Tourism in the Arctic is based on its unique nature and cultures. Any development that threatens these assets will eventually destroy the basis for why tourist travel to the North.
What is sustainable tourism?
For a tourism activity or development to be sustainable, it has to take into account and balance not only its economic interests but also its impact on the natural and sociocultural environment of the destination.
What is ecotourism?
There is no generally accepted definition of ecotourism, but it is widely understood that it
• is nature-based
• is small scale or operates with small groups
• contributes actively to nature conservation
• offers excellent nature interpretation
• is based in, actively involves and benefits the local community.
While ecotourism is almost always nature-based tourism, not all nature-based tourism is ecotourism!
