ecotourism is the concept of responsible trips and travel to areas that might be protected and especially fragile. the intent is to create as little detrimental impact on the environment as possible. south africa has used ecotourism to sustain and improve its immense biodiversity, as well as invigorate its economy. tourism is the fourth largest generator of foreign exchange in south africa, and ecotourism is the idea of encouraging visitors while promoting and supporting a country's biodiversity. south africa contains a lot of biodiversity, and so ecotourism is a way for the country to benefit from wildlife in a non-consumptive and legal manner as opposed to illegal activities like poaching and trafficking for the international wildlife trade.