Author(s)

N. M. Castilho da Costa & V. Castilho da Costa

Abstract

Ecotourism is a kind of tourism that is growing worldwide; mainly in countries like Brazil whose territory still presents a significant parcel covered by tropical forests and associated ecosystems. However, its planning and execution are not yet done on a sustained basis concerning environmental preservation and social insertion. This investigation aims to show, in a synthetically manner, how nature tourism, mainly ecotourism, is done in Brazilian protected areas and how geographic science contributes to its success to produce minimum environmental impact. Keywords: ecotourism, protected areas, geomorphology. 1 Introduction Technological and organizational progress from the Industrial Revolution contributed to increased productivity, a reduction in costs and workmen hours, and enlarged resources level available to consumption (including time) on society layers. In the 20th century, leisure and tourism appeared as mass activities, bringing many business opportunities and consequently economic interest. The World Tourism Organization (WTO [10]) deals with tourism as a kind of personal displacement using any means of transportation, involving at least an overnight stay in a destination. There are many reasons for displacements, and consequently almost all kind of trips are considered potentially good for tourism, despite of its intrinsic motive which produces several kinds of tourism. Actually, when people go on a trip to other cities out of their residence, they can do any kind of leisure or recreational activity in the concept of tourism.

Keywords

ecotourism, protected areas, geomorphology