Tourism In Protected Areas Research Articles

Evaluating the benefits and risks of social media for wildlife conservation

Given its extensive volume and reach, social media has the potential to widely spread conservation messaging and be a powerful tool to mobilize social change for conserving biodiversity. We synthesized gray and primary academic literature to investigate the effects of social media on wildlife conservation, revealing several overarching benefits and risks. We found that social media can increase pro-conservation behaviours among the public, increase conservation funding, and incite policy changes. Conversely, social media can contribute to species exploitation and illegal trade, cause unprecedented increases in tourism in protected areas, and perpetuate anti-conservation behaviours via misinformation. In most cases, we found that content sharing on social media did not result in a detectable impact on conservation; in this paper, however, we focus on providing examples where conservation impact was achieved. We relate these positive and negative outcomes of social media to psychological phenomena that may influence conservation efforts and discuss limitations of our findings. We conclude with recommendations of best practices to social media administrators, public social media users, nongovernmental organizations, and governing agencies to minimize conservation risks while maximizing beneficial outcomes. By improving messaging, policing online misconduct, and providing guidance for action, social media can help achieve wildlife conservation goals.

Developing ecological indicators of sustainable tourism in new protected areas: A case study of saline steppe and forest steppehabitats in Serbia

This paper is one of the results of three years research (2016-2019) of specific habitats of salinesteppes and forest steppes along the Mostonga River, in the northern part of Serbia (Autonomous Province of Vojvodina), with the aim of their valorization and protection in the future. Here is also situated a natural areain the process of protection known as "Middle Mostonga".An integral part of protection declaration procedure is the creation of so-called "Protection study", as a basic document for the planning of protection guidelines for certain natural areas, buttt also includes tourism development analysis. Therefore, the working group, composed of representatives of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province in Novi Sad and the University of Novi Sad (Faculty of Sciences - Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management), examined the opportunities for ecotourism development in the area of "Middle Mostonga". The main objective of this article is to forthwith frame the possibility for consistent application of sustainable development goals in the future protected area "Middle Mostonga" and its surroundings by setting a scheme of indicators of sustainable tourism. Total of 160 indicators were analyzed by the team of the experts in the field relying mostly on BACI design of ecological indicators of sustainable tourism. Five main steps in identification of the relevant indicators were defined. The results showed that it is possible to apply indicators related to the number of protected species, the number of individuals (units) within populations and habitat endangerment, as well as indicators that reflect the interest of the tourism industry for the development of tourism in this particular area.

A Critical Review of Environmental Governance, Land Restitution, and Tourism in Protected Areas

Natural areas, when protected, conserve the natural environment and function as social spaces in which tourism brings increased income, employment, and financial support for conservation. The inclusion of local community members in the planning and management of protected areas has been on the rise since the early 1900s. Tourism has been advocated as a strategy that can help in achieving economic development, especially in rural areas. However, governance issues and potential negative impacts of tourism development have been under inspection. Conservation efforts in Southern Africa especially in the late 1800s and early 1900s had negative impacts on the local communities since this led to many communities being displaced or having limited access to these protected areas. This has seen the need for ways and efforts to get local community members' despondency and attitudes towards protected areas change such that in the 20th century, there were efforts to use conservation models that included community members in the decision-making and benefit-sharing process to garner their support for protected areas. This paper reviews literature on environmental governance, land restitution in protected areas, tourism in protected areas, co-management, and the importance of community participation. These concepts are reviewed using Manyeleti Game Reserve as a case study.

