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Eco Tourism

Eco-tourism is a branch of the tourist industry that focuses on natural beauty as the main attraction. Belize and parts of Indonesia are prime eco-tourism resorts, due to the large expanses of tropical rainforest. All of the rainforest in Belize and the coral reefs of the country's coast have been protected by the government. The economy in Belize benefits from a lot of tourism to these areas, so they have become fundamental to the wealth of the country. It is, therefore, in their financial interests to protect and preserve these areas of natural importance.

Eco-tourism can be used as an effective tool to prevent deforestation and the destruction of the natural habitat of many species that may be as yet undiscovered. Much of the ancient forests of Malaysia are being destroyed at an alarming rate by logging companies. They see it as a resource for cheap hardwoods, which are then exported via China to Europe and North America. If the Malaysian economy could replace its reliance on cheap timber exports with eco-tourism to these areas, the ancient forests could be saved.