Ecotourism is a unique way for travellers to engage in sustainable tourism while vacationing. This specific type of tourism is now increasingly becoming one of the more popular, with growth rates increasing every year. The United Nations, aware of the fact that tourism could be one of the most detrimental activities if not planned in accordance with the threshold imposed by nature, has declared the celebration of the International Day of Ecotourism, to promote sustainable practices in this growing industry.
Recently, The Division for Sustainable Development, Small Island Developing States Unit, decided that in preparation for the International Day of Ecotourism, it would be beneficial to identify successful practices of ecotourism on small islands. In order for ecotourism to be categorized as successful, it must meet the following criteria: it must combine natural and cultural tourism; it must involve local populations in the program, including providing educational resources to the local community, it must identity, manage and conserve the natural and cultural environment as well as the resources on the island; it must generate practices that will lead to the future sustainability of the island. If these criteria are followed by an "eco" organization, it deserves to be recognized as successful.

ECO TOURISM
The primary aim of ecotourism is to educate the traveler and bring him or her closer to nature. Participants are given the chance to visit parts of the world (6) are untouched by human intervention and to engage in conservation work and various other kinds of environmental projects. Visitors benefit by gaining an appreciation of natural habitats and an (7) into the impact of human beings on the environment. Local communities gain financially but also in (8) ways, since not only monuments but other buildings as well, such as bridges or windmills, are restored in order to attract more visitors.
(9) , there are also disadvantages to this type of tourism. There have been cases in which tourism has been allowed to develop with no control or limits. As a result, (10) cultures have been affected or even threatened by foreign lifestyles. Many people today support that our approach to the development of ecotourism has to be reconsidered. It is essential that this type of tourism be environmentally, socially, and culturally friendly.

Ecotourism is booming and many tour operators say this is helpful to nature. Every year, millions of people visit protected (11) areas to observe rare species. However, a new report casts doubt (12) this form of tourism. The report, (13) in the journal "Trends in Ecology and Evolution", suggests that ecotourism damages more than (14) nature. Researchers believe tourists disrupt animals in their natural (15) . They point to a recent (16) in Costa Rica where turtles had problems laying their eggs because of the many tourists who had gathered (17) the beach to watch them.
The report says that ecotourism is (18) animals bolder. A human presence makes animals tamer and less (19) about other animals. This could put them at (20) of being attacked by their natural predators, so more of them will be killed. The report says that when animals interact with humans, "they may let (21) their guard”. The report also says it is essential, “to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how different species in different situations (22) to human visitation, and under what precise conditions human exposure might put them at risk".

Tourism will always have an impact on the places visited. Sometimes the impact is good, but often it is negative. For example, if lots of people visit one place, then this can damage the environment. The question is - how can we minimize the problems without preventing people from travelling and visiting places?
The main aim of ecotourism is to reduce the negative impact that tourism has on the environment and local people. The idea is to encourage tourists to think about what they do when they visit a place.
It's great to talk about protecting the environment, but how do you actually do this? There are a number of key points. Tourists shouldn't drop litter, they should stay on the paths, they shouldn't interfere with wildlife and they should respect local customs and traditions.
Some people see ecotourism as a contradiction. They say that any tourism needs infrastructure - roads, airports and hotels. The more tourists that visit a place, the more of these are needed and, by building more of these, you can't avoid damaging the environment.
But, of course, things aren't so black and white. Living in a place of natural beauty doesn't mean that you shouldn't benefit from things like better roads. As long as the improvements benefit the local people and not just the tourists, and the local communities are consulted on plans and changes, then is there really a problem?
In 2002 the United Nations celebrated the "International Year of Ecotourism". Over the past twenty years, more and more people have started taking eco-holidays. In countries such as Ecuador, Nepal, Costa Rica and Kenya, ecotourism represents a significant proportion of the tourist industry.