Ecotourism has not become the big business originally hoped for. The idea of ecotourism started when South American and Caribbean environmentalists wanted to entice locals to cut down less trees and instead preserve their environment. The attempt is working in some places like Costa Rica, but not in remote locations like the Brazilian Amazon or the rain forests of central America. If a resort is too remote or difficult to access, it does not attract enough visitors or attention. The environmental movement and awareness of native undeveloped environments have gone through ups and downs since the ecotourism idea was started. This is one reason for the low interest in ecotourism today. The idea simply peaked, so what's now? Focus on other environmental issues like global warming instead of preservation of natural environments, mostly rain forests, is a major factor in lower interest in ecotourism. Other factors such as the global economic downturn, emphasis on local tourism to reduce travel costs, increase in green-energy development and other environmental messages are getting more media attention. Environmental issues have their time in the public's attention, then they die. Ecotourism's media peak may have past us, but the phenomena itself may be in for better days. Now there is less news and more action.
Ecotourism is becoming a niche tourist sector. More countries and localities are preserving forests and natural environments. With it, tourist services like lodging and guided tours are also more developed. What the Africans started with safaris in national parks decades ago will work all around the world. In the Philippines, regions like Poerto Princesa City and it's surrounding region Palawan, are just now starting the process of becoming an ecotourism center. This is a great opportunity to add another unique rainforest environment to global destinations. Rainforests in the Philippines are unique places, different than American and other Asian environments. They are also completely different from the African environments with tropical forest fed by rivers and bordering beautiful coast lines. It gives us a new way of appreciating environments which up to now were not considered as vital as other places. Seeing and experiencing lush forests in tropical location is one of the best way to show people of the world the value of preserving them.
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