[C Elegans]

Don't worry too much about the impact of eco tourism on genuine environments, DW. Regarding ecologically sensitive environments, eco tourism is hardly making a difference. Industry, changes in living style and normal tourism are the major dangers there. Eco tourism is probably a little better than normal tourism, and at the same time it must be noted that if there are any tourism at all, the area is already exploited. There is no tourism to untouched places.

Regarding genuine cultures, worry even less I'd say. No companies ever go to the places where there is a genuine culture to destroy. Media, western influences etc, reaches remote places long before tourism.

Eco- and adventure tourism sell their packet trips to people who want to get the feeling of "untouched", "unspoiled" wilderness and genuine culture but still also want to keep comfort. I checked the links you posted and what areas they had trips to, and none of these areas are remote or "wild". Some areas are however very beautiful, and they are still less touristed than Yellowstone or the Alps.

Originally Posted by Moonbiter

I've spent most of my adult life going walkabout alone not to see but to actually meet new and different people and cultures.
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I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you want real eco-travel, you have to be prepared for hardships and a lack of luxuries that you don't want to impose on the local population.

This I totally agree with. As I have posted elsewhere here at SYM, I've travelled around by myself for long periods. If you want to experience untouched, remote wilderness - by definition, there will be nothing there and it will be difficult to get transport there. The trouble start already at home when you try to find a means of transport close enough to your desired place. It can take weeks of intercontinental telephone calls before you can find out if it is even possible, and if you contact a travel agency they will just ask you "Bwahana-what?" So you have to solve all the practicalites and find all the information yourself. At location, you simply have to carry your stuff, walk for weeks and wash every third day or so if you can stand the cold. If you want to experince genuine native cultures, you have to live with them, their way, and you may have to eat insects and intestinies and pick tics off your body. You will learn new ways to keep yourself clean and handle your body waste.

Personally, I think "eco-tourism" is an excellent choice for people who are not interested in the ordinary charter resorts but at the same time are too lazy, fearful or comfortable to travel by themselves.