26 What is the point in eco-tourism?

Some claim ’eco-tourism’ is a phrase misused. The term put in an appearance in the early 1980s, when travellers wanted to believe their presence would not have a negative impact. Travel agencies realised this and eco-tourism rapidly became the hottest marketing tag a holiday could carry. There is now a bewildering range of eco-tours on offers, but these can be condensed into 4 categories: nature, culture, wilderness adventure and personal growth or learning. Unfortunately, nowadays the eco-tourism label is used to cover almost anything, so it’s not easy for travellers to make an informed choice.