English

Africa as a tourism destination is seen as a wildlife tourism hotspot that contributes significantly to job creation, community upliftment, and conservation. Wildlife tourism is based on encounters with non-domestic animals that can occur in either the animal’s natural environment or in captivity. The interaction with the animals includes activities that are historically classified as consumptive and non-consumptive. This research aims to determine the environmental impacts of wildlife tourists (consumptive and non-consumptive) based on their behaviour as perceived by senior staff managing a game reserve in Namibia. The study applied qualitative research, namely interviews, to encapsulate in-depth information. From the results, it can be concluded that, although both consumptive and non-consumptive wildlife tourists impact the environment at the game reserve, the behaviour of non-consumptive wildlife tourists seems to be more negative than that of consumptive wildlife tourists. The study further found that hunters behave in an eco-friendlier manner towards the environment and tend to be more concerned about their own impact on nature. Key words: Wildlife tourism impacts; environmental impact; natural area tourism; protected area tourism; wildlife tourism.

Stakeholder perceptions to support Jurassic Park project as a future wildlife tourism

Tourism in protected areas contributes to the financial sustainability of its sites. It has a positive impact on a stakeholder within and beyond the destinations through effective and efficient benefit-sharing. This study examine the environmental attitudes, community attachment, economic gain, and community involvement that will impact to the stakeholder perceptions to revitalization project in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. In the context of protected areas of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, this project related to the extensive tourism infrastructure development from nature-based tourism to a new project of Jurassic Park. The concerns regarding the stakeholders’ support may have on expectations for tourism development. This research use the Social Exchange Theory (SET) and Weber’s Theory of Substantive and Formal Rationality (WTSFR) with a quantitative approach. A total of 182 questionnaires with Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) were applied. Finding provides that stakeholder perceptions play a significant role as a mediator in shaping the relationship between each of variables to support tourism development. Ultimately, this study paves the way for improving normative practices toward Sustainability and offers practical solutions to the challenges the government and non-government organizations face to protect the endangered species, society, and the environment.

Quotas regulation is necessary but not sufficient to mitigate the impact of SCUBA diving in a highly visited marine protected area

When effectively managed, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can produce wide ecosystem benefits that can foster, directly and indirectly, local economies. Tourism is one of the sectors mainly benefited by the effect of conservation. SCUBA diving represents an important tourism activity, especially in the context of MPAs, where it is one of the few activities often fostered rather than limited, for its capacity to integrate environmental and socio-economic sustainability. However, SCUBA diving can also produce negative impacts on the environment when tourism frequentation exceeds a sustainable threshold, these potentially generating negative effects on the sector itself. In this study, we (1) investigated the impact of SCUBA diving in one of the most frequented diving areas of the Mediterranean Sea (Cabo de Palos – Islas Hormigas marine reserve), and (2) assessed the potential benefits over time related to the adoption of a regulation change for the diving activity (i.e., formally adoption of diving quotas). Specifically, we compared demographic (density of alive and dead colonies) and morphometric (height, width and complexity) characteristics of the false coral (Myriapora truncata) between dived and fully protected (non-dived) locations over four diving seasons (one before and three after the change in diving quotas). The density of alive colonies of the false coral was, on average, six times lower in dived locations compared to controls, highlighting a clear impact of SCUBA diving (consistent over time). Colonies were also significantly smaller in dived locations. The diving quotas produced a significant reduction of the ratio dead/total colonies in the dived locations soon after their adoption, but these benefits disappeared over the following years, possibly due to a gradual decline in operators' and divers’ observance and concern, rather than an increasing number of dives. This suggests that the adoption of effective regulations is crucial for the environmental sustainability of diving tourism in protected areas and can provide positive effects, but an effort is needed to ensure that compliance is consistent over time, and that low-impact diving practices are adopted by this important recreational sector.

Monitoring and management of high-end tourism in protected areas based on 3D sensor image collection

The expansion of tourism demand and the rapid growth of tourism industry objectively promote the tourism development and utilization of nature reserves. At present, there are various difficulties in the practical application of tourism environmental capacity assessment technology in nature reserves. This article attempts to carry out tourism monitoring and management in protected areas by combining 3D sensor image acquisition and environmental capacity assessment technology. First of all, this paper proposes a dynamic monitoring plan for the ecological environment of the reserve using 3D sensor image acquisition technology, and realizes the monitoring of tourists in the reserve and the collection of natural environment data. Secondly, this article proposes a new natural reserve tourism environment capacity assessment and pricing plan, and takes the Changtang National Park high-end tourism project as an example, and discusses its application in the form of a case study. This program provides a new solution for balancing the economic and environmental benefits of the reserve. Through simulation tests and questionnaire surveys, we found that the program can effectively improve the nature protection and tourism inspection work in the reserve.

