The objectives of the study are in short, to ascertain the present status of ecotourism in the States and Territories of the region, to clarify the scope of the concept and propose general guidelines for the appropriate development of ecotourism in the coastal and marine areas of the region. The analysis is aimed at an interpretation of ecotourism in its present form - as it is understood by the national and territorial authorities who were consulted, and to offer some preliminary proposals in this regard.