, when any kind of economic effort lacks good planning and implementation, the result can be significant environmental and cultural damage (including pollution, traffic congestion, health issues etc.).
The majority of ecotourism activity will take place outside the city, in rather remote areas of the globe, or at least in locations where natural resources must be protected. It follows that environmental education is critical to the process, in order to conserve the resources that are present and to avoid destroying the local culture and traditions. Social awareness, supporting local values, and restoration of natural habitat can all be results of careful ecotourism activity.
It will also be important, as time goes on, for those involved in this new field to define what ecotourism is not. For example, the act of traveling to a remote island or uninhabited forest for a quick look at beautiful scenery would not qualify as ecotourism. In a similar way, visiting a pristine beach, but staying in a nearby luxury hotel would not necessarily be ecotourism (even if the visit resulted in published reviews about the unspoiled nature of the site).
What is critical is that, with time, the behavior patterns of travelers is altered. If a few people have a great experience when traveling to a selected site, others should be encouraged to try the same type of vacation. A key part of changing this behavior will be the education of tourists about the sensitivity of the environment. As the ecotourism field grows, the management practices and marketing practices of those involved must be studied and altered to meet unanticipated challenges.
Encouraging the growth of the ecotourism industry will require a strong educational effort, with pilot projects that contribute to understanding biodiversity. Many who have been involved in this field for years point to local school teachers as one resource for ecotourism education and environmental awareness. These community leaders have a significant impact on the thought processes and habits of children. They can influence the way these young people will interact with the environment and how these children will use resources in work and travel.
Following on the first global ecotourism conference in Norway, additional meetings, conferences and workshops will be needed to continue spreading the word. Some of these gatherings can be training sessions for those who will lead ecotourism tours and travel groups.
A sideline of this training/education path might be the sale and rental of education materials (videos, book, brochures). Some have even proposed interactive games and computer programs that education as well as train. With the focus turning away from more traditional mass or recreational tourism in so-called developed countries, it may be possible for local populations in ecotourism destinations to bring in significant revenue from both the tourism and from locally-produced materials.
Ecotourism is in its infancy, compared to the massive travel/play industry. Only a few ways to generate revenue through ecotourism have been discovered, to date.