Adaptive Management of Sustainable Tourism in Antarctica: A Rhetoric or Working Progress?

Growth and diversification of tourism activities in Antarctica have not been matched by proactive strategies for planning or management. Recognizing that the adaptive management approach has been effectively implemented in managing tourism in protected areas, we examine to what extent this approach has been incorporated into the Antarctic tourism research and management, and what constraints exist for its implementation. To better understand the extent of literature contributions, we conducted an appraisal of 72 peer-reviewed journal articles published from 1992 to 2020 and Antarctic management documents. From a scientific perspective, researchers have been advocating for adaptive management approaches to Antarctic tourism and have applied different elements, particularly ecological assessments, design of management measures, monitoring, and regulatory mechanisms. However, these contributions have not been necessarily translated into management policy and regulations. We acknowledge that full implementation of an adaptive management approach is not easily achievable due to the unique Antarctic regime. However, we argue that comprehensive site-specific and regional adaptive management models could be applied as the first step for a more systematic implementation. This incremental approach could contribute to enhanced stakeholder participation and improved decision-making processes, ultimately leading to a more proactive and effective management of Antarctic tourism, essential for the conservation of the continent.

Are dolphin-watching boats routes an effective tool for managing tourism in marine protected areas?

Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, is endangered and is one of the main target species for dolphin-watching in Brazil. This study aimed to investigate the compliance of routes of dolphin-watching boats in the Tibau do Sul Coastal Wildlife Reserve (REFAUTS) with the current legislation. The ‘route’ tool of a GPS navigation system enabled the recording of the route and speed of the boats and boat trip duration in the REFAUTS. The kernel map was constructed from the geographical coordinates during the tourist boat trips and showed the presence intensity of the tourist boats for Dolphin Bay and Madeiro Bay. At REFAUTS, tourist boats stayed longer and moved above the speed allowed by law. These boats showed low levels of compliance with the current legislation, which could result in damage to the Guiana dolphins. The prioritization of actions to promote the appropriate management of the REFAUTS, sustainability of tourism, and the conservation of the Guiana dolphins should focus on the boat operators and tourists.

Complexity in balancing conservation and tourism in protected areas: Contemporary issues and beyond

This study highlights ongoing issues in protected area (PA) tourism and presents management suggestions for PAs, given the growing popularity of PA tourism. This study takes a conceptual approach to discuss the ongoing issues within, and the sustainable future of, PAs. The expansion of PAs is a biodiversity conservation strategy. As PAs expand globally to promote conservation, new opportunities for ecotourism development will also evolve, further contributing to the challenge of balancing conservation and tourism. As many PAs operate without management plans, the development of regulations to foster sustainability is necessary, which is even more important now that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted PA tourism, challenging PAs across the globe. This study provides an overview of PA tourism, discusses ongoing issues, and offers strategies for managerial improvement. Given the substantial growth of PA tourism, the relationship between PAs and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should be explored further.

Tourism in protected and conserved areas amid the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a global impact on the tourism sector. With tourism numbers dramatically reduced, millions of jobs could be lost, and progress made in equality and sustainable economic growth could be rolled back. Widespread reports of dramatic changes to protected and conserved1 area visitation have negative consequences for conservation finances, tourism businesses and the livelihoods of people who supply labour, goods and services to tourists and tourism businesses. This paper aims to share experiences from around the world on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on protected area tourism; and considers how to build resilience within protected area tourism as a regenerative conservation tool.

