Nature-based Tourism Operations Research Articles

Overcoming challenging telemetry data of giant sunfish Mola alexandrini (Molidae) in Bali, Indonesia

The ocean sunfishes Mola spp. (Family Molidae) are charismatic marine megafauna that are difficult for nature-based tourism operators to target due to their sporadic occurrence. However, the giant sunfish M. alexandrini is seasonally important for the SCUBA tourism industry in Bali, Indonesia, where these molids seek cleaner-fish interactions on the reefs of the local Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Lombok Strait. Little is known of their movements, including their apparent seasonal affinity to the Nusa Penida MPA. We tagged 8 fish with Fastloc GPS tags; however, intermittent surface visits and crepuscular diving habits, combined with early tag dislodgment and tag transmission failures, yielded a challenging data set to analyze. We overcame this difficulty with a geolocation model (HMMoce) that was parameterized to leverage the complex topography of the study region, be robust to data sparsity, and accommodate switching between distinct resident and migrant behaviour states. The results revealed small-scale movements whereby the fish exhibited particular affinity to bathymetrically complex, intense upwelling areas around Nusa Penida, the east coast of Bali, and an inter-basin trough to the north. Dive patterns suggested that the molids were foraging in these oceanographically dynamic areas. Our findings suggest that the Lombok Strait is at least of seasonal importance to this species, and the local SCUBA tourism industry likely relies on individual fish that re-visit the reefs of the Nusa Penida MPA multiple times during the sunfish season.

Managing diverse knowledge systems of tourism operators in vulnerable marine ecosystems: addressing sustainability challenges through nature-based solutions

ABSTRACT This research examines how nature-based tourism operators within coastal ecosystems employ Knowledge Management (KM) in the pursuit of nature-based solutions (NbS) to sustainability challenges. NbS are achieved at the intersection of the physical environment, climate, ecosystems, biodiversity, and socio-economic and socio-cultural systems. NbS integrate diverse types and systems of knowledge to be acceptable to a range of stakeholders. To explore these knowledge types and systems, a qualitative, multiple-case-study approach is used, with interview data collected across different organizational levels of nine discreet nature-based tourism operation cases from Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Our findings highlight how these tourism operators have developed practices to manage diverse knowledge systems in the pursuit of sustainability outcomes and provide critical insights into how more sophisticated approaches to such sustainability knowledge management (SKM) may lead to more optimal NbS and sustainable tourism outcomes for vulnerable marine ecosystems.

Nature-based tourism operators’ perceptions and adaptation to climate change in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Climate and weather are important resources for tourism. In particular, nature-based tourism activities and operations are largely dependent on and affected by environmental conditions and changes. Due to the significant socio-economic role of the nature-based tourism and the tourism industry, in general, in the region of southern Africa it is important to understand the dynamics between the industry and climate change. A key aspect of this understanding are perceptions and adaptation preparedness of tourism operators towards the estimated impact of climate change. There is a dearth of empirical studies on climate change perceptions and adaptation in nature-based tourism operations across southern Africa and specifically from Zimbabwe. This research gap is addressed in this article which provides an exploratory analysis of the nature of climate change adaptation practices occurring in southern Africa using evidence from Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

Nature-based tourism operators’ perceptions and adaptation to climate change in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

AbstractClimate and weather are important resources for tourism. In particular, nature-based tourism activities and operations are largely dependent on and affected by environmental conditions and changes. Due to the significant socio-economic role of the nature-based tourism and the tourism industry, in general, in the region of southern Africa it is important to understand the dynamics between the industry and climate change. A key aspect of this understanding are perceptions and adaptation preparedness of tourism operators towards the estimated impact of climate change. There is a dearth of empirical studies on climate change perceptions and adaptation in nature-based tourism operations across southern Africa and specifically from Zimbabwe. This research gap is addressed in this article which provides an exploratory analysis of the nature of climate change adaptation practices occurring in southern Africa using evidence from Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

Impacts of Tourists’ Sociodemographic Characteristics on the Travel Motivation and Satisfaction: The Case of Protected Areas in South China

