While ecotourism, is a growing trend worldwide, preserving, restoring and delighting in nature has been a vital part of Israel’s ideology from the birth of the Zionist movement.

The International Ecotourism Society, founded in 1990, defines ecotourism as the “responsible travel to natural areas, which conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people” with the goals of the conservation of natural and culturalresources, improvement of the local community’s welfare, empowerment and enrichment of tourist’s experience as well as economic profitability.