Resort Ecotourism: A Paradigm for the 21st Century

Abstract

International tourism is increasingly driven by destinations' natural and cultural resources. To combine quality with profitability, resorts in the 21 st century should be "ecoresorts." Ecoresorts will augment their guests' experiences by providing interpretation of the location and by offering guests the opportunity to participate in the destination's preservation. The quality of the destination environment, the potential for learning, and the complexity and authenticity of the experience will be important in the traveler's destination choice. The challenge for eco tourism is to enhance the tourism value of the natural and cultural resources in a way that will produce a ripple effect through local and national economies and also sustain the character of those resources. The future of resort ecotourism depends on solutions that provide for an enjoyable, authentic, and enlightening ecotourism experience despite conservation efforts that limit access to the heritage attractions.