Western studies on nature-based tourism have long explored the relationships among tourists’ sociodemographic characteristics, motivation and satisfaction as a way of predicting their visitation patterns and travel behaviours. Relatively few studies have been conducted in the Chinese context given its varied and extensive landscapes. This paper seeks to fill this gap using data from questionnaire surveys conducted in two popular and prestigious forest nature reserves in Guangdong province between August and December 2015. Data collected were analyzed by multiple regression tests with socio-demographic factors as the predictors of travel motivation and satisfaction in SPSS 24.0. The key findings and observations include the following: First, contrary to some overseas studies, education level was negatively correlated with tourists’ satisfaction with management and educational value. Second, age was positively correlated with the sense of relaxation and nature exploration. Third, education level had a negative correlation with motivation regarding social influence. Fourth, the influence of local culture helps differentiate Chinese tourists from Western tourists, implying that different management strategies should be adopted. All these findings offer insights to nature-based tourism operators that cater to the growing ranks of Chinese ecotourists.

Nature-based tourism operators’ responses to changing environment and climate in Uis, Namibia

Namibia, one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, has great potential as a nature-based tourism destination, but is also vulnerable to the impacts of global environmental and climate change. In this study the perceptions of tourism businesses in Tsiseb conservancy of the potential impacts of climate change to their operations, and their adaptation plans are analyzed. The results show agreement with recent climate change, but future change is considered to happen with less certainty. The operators believe that climate change impacts tourism industry, but not their own businesses. As a consequence, no concrete adaptation methods have been developed.

Bridging outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism in a commercial context: Insights from the Swedish service providers

This paper investigates how outdoor recreation demand is reflected in the commercial tourism supply. We bring together the demand and the supply perspectives as well as the domestic and international dimensions, i.e. linking outdoor recreation with nature-based tourism. The data is collected through a nation-wide survey among nature-based tourism providers, catering to both domestic and international markets in Sweden. Four major data-driven avenues of commercializing outdoor recreation are discussed (Winter/Nordic, Summer/Active, Summer/Relaxing and Extractive) and further profiled against external variables, such as types of business operations, international markets or seasonality. The findings offer a new insight into the patters of the commercial supply of nature-based tourism in Sweden, while also building on the previous research and history of outdoor recreation. Evident commercial importance and domestic popularity of such ordinary outdoor activities as cycling on roads, swimming, jogging, picnicking or hiking outside mountain areas are linked to changes in leisure and lifestyles noticed previously. Commercialization of outdoor recreation, a snapshot of which is presented in this study, is discussed as an ever-expanding and diversifying process, observed both in Sweden and globally. Management implicationsFrom a management perspective it is important to know that the provision of nature-based services, specialized equipment and organizing events in nature are the top-selling services by the nature based tourism operators, all of which have been described as important indicators of commodification of outdoor recreation. Important drivers of a new demand are- the observed trends of growing preference for shorter, more intense and high quality holiday,- the growing demand and acceptance of higher accessibility and facility density- the disconnection from nature as a result of changing lifestyle and growing urbanization.

Natural amenities and the regional distribution of nature-based tourism supply in Sweden

ABSTRACTNature-based tourism is often perceived as one of the easiest and readily-available tools for regional development and diversification of rural economies, and Sweden is not an exception. Successful tourism development, however, depends on various amenities, which vary with region. This article, based on a national survey among nature-based tourism service providers in Sweden, discusses general characteristic of Swedish nature-based tourism supply, reveals the most important natural amenities from the supply perspective and discusses the patterns of their regional variation. It is further investigated how distributions of various amenities is related to the density of nature-based tourism operations across regions. The scope of the analysis includes three levels: country, land and county. Results show that nature-based tourism in Sweden is a highly diversified sector, which demonstrates significant north-south variations, visible on the level of the three lands. On the level of counties, natural and human-made amenities are comparable in their power to predict distribution of NBT operations, suggesting that the border between NBT and other forms of tourism is not as distinct as is often imagined.

Assessing the changing effects of forest harvesting on nature-based tourism: a case of sport-fishing tourism in Ontario, Canada

Forest harvesting can negatively affect nature-based tourism operations. Using observable and interpretable indicators of operating tourism establishments and associated prices charged for fishing packages, we illustrate how one can assess these forest harvesting effects. From a case of floatplane-accessible tourism in Ontario, Canada, we found no evidence to implicate recent (less than 10 years) forest harvests in decisions by tourism operators to close their establishments between 2000 and 2010. Using a hedonic price analysis, we found a significantly reduced effect of forest harvests on prices charged by these tourism operators between 2000 and 2010. These conclusions were robust to different specifications of forest harvesting. On the one hand, the results suggest that changes to forest management planning, policies, and practices in Ontario appear to have mitigated the negative effects from forest harvesting on nature-based tourism. On the other hand, the results show a method that other researchers and policy analysts can adopt to monitor the changing effects of forest management on economic activities such as nature-based tourism.