Framework for Sustainable Recovery of Tourism in Protected Areas

Tourism in protected areas was a fast-growing segment within the global travel and tourism industry prior to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a development pathway, tourism generated foreign exchange for countries endowed with natural assets (protected areas, pristine landscapes, forests, oceans, wildlife), contributed to conservation revenues, and provided local development benefits for communities. However, the spread of COVID-19 and its associated travel restrictions severely impacted this sector. In this review, we describe the main challenges preventing the sector from achieving its development potential. We propose a framework to steer tourism in protected areas as a green recovery initiative, so that it may rebound sustainably and continue to support biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development.

Resident support in China’s new national parks: an extension of the Prism of Sustainability

ABSTRACT Gaps persist in the literature on resident support for tourism in relation to protected area sustainability and resident satisfaction. This study extends Prism of Sustainability research to analyze these linkages, focusing on four communities of China’s newly established Shennongjia National Park. An ‘interpretation’ mixed methods research design focuses primarily on SEM and bootstrap analyses of surveys (n = 403) from 2018–19 fieldwork, augmented by qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews (n = 151) conducted during that time. Results suggest satisfaction fully mediates the economic dimension-to-support relationship, but partially suppresses the institutional dimension-to-support relationship. These findings hold implications for rural and protected area tourism more broadly, underscoring with empirical data the importance of considering resident satisfaction as a possible mediator between support and certain sustainability dimensions.

Environmental justice, well-being and sustainable tourism in protected area management

ABSTRACT Research on ecosystem service trade-off, environmental justice and equity has grown during the last years as significant approaches to effectively connect use and conservation. Although there are justice tourism studies there are many aspects related to environmental justice that have not been addressed. We develop a framework to analyze social feedbacks in tourism – people’s cognitive and behavioral responses to change- to promote a more just environmental governance. Spatial analysis and methods of measuring environmental justice and well-being were applied in Bahía de San Antonio Protected Natural Area in Argentina. The results revealed the existence of two-way relationships and social feedbacks between tourism and conservation. We conclude that linking approaches related to environmental justice and well-being with tourism can provide theoretical insights to promote positive social feedbacks and to highlight pathways to reconcile tourism activity with protected areas management. These could be a first step to develop more sustainable forms of tourism in protected areas.

Mountain Tourism in the Perception of Romanian Tourists: A Case Study of the Rodna Mountains National Park

As a country, Romania tries to communicate abroad its authenticity, intact nature and unique cultural heritage. This message matches perfectly the main attributes associated to Rodna Mountains National Park, as it is the second national park in Romanian. The aim of the research is to identify and analyze the prospects for sustainable development of rural tourism in the area of Rodna Mountains National Park, taking into account its impact on the social and economic life of the inhabitants of the Rodna commune, but also factors that may positively or negatively influence the whole process. From a methodological perspective, quantitative methods were used; a survey-based research was carried out among Romanian mountain tourists, aiming at identifying and analyzing their opinions and suggestions regarding tourism in protected areas in Romania, as well as the impact of the tourist flows generated by the Park upon the surrounding communities. Rodna Mountains National Park seems to be among the favorite destinations of tourists, as the respondents have a good and very good general impression about the interaction with the mountain and protected areas, prefer internal to external destinations regardless of the season, budgets allocated per night, per stay and annually are quite high, so the purchasing power is also high; they constitute a solid foundation for the decisions of the tourist development of the area. The need for holidays and the savings that tourists make throughout the year to go on vacation, regardless of income level, give viability to this opportunity. Other results of this research are related to the problems tourists helped to identify and the solutions they proposed.

