"Conservation issues are now at the forefront of public opinion. The decline of natural rainforests, loss of endangered species, global warming and land degradation have galvanized public support for conservation. The interest in ecotourism and nature-orientated tourism has coincided with this worldwide concern." "Using relevant case studies, Ecotourism examines the potential positive social and environmental benefits of ecotourism and is ideal for both students of tourism and practitioners within the tourism industry." "Ecotourism will also be of interest to environmental groups, land managers, academics and planners. It will be relevant for anyone interested in examining what ecotourism is and how it may hold the potential to solve or at least mitigate several of the great problems of our age, e.g. the dilemma of satisfying human needs for employment, income and economic development, while at the same time protecting the environment."--Jacket.