Otherwise, terms are meaningless. Imagine these goals as being three overlapping circles. If a project or service met all three criteria - hitting the bull's eye in effect, you'd have unmistakable ecotourism. This model attempts to illuminate not only what is ecotourism, but what could be ecotourism. It allows individual or specific projects to weigh their strengths and figure out in which areas they need assistance.
Successful ecotourism requires inter-sectoral alliances, comprehension and respect.
That said, these three components of ecotourism are difficult to accomplish individually, let alone as a package. Moreover, they are difficult to measure or quantify. Membership in groups as The Ecotourism Society or Partners in Responsible Tourism requires only the payment of a membership fee. For example, the Ecotourism Society does not certify a member's compliance, nor does it endorse any member product or organization. The absence of accreditation programs has prompted some to suggest the creation of such a third-party organization, such as the firms that measure and certify organic coffee for the world market.