In the beginning of the 1980s Ceballos-Lascurain [8] defined ecotourism as being travel to
relatively unspoilt or peaceful natural regions with the aim of studying, admiring and enjoying
the landscape and nature; additionally experiencing cultural events (past and current).
One of the most recognizable definitions is Goodwin’s, stating that ecotourism is the natural
tourism with limited environmental impact that contributes to the conservation of biotopes
and types of flora and fauna, either immediately through the contribution in the conservation
of the environment or indirectly through the guarantee of leaving behind enough income in
the local community, protecting in this way, their natural heritage as an income source [9]. It
is important to note that Goodwin includes in his definition elements of sustainability and
education as well as the moral significance of experience [6]. Within this framework of
general disagreement on a commonly accepted definition and on the occasion of the nomination
of 2002 as an ‘Ecotouristic Year’, the World Organism of Tourism (WTO) determined
the general characteristics of ecotourism to be the following: