There are many terms used to describe types of ecotourism. Some words that you often hear these days are ‘Eco-Tourism’, ‘Adventure Travel’, ‘Sustainable Tourism’, ‘Responsible Tourism’, ‘Nature Based Travel’, and ‘Green Tourism’.

The Ecotourism Society defines it as ‘responsible travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of the local people’. A walk through the rainforest is not eco-tourism unless that particular walk somehow benefits that environment and the people who live there. A rafting trip is only eco-tourism if it raises awareness and funds to help protect the watershed.

Most dictionaries define adventure similarly: ‘an unusual experience including some level of risk and uncertainty’. ‘Adventure Travel’ includes this idea of risk and some unconventional means of transport.

Sustainable tourism is any form of tourism that does not reduce the availability of resources and does not inhibit future travelers from enjoying the same experience. If the presence of large numbers of tourists disturbs an animal’s mating patterns then that visit is not sustainable.

Tourism which operates in such a way as to minimize negative impacts on the environment is called responsible tourism. A wilderness camping trip using ‘Leave No Trace’ ethics would be considered responsible tourism.

Nature-Based Travel is a more generic term for any activity or travel experience with a focus on nature. Large jungle lodges fall into this category as do cruise ships to view penguins in Antarctica.

Green Tourism is often used inter-changeably with eco-tourism and sustainable tourism but more accurately described as ‘any activity or facility operating in an environmentally friendly fashion’.

Turkey aims to become a second Dubai in terms of special health services designed to target health tourism, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, thermal spa facilities, care facilities for the elderly and holiday villages.

Dursun Aydın, head of the Health Tourism Department of the Turkish Ministry of Health, told Anatolia News Agency that “With the new legal code, the ministry plans to develop health tourism and create a model concept for the rest of the health sector in the region. In achieving this goal, the ministry also plans to improve the inflow of foreign investment, increase employment, bring in skilled foreign healthcare workers, speed up the use of medical technology and encourage the production of services and investments”.

Dubai and Iran have special health zones and healing centers, but the Iranian health zone is currently still in the project phase, Ayd›n said. Oman, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico are also planning to set up special health zones.

We use a passive verb to say what happens to the subject.

When we use the passive, who or what causes the action is often unknown or unimportant.

We use by if we want to say who does or what causes the action. For example;

The Amazon, the lungs of earth, produces 20 % of the world’s oxygen. The Amazon rainforest is home to hordes of floral and faunal wealth. The densest part of the Amazon belt can be found in Brazil. The most attractive travel can be in the Bahia’s Atlantic forest, where you can feel the essence of rainforest and be fascinated with the sight of scores of wildlife.

The Blue Mountains area has roughly 550 square miles of valleys, and rocky terrains. The region has ample floral wealth, and the faunal wealth comprises of some 400 species. Rock climbing, canoeing, and bushwalking are some of the interesting activities Blue Mountains offer.

Known as the ‘jewel of Africa’, Botswana is rich in natural wealth. The Savannah plains, the extensive desert regions, the riverside forest and captivating wildlife are real beauties.

Costa Rica has four active (but not harmful) volcanoes, lush rainforests and hot springs. Costa Rica has jungle lodges where you can stay. Wildlife here includes many animals ranging from monkeys to tortoises, and tourists can take active part in rafting, hiking, and scuba diving.

Dominica is the Ecotourism Island of the Caribbean islands, and it is considered to be the whale-watching island. The tourists can watch 40-ton whales swimming freely on the shores.

The Himalayas are the world’s largest mountainous range. Nepal and Northern India provide access routes to the Himalayas. Hikers can stay in the rustic Himalayan lodges. Mountain camps, comprising of guides, cooks, and porters are highly popular.