ABSTRACT
Using ecological footprint (EF) analysis of simplified ecotourism scenarios, this chapter addresses the need to look beyond the immediate destination area when considering the environmental impact and sustainability of ecotourism, highlighting international air travel as an area worthy of particular focus. Ecotourism is now apparently one of the fastest growing segments of the global tourism industry and the popularity of ecotourism holidays has fuelled research interest in ecotourism, generating a substantial body of academic and policy literature. Claims that ecotourism is pioneering the sustainable development of the tourism industry have thus come under growing scrutiny. The potential contribution of EF analysis as an indicator of sustainable tourism has been recognized. To date, however, tourism application of EF analysis has been very limited and largely focused on mass tourism. Cole and Sinclair used EF analysis to assess the sustainability implications of the advent of mass tourism to Manali in the Western Himalayas of India in the 1980s.
