Wood said the only country collecting data on whether self-proclaimed ecotourism outfitters are living up to the moniker is Australia. Definitions of ecotourism may come down to semantics, but for the well-meaning prospective traveler, the numerous variations on outdoor travel can make the search for a true ecotourism experience confusing. Adventure travel often takes place in natural outdoor settings, but may focus more on the activity than the environment. Also, ecotravel concerns extend beyond the natural environment to cultural considerations. The organization also offers a Marine Ecotourist Fact Sheet.
Some outfitters follow principles of ecotourism more closely than others.
And accidental or even willful environmental transgressions sometimes occur. But sources insist that, so far, ecotourism in the Gulf of Maine weighs in with more environmental benefits than harm. Ecotourism companies will have impacts, but compare that to the grand scale of corporate environmental abuse. Educating people about the natural environment and providing opportunities for them to appreciate it at close range leads them to consider how their actions and lifestyles affect the environment, and how they can support and participate in conservation efforts, say ecotourism proponents. Also, they point out, ecotourism is contributing to increased attendance at parks and other sites, generating revenue to pay for conservation work.