Terms used in the ecotravel industry may be confusing. Not all types of travel afford the same kind of environmental benefits to local people that true ecotourism does. Here is a rundown of the most common terms used.

Adventure Tourism: is usually nature oriented and involves an amount of risk, but not all trips require a specialized skill or the desire to rough it.

Geotourism: usually centers on the geographic nature of the environment. Tourism helps to enhance the environment along with culture and overall well being of local residents.

NAture-based toursim: Relies on the natural environment or settings to entice to entice travelers. This could include jungle lodges or whale watching on cruise ships. These may or may not be environmentally friendly.

Sustainable tourism: Protects the environment, meaning that travel will continue in the area without destruction of habitat or damage to resources. The area's integrity will be maintained for future travelers.