All forms of tourism that are exploratory, stress experience and have as their object appreciation and preservation nature, without destroying the natural resource are considered to be Eco Tourism. This term was coined by the tourism industry of Belize, a Central American country, very rich in natural resources. The forms of Eco Tourism ca include scientific, sport if, adventurous and passive use of nature.
The Eco Tourism movement in India was an off shoot of new trends in tourism that were to help to make India a more holiday oriented destination to attract larger numbers of international tourists. It was to transform the Indian tourist product from passive forms (like monuments etc.) to more active forms like adventure, wildlife and heritage tourism.