Ecotourism guidelines: How to choose the organizations and businesses you support

The author compiled a local community publication called "Forever Green: An Ecotourist's Guide to Lane County," bringing ideas she has developed in her work in international travel into the context of her hometown. She found that the same principles apply to traveling to the tropical rainforests of Central America, the African game reserves, or a town in Oregon.  A list of questions were developed to determine which organisations to include within the Ecotourist's Guide. These same criteria can be used to help assess which types of organisations to support as you travel the world.

For the purposes of the guide, the following working definition of ecotourism is used: Tourism or visitor-related activities or services that support the local people, culture, and economy in a positive way, while at the same time contributing to ecological protection and sustainability.