At the same time, interest in participating in ecotours has continued to swell. Places such as Banff National Park have really felt the impact. That's four times as many as twenty years ago. At the same time the grizzly bear population continues to dwindle. Although you might not get Parks Canada officials to admit it, I don't think that's a coincidence.
Tourism is the world's largest industry.
These days Ecotourism is its star performer. It grows between ten and thirty percent annually. You can see why many tour operators are rushing to attach the eco-label to their product. Here at home, just ask the whales and bears. Wildlife viewing is one of the most popular reasons for joining a nature or eco-tour.