It is sort of expensive, but as it is good for the environment it isn't that expensive!

The orppotunities for ecotourism development are: high opportunity for NGO, donors, and international organisation for support; higher availability of information for local tourism entrepreneurs; more benefits to the hosting communities; and long term benefits. The constrain to it are: hosting communities may prioritise their wellfare like hunger and health, which often in short term, and overlook eco-development; fast cash in other economic activities like logging may drive away eco decission; mass tourism; popularity of the destination; lack knowledge on ecotourism; and government and tour operators influences.

Because the tourists that go there spend money and the more they spend the better off the country will get.

■People seem willing to spend more money on tourism. That puts more money in the economy and more jobs.

Ecotourism is tourism that is designed to be environmentally friendly. Minimizing the impact of ecotourism is by raising the traveler's awareness of the host country's political, social and environmental climate. Another way is to minimize the impact of visiting the location such as the use of the roads.

people practice ecotorism to attract tourists

This is a new business where people travel to places around the world to places that are still in their natural state. They usually travel with a naturalist to explain the ecology to them. Ecotourism allows people to see animals and plants in their natural habitat. Ecotourism is a way to make more people aware of the fragility of our environment.

vote for people who are going to make a national program putting up photovalteic and thermal 5megawatt generating plants and a national electric car program

In order to answer this question, first we must look at the tourist situation as it has developed in the recent past. Spain is the second most popular tourist destination in the world and last year (2007) it received 59.2 million visitors. (Spain ministry of tourism figures). A huge proportion of the economy of Spain is based upon tourism and generally this has been developed as the "sun sea and sangria holidays" of the Mediterranean Beaches. Golf has also created a huge economy as well. This type of unsustainable tourism development with uncontrolled hotel building and golf course construction has resulted in the destruction of hundreds of miles of pristine coastline habitat and sea pollution. The golf courses are built upon virgin Mediterranean countryside and have in many cases been responsible for sucking the water courses and aquifers to a critical point causing localised water shortages and even desertification. Non endemic plants and animals brought into these urbanised areas have escaped into the wild and are also causing habitat damage in many areas. This huge list of habitat destruction is too numerous to mention in this brief answer but suffice it to say that the tourism industry in Spain as it stands today is an unsustainable environmental catastrophe aimed at cheap sunshine holidays and get rich quick attitudes. However, the current positive development of nature and eco tourism in Spain is gaining much ground. Illegal buildings are being demolished and new unsustainable projects are being shelved. Finally Spain is taking a step in the right direction to protect its natural beauty and future as the leader in European eco tourism. This is because the interior of Spain is a valuable environmental jewel of Europe containing an incredibly diverse array of ecosystems and wildlife. Endemic plants and rare birds and mammals are resident in this hotspot of south Western Europe and by promoting this aspect of Spain large areas of land can be better protected and funded by the revenue produced by nature tourism. (See the discussion forum of Iberian nature www.iberianatureforum.com for up to date information on the protection of the nature of Iberia). Diminishing rural communities have been in a process of abandonment over the last 30 years or so with the working population moving to the coastal areas for better paid work in the unsustainable coastal tourism industry. These abandoned country areas are now being revitalised as people realise that their own home area of outstanding natural beauty also has a financial value and that a better, more fulfilling way of life is achievable. Service industries are quickly created in these areas such as small eco friendly hotels and guest houses with walking guides and various nature holiday enterprises. This makes a difference to the economy of these areas and people very soon discover many benefits to this more sustainable way of life (See www.wildsideholidays.com for many examples of rural and nature tourism in Spain). People start to return from the heavily built up areas to the towns and villages of their births and can now find work and live a more satisfied life amongst a more caring community. Wildlife in all areas benefit from this better understanding of the environment and local schools become active in the protection of localised eco systems educating the future generation on the importance of protecting any natural asset. As Spain is one of the most important sites for the huge North South migration of bird life the development of an environmentally aware tourism system also has a knock on effect to those migrating birds that breed across the whole of Northern Europe.

The local people understand the local ecosystem to the extent that they may have grown up there, learned from each other, and in other ways are extremely knowledgeable about the locale.

When locals are involved in ecotourism, visitors can learn first-hand what the actions are that best maintain the sustainability of the ecosystem. Often this translates to income: visitors pay for learning experiences presented by locals.

Commercial tour leaders and organizers are often most concerned with a 'tour experience standard', which must be unique for every local ecosystem. So they help identify locals who are the most knowledgeable and accessible.

When local people are involved in the management and direction of the increased visitor traffic, they know best how to protect their homelands.

Finally, there are areas in the world where people live in the natural world that are extremely interesting to curious humans. This kind of vacation often appeals to visitors more than a vacation to a predictable resort or amusement park.

Yellowstone National park

Yosemite National Forest

The Grand Canyon

Niagara falls

Ecotourism minimises negative economic, environmental and social impacts and generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well being of host communities. It improves working conditions and access to the industry and involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances. It makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage embracing diversity and provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues.

It is not damaging or exploiting the place you visit (and if possible actively benefiting it). In practice, it comes down to tourism that focuses on visiting unspoiled wilderness (or land natured to appear so), as opposed to man-made or developed attractions. is travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and (often) small scale. It helps to educate the travellers; provides funds for conservation; directly benefits the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and fosters respect for different cultures and for human rights.