Ecological understanding: a prerequisite of sustainable ecotourism

Sustainable ecotourism is a nature-oriented tourism that maintains a sound relationship with the environment, and contributes to its conservation. Ecological understanding is a prerequisite of sustainable ecotourism. Nature conservation and ecotourism are interdependent. There should be a symbiotic relationship between the two, in which both derive sustainable benefits in a lengthy period of time. In order to decrease natural deterioration, the present ecotourism economic and financial assessment should be challenged. Sustainable ecotourism demands new managerial methods that can estimate both environmental inputs and outputs in every single ecotourism venture and meets the required criteria of both. A triple-bottom-line accounting approach provides a foundation for the assessment of environmental, social, and financial costs and benefits of ecotourism ventures. Ecotourism companies can allocate some of their resources to nature conservation and the education of people. This is how they can obtain a positive triple bottom line. Developing environmental management strategies, programs and procedures with measurable objectives, and allocating adequate funds for their effective implementation is recommended in this article. An effective financial management system with capable accounting mechanisms would provide ecotourism organizations with the necessary foundations for transition towards sustainability.