People have more disposable income. Companies give more paid holidays than they used to

Ecotourism is tourism that doesn’t harm the environment and benefits the local people.

• Ecotourism involves:
• Conservation-protecting and managing the environment. Stewardship-taking responsibility for conserving the environment.
• Ideally conservation and stewardship should involve local people and local organisations so that local people benefi from tourists.
• Ecotourism is usually a small scale activity, with only small numbers of visitors going to an area at a time. This helps keep the environmental impact of tourism low.

The ecotourism's in extreme environments are usually delicately balanced, because its so difficult to survive in the harsh conditions there. The presence of tourists can upset this fragile balance and cause serious problems.
Here's an example of how tourism can damage the environment in the Himalayas:

• Trees are cut down to provide fuel for trekkers and other tourists leading to deforestation.
• Deforestation destroys habitats.
• Deforestation means there are fewer trees to intercept rain. Which can lead to flooding.
• Tree roots normally hold the soil together so deforestation also leads to soil erosion.
• Tourists cause footpath erosion
• Rivers become polluted by sewerage

• Sustainable development means improving the quality of life for people but doing it in a way that doesn’t stop people in the future getting what they need.
• Ecotourism helps areas to develop by increasing the quality of life for local people- the profits from ecotourism can be used to build schools or healthcare facilities.
• The development is sustainable because its done without damaging the environment- without ecotourism people may have to make a living to improve their lives by doing something that harms the environment e.g. cutting down trees.