Defining Characteristics

• •Brothels
• •Strip Clubs
• •Sex Shops
• •Adult Theaters

Historical Evolution

• •Ancient origins
• •Shaped by economic needs
• •Public health concerns
• •Evolving legal frameworks

Legal & Regulatory Landscape

• •Varied global laws
• •Legalized (e.g., Netherlands)
• •Criminalized/Restricted
• •Impacts worker safety/rights

Future Debates & Trends

• •Decriminalization advocacy
• •Public health focus
• •Community perspectives
• •Impact of technology

When I caught up with Dr. Jane Goodall in 2023, she was visiting the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies in Colorado, where she gave three lectures to local school children on behalf of the Jane Goodall Institute and her youth organization Roots & Shoots. It was early autumn in Colorado, and the last hummingbirds of summer dashed from flower to flower before embarking on their fall migration. The animal expert, who admits to not only loving birds, but all living things, was in her element among the wild landscape.

Then 89 and still traveling more than 300 days per year for in-person events, Dr. Goodall was brilliant as ever. As we mourn her Oct. 1 passing, T+L is taking a look back at our 2023 interview with the trailblazing zoologist:

Travel + Leisure: I’m interested in your thoughts on the role animal and conservation tourism can play in developing nations, particularly those in Africa. How can tourism benefit local ecosystems and resident wildlife? 

Jane Goodall: Well, it’s got two sides to it. The main answer is, how is the place tourism managed? That’s the absolute key. In many countries, the government finds that people will pay to go and see, for example, mountain gorillas in Rwanda. So the researchers there said, ‘No more than six people at a time, and they can’t stay more than an hour.’ Well, the governments there think, ‘Okay, we get all this money for six. Now we’ll map it to twelve.’ These areas are getting too many tourists and it’s affecting the animals. That’s killing the goose that lays the golden egg. 

Is there a solution? Can one be a responsible traveler?

I don’t have the solution, and sometimes tourism exploits the animals terribly. But tourism, well-managed, is very important for various reasons. One, it has a major effect on the people on the tour, especially if they have a knowledgeable local guide who knows not only about lions and elephants, but birds and maybe butterflies, so that even if you don’t see the big things, you can be entertained. And the benefits the country gets means the national parks get more money, too. There’s a lot of employment in the parks and nearby hospitality — at hotels and restaurants — which provides lots and lots of jobs. The local people begin to see a value to the animals. 

You’re right. Being in the place and actually seeing the animals in their habitat with your own eyes makes you want to fight to protect it.

There’s no question about it. When you look into a chimpanzee’s eyes, a gorilla’s eyes, or an elephant’s, it changes you. 

Part of your relentless worldwide schedule is to reassure people that hope for the environment is not lost, and that even individual actions can make a difference.

Individuals can do their part even if it’s just not using pesticide on their lawns or supporting places for hummingbirds or bees. It can be that simple. Not eating meat or not eating meat one day a week to start with. Industrialized meat is bad for you, it’s horrible for the animals, and it’s destroying the environment. So even if everybody on the planet who’s still eating meat stopped eating it for just one day and then two days, it would make a huge difference. 

Your lectures lately focus on the idea that there is hope for a better world. I share in your optimism, but sometimes it feels like things get darker and darker. What drives you to keep going?

I wouldn’t keep going if I didn’t know that going to a place makes a difference. And I only know that because people tell me. I get letters saying ‘I’d given up. But after your lecture, I promise you I’ll do my bit.’ Hundreds of young people have written to say joining Roots & Shoots was the best thing [they] ever did. Even in Tanzania, a 12-year-old boy said, ‘Until Roots & Shoots, I didn’t know animals had feelings. Now, I’ll never hurt another animal as long as I live.’ That’s amazing. 

Are you still surprised this is the way your life has unfolded? The amazing legacy you’ve been able to create?

The only way I can cope with this craziness is by saying, well, there’s two Janes, this one, I’m talking to you, perfectly normal, and then there’s the icon that was created by National Geographic and so on. I go through an airport with dark glasses and my hair down, and still people recognized me. So I thought, well, okay, the only thing to do is to make use of it, so I’ll use it. 

And after, when – if – you finally decide to stop traveling, who will be the next Jane Goodall? Do you think that the next Jane will be one of these children who have heard your message? 

