As arguably the largest and fastest growing industry, the potential impacts of tourism are considerable. Devised by ecologists, ecotourism was seen as a way to prevent the destruction of the environment. Responding to increased interest and global competition, the tourism industry has not been slow to appropriate the term to describe a host of different experiences, markedly different from its origins.

The revised and updated edition of Ecotourism provides a broad introduction, including:

* the relationship of ecotourism to the broader tourism literature
* history, definition and typologies of ecotourism
* social and ecological impacts of tourism
* role of tourism policy, regulation, certification, accreditation and professionalism
* economics, marketing and management of ecotourism
* ecotourism programme planning
* ecotourism and international development and the role of community development
* the role of ethics.

The second edition incorporates new material on eco-labelling, environmental management and guiding. A new chapter has been added on programme planning and coverage of environmental impacts and community-based management has been strengthened. The book also incorporates new developments stemming from the World Ecotourism meeting in Quebec. New case-studies and examples have been added throughout, as well as annotated further reading.