Ecotourism is a growing
trend in travel around the world. This is a form of travel in which
tourists set out to visit various species of wildlife in their
natural habitat. In order for this to happen, nations rich in wild
areas (like Costa Rica) must set aside natural areas for the
tourists to visit and also establish facilities (such as hotels,
guided tours, and restaurants) to accommodate the needs of the
tourists. Ecotourism can be beneficial to conservation efforts in
two major ways.
First of all, ecotourism
can become a major source of income for third-world nations with
forested lands. In order to entice tourists, of course, these
nations must set aside wild areas for the tourists to visit. Thus,
a flourishing ecotourism industry not only provides the nation with
a source of income, it also provides a strong incentive to save
natural lands.
Secondly, ecotourism
helps to educate the public about the wildlife and ecosystems that
they are visiting. By introducing the public to these wild areas
and providing them with first-hand experiences, ecotourism often
helps to endear the public to the places that they have visited.
This then means that the public will be more likely to care about
the fate of these wild areas and also more likely to participate in
efforts to conserve them.