As a concept, eco- tourism has gained momentum recently, but as a way of life Indians have practiced eco- tourism since times immemorial by their animalistic approach to nature and human needs. Eco- tourism has been defined variously. As far back as 1995, Herold Goodwin called it "purposeful travel to natural areas to understand the culture and natural history of the environment taking care not to alter the integrity of the ecosystem, while producing economic opportunities that make the conservation of natural resources beneficial to local people". The World Tourism Organization (WTO) has defined it as "tourism that involves traveling to relatively undisturbed natural areas with the specified object of studying, admiring and enjoying nature and its wild plants and animals, as well as existing cultural aspects (both of the past and the present) found in these areas". In sum, the definitions focus on three significant aspects- nature, tourism and local communities. It differs in a meaningful way from mass tourism that aims at consuming nature and leaving it depleted on more than one front.