What hotels are truly eco and how can I differentiate them from those that are not? And finally, why does it matter ? These are some of the key questions surrounding eco accommodations, a growing and essential niche industry within the mega world of toursim.

Tourism is the fastest-growing economic sector in the world today[1].

• In 1998, it accounted for over 10 percent of the world GNP and directly or indirectly for 200 million jobs worldwide.
• In 2000, 700 million people visited a foreign country - 62% of them for leisure accounting for US$ 478 billion of international receipts/revenues.
• Tourism is one of the five top export categories for 83% of countries, and the main one for 38% of them.

Unfortunately, the trend over the past 50 years has not been one with an eye on preserving our natural resources for future generations. Instead, our planet has witnessed unchecked development of hotels, marinas, roads, air-ports, car parks, harbors, jetties, breakwaters, sea walls, restaurants and golf courses with little regard to the resulting environmental damage. In extreme cases, whole ecosystems -- such as wetlands, estuaries, mangroves and coral reefs – have been destroyed or reduced to insignificance. As a result, the very survival of key ecological species and local economies have been thrown into doubt[2].

Eco hotels, resorts, lodges and campgrounds are essential to minimizing our ecological impact particularly along our planet's coastal areas. These include properties that invest in renewable energies, purchase locally and reinvest in the community. These practices have proven to be effective in minimizing pollution, waste and other negative impacts on nearby habitats and, in some cases, improved them via investments in conservation initiatives and community improvement programs.

[1] UN Atlas of the Oceans. http://www.oceansatlas.org/html/workuses.jsp
[2] UN Atlas of the Oceans. http://www.oceansatlas.com/unatlas/uses/uneptextsph/tourismph/214gs70022.html