"Eco-tourism is also not to be confused with adventure tourism, sports and other activities taking place in nature such as skiing, and tourist attractions such as amusement parks that use “eco” to promote themselves."

 Some people do not even understand what is Eco tourism at all. The market place today often looks at cost but they do not look at value and responsibility. These are the challenges.

Challenges in running a community based ecotourism project in Nepal

Challenges in marketing community based ecotourism products and services

"The paper discusses significant opportunities and challenges which REST have experienced while assisting our partner communities to market their CBT products. In particular, the paper focuses on challenges linking CBT projects with national and international tour operators."

Ecotourism opportunities in the Asia Pacific region - Laos

"A considerable effort is underway to strengthen the country’s capacity to manage its cultural and natural heritage for the benefit of livelihood security through ecotourism development"

Dr Azlizam Aziz, Ph.D. Lecturer/Researcher

Sharing the experiences of local community in small ecotourism businesses at Kuala Tahan, Taman Negara

"Economic success of ecotourism is of paramount importance for justifying or providing reasons for why ecotourism development should be promoted in environmentally sensitive areas like Kuala Tahan."

Ecotourism Consultant

Ibuzawa Corporation Sdn Bhd

Conservation and Awareness:

Making good on the "eco" in ecotourism

"Today, more than 60 countries worldwide have turned to ecotourism as a viable alternative to mass tourism. As a concept, ecotourism is in crisis!."

Designing, Building and Maintaining Ecotourism Facilities

Dr Junaida Lee Abdullah

Principal Asst Secretary

Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia

Ecotourism Opportunities in the Asia Pacific region

Ms Sarala Aikanathan

Director

Wetland International Malaysia

Wetland Conservation & Tasik Bera RAMSAR site

"Wetlands International designed a project to enhance forest related eco-tourism at Tasek Bera (Bera Lake). This project aims to increase the capacity of the local Semelai in eco-tourism initiatives ..."

Creating, Designing & Building Ecotourism Facilities - Japanese case studies

"Mainstream Japanese ecotourists are not purists as they are yet to be fully detached from mass tourism and their expectations still prioritize price, food, comfort, and shopping before ecology."

Mr Ooi Chin Hock

Malaysia

Tourism and Bird Conservation in Peninsular Malaysia

"This paper highlights the importance of birdwatching and tourism, as well as its conservation values; providing an overarching picture of the global and national scenario for birdwatching."

"The poor are more vulnerable to the main negative impacts, such as conflicts with other livelihood strategies through loss of natural resources, and vulnerability due to local inflation. They face the greatest barriers to seizing economic opportunities created by tourism."

Dr. F. De S. Gurusinghe

President,

Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation,

Sri Lanka

Challenges in running a community based ecotourism project.

"Communities, whose members are living in poverty, invariably find their young people migrate to urban centres because of the decline in traditional industries such as agriculture and fishing.Ecotourism can prevent this urban drift and provide an essential alternative income."

Asia Pacific Coordinator

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)

The Prospect of Ecotourism Business in Southeast Asia ~ TIES’ Perspective on Responsible Tourism and Business Opportunities

"... in order to be sustainable, businesses must protect and preserve the environment and be socially and culturally responsible, as well as being economically viable. This idea is reflected in the three legs of ecotourism – conservation, community and education. "

Dr. Loh Chi Leong

Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)

Challenges and Opportunities in Developing Ulu Geroh, Perak as an Ecotourism Site with Indigenous People (Semai)