ECOTOURISM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Tourism is the fastest-growing world industry and ecotourism is its fastest-growing component. Much of that growth has occurred in Southeast Asia. Evidence is growing that tourism has presently practiced is having deleterious effects on the natural and cultural environments of Southeast Asian countries. Although efforts have been made at sustainable development, they have been sporadic and piecemeal and have not really solve the problem created by increased tourism. International cooperation is needed beyond the marketing efforts that have been sponsored by ASEAN. Southeast Asian countries need to develop agreements on the regulation of the tourism trade in order to provide for sustainable development and to prevent the despoliation of the environments that are so attractive to foreign visitors.