Classification of tour operators
Based on the questionnaire answers, tour operators were classified along a spectrum
from nature-based tourism to ecotourism (Figure 7). Tour operators fulfilled on
average 10 indicators (s 5 3.2). It is remarkable that most of the companies have
not yet achieved all criteria to be considered as ecotourism ventures. However, tour
operators were more likely to be grouped within the ecotourism side of the
spectrum, rather than the nature-based side.