ABSTRACT
This chapter locates ecotourism in post-war thinking on development and conservation, and hence provides a basis for understanding its advocacy as sustainable development. In keeping with the aims and objectives of the study, the chapter focuses on the broad conceptual context of ecotourism ICDPs, rather than operational issues. If the latter were the focus, then a review of reports from the field would be appropriate. However, in order to establish this conceptual context, the chapter identifies and synthesises two interrelated strands of literature – on conservation and on development – that together provide the basis for the claims made for ecotourism. The chapter also attempts to situate the study in the context of exemplary literature on ecotourism.
