Youth and ecotourism: A qualitative exploration

Young people’s beliefs concerning ecotourism were investigated in a qualitative study based on the focus group technique. Findings confirmed results of previous research work conducted with both adults and the young populations that had recorded a general lack of knowledge of the nature, aims and characteristics of ecotourism, as well as a lack of awareness of some of its potentialities like, for example, the benefits it could provide to local inhabitants. In addition, new insights were added to the existing literature concerning the characteristics and contents of the image of this tourism phenomenon which appeared to be affected by preconceptions and stereotypes.