The document discusses definitions and categories of ecotourism. It defines ecotourism as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. Ecotourism is categorized based on its focus on nature conservation, local culture/heritage preservation, or a combination of both along with improving local quality of life. The document also provides requirements for different types of ecotourism facilities to be certified, such as ecolodges, resorts, and green hotels.

1. Christian Rosario Ares
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2.  The term ecotourism started to use nearly
thirty years ago and has been the subject of
great debate as to its definition. In 1983,
Hector Ceballos-Lascuráin, architect and
author, defined the ecotourism as a form of
responsible tourism. The International
Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism
as "a responsible travel to natural areas that
conserve the environment and improves the
well-being of local people".

3.  Minimize the negative impacts on the
environment and the community generated by
the activity.
 Build respect and the environmental and cultural
awareness.
 Provide positive experiences for visitors and
guests.
 Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
Strengthen participation in the decision-making
process of the local community.
 Create the sensitivity to climate policy,
environmental and social of the host countries.
 Universal support for human rights and the
labour laws.

4. Ecotourism Category 1
It refers only to the conservation of nature.
Ecotourism Category 2
It refers to the conservation and preservation of local
culture and heritage.
Ecotourism Category 3
It refers to the conservation, preservation of local culture
and historical heritage and the opportunity to provide
service activities to improve the quality of life of the
recipient population.

5.  Paucity of studies responsible of how to satisfy the progressive
increase of the demand from Eco tourists.
 Budgetary constraints to plan, promote, implement and control the
ecotourism, in particular on the hotel side.
 There is a recent movement to qualify and certify hotels, for its
demonstrated environmental sensitivity, but need to assess the
results and their real impact in practice.
 Centre's of high quality education and educational insufficient who
have proper documentation to train professionals and researchers in
ecotourism at different levels and with various specializations.
 Lack of evaluations and other statistics, objective and detailed the
impact of ecotourism as base to improve or change the direction
and momentum of initiatives to promote a more responsible and
sustainable ecotourism.

6.  Well practiced ecotourism can become a powerful instrument
for the conservation of the flora and fauna, to exploit a
natural resource, but can also cause different types of
biological, physical, social and economic damage if not
practiced well. Ecotourism continues to respond to the tastes
and needs of a population of visitors, that long they have
become interested in learning about natural places and also
responds to the need to integrate conservation and
development, but with less emphasis on giving the receiving
community its important role as an active participant, to be
the main benefit subject. Ecotourism, rather, focuses on
securing a management planned by the country or receiving
region, to offer non-conventional visitors a little operated
geographical area and increase international trade.

7.  Ecolodge
◦ It is a typical construction materials of the area, usually
located in the interior of the territory (forests,
mountains, National Park buffer zones and other
equivalent areas, areas of public use of the national
parks, etc.). For our country the ideal Ecolodge is four
bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, sanitary, lounge,
double beds, wardrobe and balcony. Services must be
environmentally healthy, i.e. solar and hydroelectric
energy, gaps in treatment of wastewater with recycling
of the same for watering the gardens and other uses,
waste recycling, economy of water and energy, among
others.

8.  So an Ecolodge is declared by the SECTUR ecotourism company
must comply with the following requirements:
◦ must be constructed with materials that harmonize with the
environment.
◦ The project of accommodation must be low-density (less than 30
places per hectare).
◦ Sustainable management of water and waste through recycling.
Use local employees.
◦ It must be respectful of their environment.
◦ The quality of the baths and other services must conform to
international standards of tourism.
◦ Part of its gain should be earmarked her community works. You
should use environmentally sound energy.
◦ Application for recognition by writing to the Department of
business and services of the Ministry.

9.  Ecotourism Resort
◦ construction material of the zone in the beach, the
city or the field, intended for accommodation and
wide variety of recreational activities and health
(spa). It differs from the traditional resort in the use
of building materials, use of energy with a policy of
reducing consumption, reduction in the
consumption of water, black and treated water
recycling, environmentally healthy development of
organic agriculture for consumption by tourists,
among other measures.

10.  So an ecotourism Resort is declared by the SECTUR
ecotourism company must comply with the following
requirements:
 its services must meet the requirements of the
standards of this type of company. Join the local
population labor functions.
 Contribute part of their profit to community works.
 Application for recognition by writing to the
Department of business and services of the Ministry.
 Count with lush landscaping, especially with native
and endemic species.
 Any other that determines the SECTUR.

11.  Hotel button Green
◦ is a hotel or a resort that is traditional, with the
difference that integrates all the environmental
variables: arborization of the environment,
recycling black and treated water, recycling of
waste, healthy energy, reduction of water
consumption, integration of local communities,
creation of wildlife private reserves with trails
marked ecotourism and brochure, among other
measures to protect the environment.

12.  So a button Green Hotel is declared by the
SECTUR ecotourism company must comply with
the following requirements:
◦ must meet the specifications outlined in the description
of the same.
◦ Comply with the international standards of tourist
accommodation, especially as regards the services to
offer.
◦ Contribute part of their profit to community works.
◦ Lush landscaping, preferably with native and endemic
species.
◦ Application for recognition by writing to the Department
of business and services of the Ministry.