I think there’ll be a lot of Jane Goodalls springing up. I mean, nobody can be me. I’ve lived 90 years. You can’t expect a child to know all the things that you learn in 90 years. But passion, commitment, dedication, children today have all of these. Some children are doing amazing things. They give me hope that that nature can come back if you give it a chance, even totally destroyed places. And animals on the brink can be given another chance. 

Ecotourism is about doing more when you’re traveling than simply visiting natural attractions or ecologically diverse places. It’s about exploring a destination responsibly and sustainably with a focus on environmental conservation. The goal of ecotourism groups, tours, and companies is to educate tourists about conservation efforts while offering them the chance to explore nature. Here are the components of ecotourism, the pros and cons, and how to travel responsibly.

Ecotourism Definition and Principles

A conservationist by the name of Hector Ceballos-Lascurain is often credited with the first definition of ecotourism in 1987, that is, “tourism that consists in travelling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific object of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestations (both past and present) found in these areas.”

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of ecotourism since 1990, defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education [both in its staff and its guests].”

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) looks at ecotourism as a significant tool for conservation, though it shouldn’t be seen as a fix-all when it comes to conservation challenges:

“There may be some areas that are just not appropriate for ecotourism development and some businesses that just won’t work in the larger tourism market. That is why it is so important to understand the basics of developing and running a successful business, to ensure that your business idea is viable and will be profitable, allowing it to most effectively benefit the surrounding environment and communities.”

Marketing an ecosystem, species, or landscape to ecotourists helps create value, and that value can help raise funds to protect and conserve those natural resources.

Sustainable ecotourism should be guided by three core principles: conservation, communities, and education.

Conservation

Conservation is arguably the most important component of ecotourism because it should offer long-term, sustainable solutions to enhancing and protecting biodiversity and nature. This is typically achieved through economic incentives paid by tourists seeking a nature-based experience, but can also come from the tourism organizations themselves, research, or direct environmental conservation efforts.

Communities

Ecotourism should increase employment opportunities and empower local communities, helping in the fight against global social issues like poverty and achieving sustainable development.

Interpretation

One of the most overlooked aspects of ecotourism is the education component. Yes, we all want to see these beautiful, natural places, but it also pays to learn about them. Increasing awareness about environmental issues and promoting a greater understanding and appreciation for nature is arguably just as important as conservation.

Pros and Cons of Ecotourism

As one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism industry, there are bound to be some downsides to ecotourism. Whenever humans interact with animals or even with the environment, it risks the chance of human-wildlife conflict or other negative effects; if done so with respect and responsibility in mind, however, ecotourism can reap enormous benefits to protected areas.

As an industry that relies heavily on the presentation of eco-friendly components to attract customers, ecotourism has the inevitable potential as a vessel for greenwashing. Part of planning a trip rooted in ecotourism is researching to ensure that an organization is truly providing substantial benefits to the environment rather than exploiting it.

Ecotourism Can Provide Sustainable Income for Local Communities

Sustainably managed ecotourism can support poverty alleviation by employing local communities, which can offer them alternative means of livelihood outside of unsustainable ones (such as poaching).

Research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that communities in regions surrounding conservation areas in Costa Rica had poverty rates that were 16% lower than in areas that weren’t near protected parks. These protected areas didn’t just benefit from conservation funds due to ecotourism but also helped to reduce poverty as well.

It Protects Natural Ecosystems

Ecotourism offers unique travel experiences focusing on nature and education, with an emphasis on sustainability and highlighting threatened or endangered species. It combines conservation with local communities and sustainable travel, highlighting principles (and operations) that minimize negative impacts and expose visitors to unique ecosystems and natural areas. When managed correctly, ecotourism can benefit both the traveler and the environment, since the money that goes into ecotourism often goes directly towards protecting the natural areas they visit.

Each year, researchers release findings on how tourist presence affects wildlife, sometimes with varying results. A study measuring levels of the stress hormone cortisol in wild-habituated Malaysian orangutans found that the animals were not chronically stressed by the presence of ecotourists. The orangutans lived in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, where a local community-managed organization operates while maintaining strict guidelines to protect them.

