ABSTRACT
Ecotourism is a paradox; it is a commercial enterprise with a conscience. As an industry it is an ever growing global phenomenon. Academically it is also growing, with a variety of peer-reviewed journals, not-for-profit associations and even higher-education credentials dedicated to the subject. Ecotourism, it is claimed, is about appreciating nature and culture, sharing responsibility and promoting beneficial relationships between various stakeholders. Ecotourism attempts to create meaningful experiences that raise participants’ awareness and create action through the development of ecological sensibilities. These outcomes are very similar to those envisioned by proponents of outdoor education. Outdoor education generally operates with experiential methods and endeavours to create meaningful relationships to nature. Outdoor education, covering related fields such as experiential education, ecological/environmental education and adventure education, is a much more typical segment of the outdoor studies landscape (see earlier chapters). This chapter explores the common ground and interdisciplinarity of ecotourism and outdoor education.
