Other problems occur when outsiders build an infrastructure requiring a large amount of energy or water that depletes the supply to the local people. Some hotel developers are not aware of the ecosystem and build inadequate facilities that may disturb the animals and contaminate the environment. Government decisions to promote tourism in the area have excluded many of the local Mayan communities. Farm land was taken from the locals to create National Parks and develop lodging facilities. Although many of the area's attractions are marketed as being ecologically friendly, there have been few plans to incorporate the locals in the economic development of the area.
Ecotourism can also have negative effects on the environment itself.
For instance, in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve in Belize, as well as in the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, the large number of ecotourists who have visited these areas are blamed for the degradation of the environment. Conversely, there are many cases where ecotourism has saved entire communities and has provided investors and owners with great long-term returns. For instance, in the Ecuadorian rainforest, the Cofan Indians of Zabalo and Metropolitan Touring have formed a partnership called Aguarico Trekking. In this partnership, Metropolitan Touring, the largest tour operator in the country, brings the marketing skills, investment capital, and transports the people to Zabalo, while the Cofan Indians own the land, direct the tours, and have the knowledge to construct minimum impact trails and lodging facilities that do not hinder the environment. The resulting profits are split between both parties.