Ecotourists do not want to be with the masses. They want to be outdoors, not visiting large cities and cathedrals. Ecotourism is not just a nature trip. It looks at the natural environment and how it affects the local community, the local people. The emerging ecotourism industry is trying to make a positive contribution to the places visited, being mindful of the negative impacts tourism can have on the local culture and natural areas.
Instructors are very important to educate, guide, and interpret.
Much of the ecotourism industry is characterized by small businesses targeting small market segments. The financial impacts of ecotourism are greatest in rural areas near ecotour attractions. Many people think of ecotours as mainly Sierra Club-type tours to jungles and rain forests. But ecotours also take place in our own yards. The newsletter of the Iowa Prairie Network listed forty outings, talks, or workshops at prairies around Iowa last summer.