Ecotourism can contribute to economic development and the conservation of protected areas by generating revenues that can be used to sustainably manage protected areas, and by providing local employment and a sense of community ownership. However, without careful planning and management that balances ecological, social, and economic objectives, ecotourism can easily cause environmental damage.
The Ecotourism chapter of the EGSSAA describes how to anticipate and mitigate adverse environmental impacts so that ecotourism projects:
- increase socioeconomic benefits to communities and landowners;
- sustainably manage the environment;
- raise awareness of and support for conservation, and
- increase a community’s capacity to conserve and manage natural resources outside protected areas.