Ecotourism May Also Hurt Those Same Natural Ecosystems

Somewhat ironically, sometimes ecotourism can hurt ecosystems just as much as it can help. Another study in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution found that ecotourism can alter animal behaviors in ways that put them at risk. If the presence of humans changes the way animals behave, those changes may make them more vulnerable by influencing their reaction to predators or poachers.

It’s not just the animals who are at risk. As ecotourism activities become too popular, it can lead to the construction of new infrastructure to accommodate more visitors. Similarly, more crowds mean more pressure on local resources, increased pollution, and a higher chance of damaging the soil and plant quality through erosion. On the social side, these activities may displace Indigenous groups or local communities from their native lands, preventing them from benefiting from the economic opportunities of tourism.

Ecotourism Offers the Opportunity to Experience Nature

Renowned conservationist Jane Goodall has a famous quote: “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved.” It can be difficult to understand something that we haven’t seen with our own eyes, and ecotourism allows travelers to gain new experiences in natural areas while learning about the issues they face. 

Ecotourism also educates children about nature, potentially creating new generations of nature lovers who could someday become conservationists themselves. Even adult visitors may learn new ways to improve their ecological footprints.

Popular Locations for Ecotourism

Tanzania

The East African country has some competitive advantages over its neighbors thanks to its rich natural resources, paired with the fact that it has allocated over 25% of its total area to wildlife national parks and protected areas. Because of this, an estimated 90% of tourists visit Tanzania seeking out ecotourism activities. Ecotourism, in turn, supports 400,000 jobs and accounts for 17.2% of the national GDP, earning about $1 billion each year as its leading economic sector.

Some of Tanzania’s biggest highlights include the Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar, though the country still often goes overlooked by American tourists. Visitors can take a walking safari tour in the famous Ngorongoro Conservation area, for example, with fees going to support the local Maasai community.

The country is also known for its chimpanzees, and several ecotourism opportunities in Gombe National Park go directly towards protecting chimpanzee habitats.

Galapagos Islands

It comes as no surprise that the place first made famous by legendary naturalist Charles Darwin would go on to become one of the most sought-after ecotourism destinations on Earth, the Galapagos Islands.

The Directorate of the Galapagos National Park and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism require tour providers to conserve water and energy, recycle waste, source locally produced goods, hire local employees with a fair wage, and offer employees additional training. A total of 97% of the land area on the Galapagos is part of the official national park, and all of its 330 islands have been divided into zones that are either completely free of human impact, protected restoration areas, or reduced impact zones adjacent to tourist-friendly areas.

Local authorities still have to be on their toes, however, since UNESCO lists increased tourism as one of the main threats facing the Galapagos today. The bulk of funding for the conservation and management of the archipelago comes from a combination of governmental institutions and entry fees paid by tourists.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica is well-known throughout the world for its emphasis on nature-based tourism, from its numerous animal sanctuaries to its plethora of national parks and reserves. Programs like its “Ecological Blue Flag” program help inform tourists of beaches that have maintained a strict set of eco-friendly criteria.

The country’s forest cover went from 26% in 1983 to over 52% in 2021 thanks to the government’s decision to create more protected areas and promote ecotourism in the country. Now, over a quarter of its total land area is zoned as protected territory.

Costa Rica welcomes 1.7 million travelers per year, and most of them come to experience the country’s vibrant wildlife and diverse ecosystems. Its numerous biological reserves and protected parks hold some of the most extraordinary biodiversity on Earth, so the country takes special care to keep environmental conservation high on its list of priorities. 

New Zealand

In 2019, tourism generated $16.2 billion, or 5.8% of the GDP, in New Zealand. That same year, 8.4% of its citizens were employed in the tourism industry, and tourists generated $3.8 billion in tax revenue.

The country offers a vast number of ecotourism experiences, from animal sanctuaries to natural wildlife on land, sea, and even natural caves. New Zealand’s South Pacific environment, full of sights like glaciers and volcanic landscapes, is quite fragile, so the government puts a lot of effort into keeping it safe.

Tongariro National Park, for example, is the oldest national park in the country and has been named by UNESCO as one of only 28 mixed cultural and natural World Heritage Sites. Its diverse volcanic landscapes and the cultural heritage of the indigenous Maori tribes within them create the perfect combination of community, education, and conservation.