Human–Wildlife Interaction Guidelines in Western Australia

Human interactions with wildlife occur across a wide variety of contexts and often form the central component of nature based tourism operations. There is the potential for significant impacts on both humans and wildlife as a result of these interactive experiences. Protected area managers require guidelines in order to effectively manage these interactions. The complexity of human-wildlife interactions creates challenges in terms of defining adequate guidelines to minimise risk. This paper uses a review of the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) human–wildlife interaction guidelines to highlight key issues influencing the clarity and application of human–wildlife interaction guidelines. It was found that effectively managing interactions between humans and wildlife depend on: the specific context, location and the type of interaction; the number of people and wildlife individuals involve, positive relationships between operators and wildlife managers among other issues. This presents a challenge in formulating consistent guidelines for large geographical areas with many types of wildlife interaction. A series of recommendations are made in relation to approaching this issue.

Antarctic tourists: ambassadors or consumers?

ABSTRACTTwo complementary studies were conducted to investigate both the immediate and longer-term influence of Antarctic cruise tourism experiences on participants’ knowledge of Antarctica, attitudes toward management issues facing the Antarctic region, and environmental behaviours and future intentions. In addition, the study investigated tourists’ attitudes toward visitor guidelines. The results suggest that Antarctica nature-based tourism operators have the potential to provide experiences that educate the public to the importance of Antarctica.

Emerging Governance Approaches for Tourism in the Protected Areas of China

This paper examines the recent evolution in the governance of protected area tourism in China. China now sees cooperation in the form of public-private partnerships occurring between authorized private tourism enterprises in various organizational forms and the public managers from specific portfolio departments of governments at different levels. Three types of governance models are visible: the Leasing Model, the Non-listed Share-holding Model, and the Public-listed Share-holding Model. Theories of corporate governance were applied to these models to analyze the internal and external mechanisms of supervision and incentives for both the government agencies and the authorized tourism enterprises for nature-based tourism operations. The Principal-Agent problem and the supervision mechanism are the focus of the analysis. The emerging governance approaches for tourism in protected areas of China are all theoretically viable, as explained by the theory of property rights and corporate governance, and practically viable as elaborated in the cases of the three types of governance models summarized in this paper.

SUSTAINABLE FOREST-BASED TOURISM IN NORTHEAST NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA: A PROBLEMATIC GOAL

Sustainable tourism is seen as capable of providing both rural economic development and valorizing conservation. Unfortunately, it appears that many nature-based tourism operations are struggling to maintain the financial viability required to ensure this occurs. This study examined 41 forest-based tourism businesses in northeast New South Wales, Australia, to assess their ability to contribute to sustainable tourism. The businesses employed an average of 5.6 staff per business, including the owner(s). Approximately 61% of businesses had a gross income of less than AUS$100,000 and 40% of operators had a combined household income under AUS$25,000. A relatively large number of operators suggested that they were forced to charge fees that were either below cost or at cost. All operators suggested that their businesses did not have a negative impact on the environment, although nearly 46% of operators stated they had concerns about the environmental impact of their competitors. The overall results indicated that a majority of forest-based tourism operators in northeast NSW, because of their financial position, are probably not contributing substantially to local economic development and would have trouble adopting environmentally sustainable practices.

Business Development Issues Affecting Nature-based Tourism Operators in Australia

The paper reports on research carried out on Australian nature-based operators that asked them to discuss what they wished they knew before they entered the sector, or alternatively, what they feel every new operator must know before entering business. The purpose of the study is to seek advice, in a qualitative manner, from established nature-based tour operators on the types of knowledge and skills needed by prospective new entrants to this sector. The study revealed that the problems of running a nature-based tour business in Australia are very similar to the generic problems faced by all manner of small businesses. To succeed, operators must be multi-skilled, they must possess the right personal qualities, business planning and management skills and they mustalso have appropriate operational skills to be able to deliver the products. A lack of ability in any of these skill or attribute areas may have an adverse effect on the success of the business.