Carrying capacity and impact indicators: analysis and suggestions for sustainable tourism in protected areas – Brazil

ABSTRACT Protected Areas (PA) are widely studied, especially related to effectiveness strategies for environmental conservation and ecotourism management. Research on tourism planning and management in natural environments is fundamental. Several methodologies have been created to obtain data for indicating guidelines for the management and planning of PA. This paper analyzes, discusses and makes complementary suggestions to the carrying capacity methodology developed by Cifuentes et al. (1999). Our aim was to lower the subjectivity content of Carrying Capacity (Cifuentes et al. 1999), and to incorporate several impact indicators in the monitoring process. Data were collected on Ibitipoca State Park trails in August 2018 and April 2019. Results demonstrated that flooding, soil surface degradation, exposed tree roots and canopy layer are core for carrying capacity visitors, totaling 959 tourists per day. Water quality was altered through the parameters: Specific Conductivity (966 mS/cm) and Total Dissolved Solids (624 mg/L) and Conductivity (173 mS/cm) and pH (3.69). The discussions and results highlight the need for a broader approach to the physical parameters, the adoption of qualitative variables, the increase of biological and ecological factors. Therefore, the analysis of the carrying capacity methodology aims to assist more comprehensive strategies integrated with planning and monitoring of PA.

Ecotourism impact assessment on environment in protected areas of Serbia: A case study of Gornje Podunavlje Special nature Reserve

Ecotourism is a nature-based type of tourism, especially represented within protected areas. No matter the fact, just like the other selective types of this sector, ecotourism might affect the environment. In a process of writing the Visitor Management Plan in the Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve (SNR) in 2019, one part of the study was related to general projection of the ecotourism development impact on eco-educational paths within this SNR. The research was conducted throughout November 2019, in the form of interviews. The sample obtained 12 experts for nature protection, who stated their attitudes on three important topics: tourism in protected areas in general, tourism in the Gornje Podunavlje SNR and ecotourism within three concrete sites: Karapandža, Štrbac and Bestrement.

Sustainable tourism and mobility development in natural protected areas: Evidence from Apulia

The natural protected areas of a territory represent an essential instrument of environmental policy and, if adequately exploited, a significant added value resource for European Regions. The evaluation of adopted policies and the economic planning of these areas require an integrated approach that considers several factors. In this article, through the construction of several indicators, we analysed three large protected areas of the Apulia Region (Italy). Using data collected from regional and national reports, we investigated the status and policies activated by these protected areas, focusing on different aspects: namely, transport services (including soft mobility and transport infrastructures), tourism and territorial economic development. This paper should be of interest for natural areas that in recent decades have been affected by considerable tourism expansion but that have recently launched sustainable development and transport policies. The proposed policies for the analysed areas can be adopted by parks or reserves with similar characteristics.

Much ado about nothing: a conceptual discussion on novel or niche tourism in protected areas

Much ado about nothing: a conceptual discussion on novel or niche tourism in protected areas

Potential impacts of changing climate on nature-based tourism: A case study of South Africa’s national parks

Climate change could potential have significant impacts on the global tourism industry through changes in accessibility, comfort levels, and geographic or seasonal changes to attractions. Global and regional studies based on climate indices suggest that there will be global shifts in tourism, with many of the currently warmer areas potentially experiencing decreases in tourism. These include much of the global south, where nature-based tourism is both an important contributor to economic output and believed to be vulnerable to climate change. Protected areas form the core of nature-based tourism in many developing countries and are also directly or indirectly dependent on this tourism for their funding. However, comparatively little empirical work has been done on protected area tourism, particularly in developing countries. We modelled the relationship between occupancy and mean monthly temperature at each of South Africa’s 19 national parks and estimated the potential change in demand as a result of climate change. We found significant quadratic or linear relationships between occupancy and temperature for all parks. A single network-wide model could not capture all the location-specific temperature and tourism demand dynamics occurring at individual parks. The temperature models explained over 50% of the variance in historical occupancy for 17 parks, suggesting that climate change may have a significant impact on the timing and magnitude of demand across the network. Based on projected future temperatures, visitation rates across all parks could decline by nearly 4% by 2050, with most of the decline in Kruger National Park, which has the lion’s share of visitors. Conservation implications: The results are of concern given that tourism proceeds generated by Kruger National Park are used to subsidise the operating budgets of the entire park system, which would put the capacity for conservation activities at risk, suggesting that measures to alleviate climate discomfort to tourists should be explored by management.